Fire Alarm/TOPS Building Evacuation Procedures

In practice, both expected and unexpected drills contribute to student and staff safety. In an actual emergency, no one is exempt from the consequences. Therefore, no one should be exempt from a drill. All students, teachers, food service staff, custodians, employees, visitors, and administrators—everyone in the building should cease regular activity and participate.

When TOPS administration announces a building evacuation,  teachers or staff members will follow the following procedures.

1. Grab the red backpack with the Emergency Packet from the wall hook.   
2. Get your students’ attention.  
3. Read loudly from the packet’s coversheet to students:  
   • We are evacuating the building.  
   • If you have a backpack or coat here in the room, you may take these with you.  
   • We are going to our field location.  
4. Close your room door upon leaving after your students exit. Do not lock your door. 
5. Go to your room’s assigned field location. Line your students up at your designated area. All classes on Eastlake will face the building with teachers at the front of the line. Students are to be silent so they can hear any instructions. 

Once you and your class are in place on the field…

1. Take attendance on the field. 
2. Hold up the green card if all students are present are in your line or the red card if you’re missing a student and/or a student is scheduled to be with another teacher.
3. Listen for an all-clear to return to class or further announcements regarding the evacuation.

Teacher Note: A replacement student roster list will be placed in your mailbox following a drill or evacuation.

What-if’s…

• During Middle School Lunch: Go to the field location of your 4th period classroom.  
• During Passing Time: Exit the building. Go straight to the field. Line up with your next period’s teacher. 
• Building occupants who are not pre-assigned to a specific classroom or field location, including all service and professional staff as well as visitors: Gather on the north end of the field, south of the swings.

More What-if’s…

• You are a student or teacher not in your normal classroom when a fire alarm/building evacuation occurs (e.g., in the hallway, another classroom, library, or computer lab)? Exit the building according to your current location’s evacuation route and then proceed to your classroom’s field location assignment for that period.  
• You are a teacher and have evacuated, but you do not have an emergency packet with a student roster. Do not go back to your room. Take roll on plain paper or your phone as best as you can to determine if anyone is missing. Write the teacher’s name and room number on this list.  
• You are TOPS staff, TA, or student in the building during a fire alarm/building evacuation, and you are not assigned to a classroom for that period. TA stay with the office staff. If you’re on a break or it’s your prep, go to your field spot. 
• You are a visitor during a fire alarm/building evacuation. Proceed to the north end of the field south of the swings.  
• Fire alarm/building evacuation occurs prior to school or after school? With an adult, evacuate to the field.