IEMA encourages parents to include emergency preparedness in
back-to-school plans
August is
School Preparedness Month in Illinois
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[August
13, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- Students
soon will be heading back to school, and parents across Illinois are
busy getting their children ready for the new school year. As part
of School Preparedness Month during August, the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency encourages parents to include emergency
preparedness in those back-to-school plans.
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"For many parents, back-to-school planning usually means picking up
notebooks, pencils, crayons and other school supplies," said IEMA
Director Jonathon Monken. "But the new school year is also a good
time to make sure you know your school's plans for keeping kids safe
during an emergency and for providing your current emergency contact
information to school officials." Monken said no one likes to
think about an emergency happening while children are in school or
at day care. However, the tornado that struck two schools in Moore,
Okla., in May serves as a reminder that emergency situations can
arise during the school day.
Back-to-school planning tips include:
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Know your child's
school or day care emergency plan.
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Find out where
children will be taken in the event of an evacuation during
school hours.
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Ensure your
emergency contact information is up-to-date at your child's
school.
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Pre-authorize a
friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency, and
make sure the school knows who that designated person is.
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Have a family communications plan and
review the plan periodically with your child. The plan should
include contact information for an out-of-area family member or
friend, since local telephone networks may not work during a
major disaster.
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Many college campuses offer email and text messages to alert
students of potential dangers, such as severe weather and other
threats. Encourage your college student to sign up for such alerts.
Some colleges also provide alert messages for parents so they also
are aware of potential dangers at their child's school.
Additional preparedness information is available on the Ready
Illinois website at
www.ready.illinois.gov.
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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