How to Develop a School Evacuation Route

In any size district, it is necessary to develop a school evacuation route in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster, school shooting, fire or a hazardous spill. Sometimes you will need to direct students and staff to a local area. Other times your route requires a separate location for shelter and safety. An evacuation plan is typically part of the crisis team's responsibility.

Things You'll Need

• Local maps
• Evacuation timetable
• Transportation
• Aerial photos of school
• Community locations
• Crisis team

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Instructions

• 1

  Develop an evacuation route timetable. Define proper exits of the building. Create aerial photos of the school's campus and maps of the surrounding neighborhood.

• 2

  Indicate on the timetable levels of evacuation. Create labels for off-site locations that are outside the campus but still in the school's vicinity (such as across the street or down the block).

• 3

  Define remote locations. This will be a location that is farther from the school than the off-site location. Arrange primary and secondary evacuation routes in your overall evacuation plan.

• 4

  Map how people will exit the school building. Decide how personnel will flow from the school to the off-site or remote locations. This will include cars/transportation shuttling students as well as those walking from the school. Model the evacuation route appropriately for your local roads and community.

• 5

  Work with your local community. Sometimes students will need to be evacuated to a location for care or safety until parents can pick them up. Connect with local churches and community centers for potential housing of students.

• 6

  Visit evacuation sites with staff and local officials. Establish where student reunification areas will be and a location for possible media and emergency service providers.

• 7

  Educate school administrators and teachers on how to prepare for a crisis at the National Education Association website (see Resources below). Troubleshoot any holes in your evacuation procedures.