EXAMPLE 4: Shelter

Scenario: A nearby wildland fire has resulted in mandatory neighborhood evacuations. The Red Cross is requesting the high school as a designated shelter.

Considerations: Due to the community value of the high school as a Red Cross shelter, the decision is made to accept the request. With area residents arriving, and bus routes affected, the decision is made to transport students to a school outside of the impacted area.

Unified Command: Because it is an active fire event, the fire department would lead Unified Command, but shelter is only one aspect. The Red Cross would establish their command structure division at the shelter high school.

Reunification Incident Command: At the reunification site, a command structure is established to manage the reunification.

Joint Information Center: Because it is a large scale event, managed by Unified Command, the most experienced PIO would be the primary press representative. The school or district PIO would be in the JIC, communicating with the PIO at the reunification site.

Notifications: Parents and media are notified that the school has been evacuated. Additional notifications are made to parents on the location of the reunification site once students are in route or at the site.

Police Role in Reunification: The school which is the reunification site requests assistance from law enforcement. Officers are assigned to the reunification site.

Shelter Lifecycle

• Parents begin to arrive outside of the perimeter.
• The media arrive on scene.
• Internet, WiFi, and cell services are intermittent or unresponsive.
• Police secure the reunification site.
• District mobilizes Reunification Team.
• Buses are deployed and students are transported to the reunification site.
• Parents are notified of site location.
• The Standard Reunification Method is utilized.