• GENERAL EMERGENCY INFORMATION

     
    Tam Valley practices and is ready to handle a disaster is one should occur. We have an Emergency Plan that outlines procedures in the event of an earthquake, fire or intruder. Staff members are assigned tasks such as First Aid, Search and Rescue, Student Release, and Safety and Security. Each fall we simulate a natural disaster and rehearse our roles with parent observers and the Fire Department in attendance.
     
    It is important for parents to understand our plan and know what to do when they arrive at school to pick up their children after a disaster. Here is helpful information:
     
    Marin residents have learned the following from prior emergency situations:

    • There is little advance warning.
    • Highway 101 and other major routes may be closed.
    • Telephones and other major utilities may be out for several days.
    • Floods may occur in low lying areas.
    • In a major disaster, deaths and injuries will exceed the capacity of our health facilities.

    Because government and school agencies are limited in their capabilities, it is likely that our school and our nearby community may operate on our own for several days.

    The objectives of our plan are the following:

    • To provide for action which will minimize injuries and loss of life of students and school and emergency personnel if an emergency occurs during school hours;
    • To provide for maximum use of school personnel and school facilities;
    • To ensure the safety and protection of our students and school personnel immediately after a disaster;
    • To arrange for a calm and efficient plan for parents to retrieve their children from school if necessary.
    • To meet these objectives, in the event a disaster should occur when children are at school, the following action plan would be implemented

    TEACHERS WILL:

    • Give "duck, cover and hold" instructions in event of earthquake.
    • Evacuate building in case of fire or after an earthquake.
    • Take emergency folder and evacuate students to assigned area on yard.
    • Take classroom emergency kit only when evacuating after an earthquake.
    • Hold students in assigned yard area, take role, and wait for further
    • instructions.
    • Remain with class and report anyone who is missing.
    • Take appropriate first aid action.
    • Not re-enter buildings until deemed safe.
    • Dismiss students to go home only to parent/or authorized adult. Children must be signed out by parent/or authorized adult.

    ASSIGNED SCHOOL PERSONNEL WILL:

    • In the event of a fire, shut off gas, electricity and water (in that order).
    • In the event of an earthquake, if we smell gas, turn off gas; if there is an electrical problem, turn off electricity; if there are water leaks, turn off water.
    • Set up and coordinate a first aid center.
    • Report to principal for further instructions.
    • Assume assigned emergency response roles: i.e., coordinate a first aid center, engage in search and rescue tasks, supervise students, etc.

    SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION WILL:

    • If telephones are operable: Notify the Marin County Sheriff's office and the Mill Valley School District office, and, monitor incoming phone calls.
    • Establish radio communication with the school district office.
    • Maintain communication with staff and outside agencies.
    • Call the Emergency Operations Center and assigned radio stations to report state of affairs at Tam Valley School (KCBS-740 AM or KGO-810 AM).
    • Assign available adults to tasks as needed.
    • Decide if evacuation to Mill Valley Middle School is necessary.

    SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS:

    DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL because this ties up the school telephones. 
     

    DISMISSAL:
    In the event of a major earthquake, SCHOOL WILL NOT BE DISMISSED, AND CHILDREN WILL REMAIN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SCHOOL AUTHORITIES until parents or responsible adults can pick them up.
     
    PICKING UP YOUR CHILD:

    • Proceed to the "Student Release Table" at the front of school. After signing the Student Release form, you will be given a pass. Take this pass to pick up your child on the school blacktop.
    • DO NOT REMOVE YOUR CHILD OR ANY OTHER CHILD FROM SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING SIGNED YOUR NAME ON THE EMERGENCY RELEASE FORM. This provides us with a record of where each child is.
    • Many of you may not be able to reach school by car or phone. If conditions make it necessary, we will release your child to the adult indicated on your child's "Emergency Release" form. We will keep a written record of the child and the adult to whom the child has been released.
    • The principal or teacher in charge will determine the need to leave the building. In the event the building cannot be reoccupied, we will transfer the students to the nearest available safe shelter. Mill Valley Middle School has been assigned as evacuation site for our school.
    • If children are caught in a disaster between home and the school, it is recommended they go immediately to school.

    FOOD AND WATER SUPPLY:

    In the event that children would need to remain on campus for several hours after any sort of a disaster, we have a supply of food and fresh water.
     
    FIRST AID:

    School personnel have been trained in first aid. Each classroom has a specially designed disaster kit containing appropriate supplies.