Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness/ Procedures/ Crisis Management Plan

This plan details the responses during emergency situations to promote the safety and stability of the School. It enables employees to manage situations and respond to ensure the safety of scholars and staff and to effectively communicate with parents. An off-duty police officer is employed to monitor all areas of the Church and School campus. The Headmaster decides what constitutes a crisis and to convene the Crisis Management Team.

Definitions:

Critical Incidents are situations involving threats of harm to scholars, staff, or facilities. These incidents require an interagency response (law enforcement and emergency services agencies).

Crisis Management Team consists of an immediately accessible core group of School personnel who have the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency.

The Crisis Management Team includes the following: Headmaster, Director of Academics and Administration, Director of Finance, Facilities Director, Parish Administrator, and Rectors of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Additionally, the Police Department, mental health professionals, and/or the Fire Department shall be asked to consult with the School team as needed.

Response Team consists of representatives from each School building responsible for implementing the instructions from the Crisis Management Team.

The Response Team includes: Kristen Dreyer (Foster), Leslie Peart/C.C. Alexander (Middle School), Ashley Ramirez/Velma Moreno (Water Street), Leslee Bourg (McNeil Gym).

Drop and Tuck Position: A person faces an interior wall, drops to knees and rolls forward to the balls of feet. He/she tucks head down and places hands on top of head and neck.

Emergency Supply Kits are supplied to each classroom. They include:

  • Roll of duct tape
  • Whistle
  • Flashlight/batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Trash bags(large-one box)
  • Toilet paper
  • Dust masks (1 per scholar/teacher)
  • Drinking water
  • Baby wipes
  • Small AM/FM battery operated radio with extra batteries
  • Towels (2 large)
  • 5 gallon plastic bucket

Teachers must inventory the Emergency Supply Kit in their classroom at the beginning of each school year. Notify the Director of Student Services to replace missing items.

Communications During Emergencies

Policies/ Procedures:

Should an emergency require St. James Episcopal School to delay or to cancel a regularly scheduled opening, OR to institute early dismissal, the Headmaster will send the RenWeb Emergency Alert to parents and notify the local TV and radio networks. When a serious emergency requires a coordinated school response, the St. James Office will be designated as the School Command Center.

For consistency, accuracy, and efficiency, the Command Center will create appropriate written statements to be shared with the School Community. Due to the needs of the community during a real emergency, we will be unable to hold personal discussions with individual callers; however, we will attempt to share what we know and to answer anticipated questions within our official statements.

  • Parents are advised to check the School website (www.sjes.org) for updates.
  • Upon opening school each fall, the staff will create emergency “phone trees” for all families. The “phone trees” provide information to be used in contacting all members of the School Community with emergency information and procedures.
  • The Command Center will monitor the City of Corpus Christi 911 Emergency Broadcast System and will be linked by electronic means to the Republic of Texas Office of Homeland Security to ensure the most rapid notification in the event of a regional emergency.
  • The Command Center will utilize the phone system, overhead PA system (MS), cell phones, and walkie-talkies to maintain communication with all areas of the St. James campus.
  • The Command Center will be the only source of publicly shared information. The Headmaster or designees are the only spokesperson(s) for the School.
  • The School phone system, monitored by the Director of Student Services, will be used as long as is safely feasible for OUTGOING communication with emergency personnel, parents, and others. It is often noted that during emergencies such phone systems quickly become overloaded. Therefore, please evaluate your need to contact the School carefully to limit INCOMING calls during an emergency.
  • To avoid overloading the School phone system, teachers and scholars will not use the internal phone system extensions without permission from the Command Center.
  • Administration and Office Staff will place OUTGOING calls to parents.

Each building and the surrounding landscaping that comprise St. James Episcopal School and the Church of the Good Shepherd has been surveyed for potential hazards and security weaknesses. All personal injuries or property damage accidents, involving scholars, visitors, or employees on campus, should be reported immediately to the Director of Finance.

Emergency Numbers/ Resources/ Contacts

Corpus Christi Police, Fire, Ambulance

CALL 911

Police Department General Information

Poison Control

American Red Cross

Main: 361-887-9991; Disaster Services: 866-526-8300

National Weather Service

Television Stations

KRIS-TV
www.kristv.com
Main: 361-883-7070; News: 361-884-6666

KIII-TV
www.kiiitv.com
Main: 361-986-8300; Weather Center: 361-986-8597; Weather Info: 361-814-9463; News Hotline: 361-855 6391

KZTV-TV
www.kztv10.com
Main: 361-886-6100; News: 361-884-6666

Other Resources

www.reversealert.org
Reverse Alert-Mass communication system adopted by the Coastal Bend to deliver information about major emergencies or natural disasters as quickly as possible

The Following issues required continuous vigilance:

  • All doors that can remain locked should be locked. Most entrances and side doors at the SJES Middle School building, the Water St. entrances to Dobbins Hall, Primary School hallways, and the interior door in Mund’s Hall that leads down to Water Street classrooms are on scheduled timers and may be opened from the inside.
  • Those entrances which cannot remain locked without hampering normal services provided by the School Office and the Church of the Good Shepherd should be monitored.
  • All visitors to St. James are required to check in and out of the School Office and provided a “Visitor” badge which must be worn when on the SJES campus. Any individual without a “Visitor” badge must return to the School Office.

Shelter In Place procedures will be in effect when conditions inside the buildings are safer than outside the buildings. There are two types of Shelter In Place: Shelter In Place Chemical and Shelter In Place Person.

Shelter In Place Chemical Emergency (Explosion/Hazardous Airborne Agents):
Shelter In Place Chemical procedures are followed during emergencies involving dangerous materials resulting in toxic vapors outside the facility. Sheltering in a sealed building is a highly effective measure in keeping scholars and staff safe. When alerted that an explosion or a hazardous airborne release has occurred which threatens St. James Episcopal School, the School Office will immediately begin operation as Command Center. Command Center will monitor the local 911 Emergency Broadcast System through a radio receiver located in the School Office and the TEA-approved email distribution system controlled by the Texas Office of Homeland Security. All School Personnel will immediately act to protect the scholars.

Shelter In Place Chemical Emergency (Explosion/Hazardous Airborne Agents)

Headmaster:
  • Using good judgment, for all emergencies other than weather, call 911.
  • Implement Shelter in Place procedures and activate School Emergency Plan.
  • Sound the alarm (Loudmouth) and announce, “We are going into a
  • Shelter In Place Chemical Procedure now.” Repeat announcement several times.
  • Inform staff to move all scholars into designated classrooms and safe areas and suspend all outside activity.
  • Direct Office Staff to physically notify any classes that may be too far away from the buildings to hear the announcement or alarm.
  • Mark outside entry ways with NO SCHOOL ACCESS signs and prohibit anyone from entering or exiting the buildings.
  • Send a RenWeb alert to parents the School is closed and scholars and staff will remain in the building until authorities advise that it is safe to leave.
  • Prepare to evacuate if notified by authorities to do so.
  • Provide updates and instructions as available.
  • Ensure everyone remains in place until “all clear” is issued.
  • Make the official “all clear” announcement when the emergency has ceased.
Staff:
  • Move all scholars inside as quickly as possible.
  • Report to safe areas or classrooms (interior spaces without windows)
  • Take Class Rosters and Emergency Supply Kits.
  • Shut and lock classroom doors and any other exterior openings.
  • Close blinds and/or window curtains.
  • Account for each scholar and report any missing, extra, or injured scholars to Office.
  • If appropriate, instruct scholars to Drop and Tuck until the School Office provides instructions for relocation or resumption of activities.
  • If there appears to be air contamination, place a wet cloth or paper towel over the nose and mouth for temporary respiratory protection.
  • If instructed by officials, use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal cracks around doors, windows, and vents to reduce air flow into the room as much as possible.
  • Prohibit anyone from entering or exiting area.
  • Be prepared to evacuate if told to do so.
  • Remain in Shelter in Place Chemical until directed by Command Center or Local Authorities.
Facilities Director:
  • Turn off, seal off, and disable fans, air conditioning, and heating systems in the case of an outside air quality emergency.
Policies/Procedures:
  • All exterior doors and windows will be locked, and to the extent possible, air-leak sealed.
  • All air circulation equipment (fans, HVAC units and other openings to outside air) will be turned off and/or sealed to the extent possible.
  • Scholars and adults will not be allowed to ENTER or to LEAVE sealed buildings until emergency personnel have issued an “all clear.”
  • As soon as doors can be opened without jeopardizing the safety of those inside, the School will follow the emergency scholar release procedures outlined in this document.
  • Teachers will have scholars Shelter in Place Chemical within individual classrooms and will close and seal classroom doors and windows. McNeil Gymnasium will use the Gym Office area. All scholars should be moved away from exterior windows.
  • Upon the “all-clear” signal, teachers escort scholars to the assigned collection areas to facilitate scholar release to arriving parents. These areas include: Middle School – Middle School Assembly Hall, Foster Hall – SJES Library, Dobbins Hall – D.H. Multipurpose Room.
  • In the event of evacuation, teachers will escort scholars to First Presbyterian Church (430 South Carancahua) and parents will collect scholars from there.
  • Teachers collect safety supply bags and bring them to the common collection areas.

Shelter in Place Person Emergency (Unstable Individual on Campus)

Policies/Procedures:
  • Any member of the faculty or staff may activate Shelter in Place Person procedures.
  • Using good judgment, for all emergencies other than weather, call 911.
  • Implement Shelter in Place procedures and activate the School Emergency Plan.
  • Sound the alarm (Loudmouth) and announce, “We are going into a
  • Shelter In Place Person Procedure now.” Repeat announcement several times.
  • School personnel will NOT attempt to engage individuals of unstable behavior in any way. Professional law enforcement or security personnel shall be used.
  • In the event an unstable individual enters campus, any adult must call 911, Campus Security, and the School Office immediately.
  • When alerted that an unstable individual is threatening (verbally, physically-with or without weapons) the safety of St. James scholars or school personnel, the School shall immediately use the 911 system.
  • When alerted to danger, administrators will use all available means to alert personnel in all campus buildings that they are to LOCK exterior doors/windows.
  • Take immediate action to keep unstable individuals outside or separated from scholars by walls, locked doors, offices, etc.
  • Implement Shelter in Place Person procedures.
  • Move scholars immediately to the closest, most secure location on campus prior to calling for assistance. Teachers outside the buildings must use their best judgment regarding where to move scholars.
    • Close and lock all doors, and turn off the lights.
    • Close blinds, shades, and curtains.
    • Move all persons away from windows and door, against an interior wall. Everyone should remain still and silent.
    • Account for all scholars.
  • Teachers will instruct scholars to follow Shelter in Place Person Procedures until the emergency “all clear” is communicated by a member of law enforcement or a member of the Crisis Management Team.
  • In the event the intruder gains access to the room and begins shooting, instruct scholars to leave the classroom. They should be further instructed to leave the building or go to another location determined safe by the teacher’s best judgment.
  • All administrators are to report to the closest secure office and follow the same procedures.
  • As soon as safely possible, the Headmaster will send a RenWeb Emergency Alert to notify parents of the incident and relay any pertinent information regarding the safety of the scholars.