Emergency Incidents

In order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff, the Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) has developed an Emergency Management Plan in order to be prepared to respond effectively during an actual emergency incident. Pueblo City Schools (PCS) has identified specific types of situations to assist schools in recognizing and responding appropriately to an emergency incident. If there is an emergency incident, CHPA will respond by issuing a Lockdown, Secure Perimeter, Evacuation, or a Shelter in Place. Notifications of school emergency responses will be sent by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

Several emergency incidents drills will be conducted throughout the academic year. Drills will not be announced in order to identify areas that need improvement. Parents/guardians will be notified if a drill has been conducted by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls. In addition, CHPA’s faculty, staff and administration conduct annual trainings including classroom responses to emergency incidents.

There are four types of classroom responses to emergency incidents:

Lockdown

A Lockdown is issued when there is a threat inside the building and used to secure classrooms and keep quiet. Faculty, staff and students are required to find a safe hiding place, get behind locked doors, turn off their cellphones and remain silent. It is vital for parents not to try and contact their students during a lockdown in order to avoid them being located by the intruder. For your safety and the safety of others, please do not attempt to come on campus during a lockdown. Once an all clear has been received, parents/guardians will be notified by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

Secure Perimeter

A Secure Perimeter is issued when the threat is outside of the building and/or in the immediate vicinity of the school. All exterior doors will be locked and no one is allowed in or out of the buildings. Business is conducted as usual. Students not on campus should not attempt to come to campus but should notify the front offices of their well-being. For your safety and the safety of others, please do not attempt to come on campus during a secure perimeter. Once an all clear has been received, parents/guardians will be notified by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

Evacuation

An Evacuation is conducted to move persons from one location to a different location on or off campus depending on emergency situation (fire alarm, bomb threat, etc.). Three evacuation sites have been identified and students, faculty and staff may be evacuated to one or more of the following evacuation sites:

Holy Rosary Catholic Church

2400 W. 22nd Street

Pueblo, CO 81003

(719) 545-721

YMCA

3200 E. Spaulding Ave.

Pueblo, CO 81008

(719) 543-5151

Irving Elementary

1629 W. 21st Street

Pueblo, CO 81003

(719) 549-7570

For your safety and the safety of others, please do not attempt to come on campus during an evacuation. Once an all clear has been received, parents/guardians will be notified by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

Shelter in Place

A Shelter in Place is issued when persons need to take shelter due to severe weather conditions or other situations that require a safe refuge. Students, faculty and staff will take cover in the designated areas-of-refuge in order to move to safer areas inside the school buildings. For your safety and the safety of others, please do not attempt to come on campus during a secure perimeter. Once an all clear has been received, parents/guardians will be notified by Alert Solutions via emails, text messages, and/or phone calls.

In addition, CHPA has In An Emergency posters in English and Spanish displayed around campus for students, faculty and staff to know how to respond in the event of an emergency incident. Please review the attachments provided.

Student/Parent Reunification

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. The process of controlled release is called a reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat or if a crisis occurs at the school. The standard reunification method is a protocol that makes this process more predictable, less chaotic and safety first for all involved.

When the school notifies parents of a Parent Reunification is going to happen, a parent or guardian MUST have a photo ID in order to pick up their child for safety purposes. Every Parent will receive a reunification card to fill out and once the parent has shown the photo ID, the bottom portion of the card will be given to a staff member to retrieve their child and match the top with bottom once the parent is reunified with the child. The reunification process can sometimes become stressful for the parent, but please keep in mind our number one goal is keeping your student and staff members safe.