Emergency Drills

State building regulations require that a fire drill be held routinely in public schools. Classroom teachers will provide instruction to the students regarding safe and appropriate behavior that is expected during a fire drill. Please reinforce the importance of following adult instructions during these 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.

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.

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

1. 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.
2. The building will be evacuated using the practiced emergency drill procedure.
3. Students and staff will be secured in an offsite location.
4. Penn Hills Police will be responsible for inspecting the building and denoting when it is safe to return to the building.
5. Parent/guardian notification via our automated Skylert messaging system will be made to relay information regarding the event, including alternate dismissal arrangements if necessary.