Emergency Drills

Mandatory emergency practice drills, including fire drills, severe weather drills, lockdown drills, and building evacuation drills, will occur multiple times throughout the school year. School code requires that one practice drill occurs each month during the school year. These drills are routine and are designed to maximize the safety of our students and staff in the event of an actual emergency situation. Students are expected to adhere to the safety procedures and act in a responsible manner during drills. Local law enforcement and EMS units may be invited to participate in such drills. During drills, visitors to the school and late-arriving students will be detained at a designated location until the drill has been completed.

Penn Hills School District has a comprehensive crisis response plan in place in all school buildings. Staff and students are regularly trained in these security/evacuation procedures.

Fire Drills

Severe Weather Drills

Severe weather drills will also be held periodically throughout the school year to prepare students for weather-related emergencies, such as tornadoes. Students and staff will practice the “Drop and Tuck” safety stance in the internal areas of the building, away from exterior doors and windows. “Drop and Tuck” means to be in a kneeling position, facing the wall, with the head down, and hands shielding the head.

Lockdown Drills

Critical incidents in the community may arise when it is advisable to prohibit entrance into our building and necessitate that our students and staff exercise sheltering in place, or what is commonly referred to as a LOCKDOWN. At least twice per year, we will practice this lockdown drill with the guidance of the Penn Hills Police Department. Parents/guardians will be notified via a letter from building administration if/when this drill occurs within PHES.

Emergency Evacuation Drills

In the event of an actual EMERGENCY EVACUATION from Penn Hills Elementary, the following procedure will be implemented…

The Building Principal and the Superintendent/designee, in collaboration with the Penn Hills Police Department, will make the decision whether or not to evacuate the building.
The building will be evacuated using the practiced emergency drill procedure.
Students and staff will be secured in an offsite location.
Penn Hills Police will be responsible for inspecting the building and denoting when it is safe to return to the building.
Parent/guardian notification via our automated Skylert messaging system will be made to relay information regarding the event, including alternate dismissal arrangements if necessary.

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