September is Emergency Preparedness Month, which is an opportunity to remind our community about the importance of being prepared for emergencies.听 In addition to campus safety preparedness and trainings, 天涯社区 also prepares for a variety of emergencies.听 Not only do we live in an earthquake zone but we also live in a region that is prone to wildfires, among other potential hazards, which means that preparation now can help keep our families safe during an emergency and help our community recover from a large scale event.听听听
Below is information about what 天涯社区 does to prepare our schools in the event of an emergency, tips for what you can do to be prepared and important information and resources from the Irvine Police Department.听 Please take a moment to read the following.听听
What You Need to Know 天涯社区 District and School Planning and Preparedness
Campus safety is a top priority for 天涯社区 and our schools.听 天涯社区鈥檚 priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and community.听 To this end, our district has embraced听a multi-layered approach to safety that includes investments in campus security, technology, mental health and wellness, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), student and staff trainings, safety assessments, campus security personnel, and partnerships with the Irvine Police Department (IPD) and other local, state and national law enforcement and first responder agencies.听
天涯社区 continually reviews our procedures, practices and resources to help foster a safe learning environment for all students.听 Visit our Safety Resources webpage at听, which includes the following information:
- District and Campus Safety Initiatives
- Our Partnership with the Irvine Police Department
- Student and Parent Roles in Supporting School Safety
- How to Stay Connected to 天涯社区
- The Emergency Preparedness Interagency Collaborative
- Reunification Protocols
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
- Mental Health and Wellness Resources
- Fire Arm Safety
- Additional Resources, Including Archived Safety Presentations
- 天涯社区 Emergency Planning
天涯社区 plans and prepares for disasters and to be self-sufficient.听 天涯社区 and our schools plan and train for a wide range of possible disasters.听 Though 天涯社区 works closely with the Irvine Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and other agencies, it may be necessary to coordinate our own response efforts if emergency personnel are tending to more immediate needs. 天涯社区 staff members have been assigned specific roles and responsibilities that are practiced during drills throughout the year. Additionally, 天涯社区 teachers and staff receive Stop the Bleed training to help save lives until emergency personnel can arrive on scene.听 听听听
天涯社区 maintains responsibility for our students.听 天涯社区 campuses are secured during emergencies and disasters.听 During normal school hours, students will be kept under the supervision of school personnel, whether on campus or off campus,听until they can safely be released to parents or authorized guardians through an established reunification process and in coordination with the Irvine Police Department.听 Your school or the District will provide information about the reunification location(s) by email,听text messages or phone messages.听 Please check these resources first.听听Information may also be provided on your school鈥檚 website,听听and District social media.听 听
天涯社区 has an established parent/child reunification process.听 Students will only be released to persons listed on the school鈥檚 emergency contact card.听 If you are not sure who is listed on your emergency card, login to听听and go to the 鈥淐ontact鈥 page.听 Here you will be able to see who is an authorized emergency contact and the date it was last updated.听 Please be sure to keep this information up to date.
When picking up your child, the authorized adult must have a valid picture ID, such as a driver鈥檚 license, state identification card or passport.
For more information about 天涯社区 student and campus safety resources,听visit听.听听
Stay Connected to 天涯社区
Staying connected to 天涯社区 is as easy as 1, 2, 3.听
- During an emergency, first check your email, text messages and voicemail for the most up-to-date information from your school or the District.听
- Visit听听and/or听, where important alerts and ongoing updates are posted.
- Follow 天涯社区 social media sites on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
To learn more about staying connected to 天涯社区, visit听. 听
Keep Your Information Updated.听Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information. Be sure that your school has updated information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to arrange for pick-up. During times of emergency the school telephones may be overwhelmed with calls, so it is important your school knows how to reach you.听 Login to听听and go to the 鈥淐ontact鈥 page.听 Here you will be able to see who is an authorized emergency contact and the date it was lasted updated.
What You Need to Know at Home and Work
Visit the Irvine Police Department鈥檚 Emergency Management webpage.听For important information about how you can be prepared at home and work for an emergency, visit the Irvine Police Department鈥檚 emergency preparedness webpage at听. This comprehensive webpage has information about听, how to听, and other important information.
Register your work, home and cellphones with AlertOC.听 AlertOC is a mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies. By registering with AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the City of Irvine may be sent to your home, mobile, or business phone. Text messages may also be sent to mobile phones, e-mail accounts, and hearing impaired receiving devices.听 For more information or to register your phones, visit听.
Those living in areas prone to wildfires should take extra precautions.听The Irvine Police Department has partnered with the Orange County Fire Authority to help residents protect against wildfires.听 Residents in at-risk areas 鈥 including Quail Hill, Shady Canyon, Portola Springs, Turtle Rock, and Orchard Hills should especially review the following:
- Protect your home by taking steps to mitigate risk, including creating defensible space
- Assemble a bag filled with necessities such as clothes and medication
- Plan evacuation routes and leave early in the event of a wildfire
- Prepare a family reunification plan.
For more information, go to听听or听.听
What You Can Do in the Community
The Irvine Police Department鈥檚 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a free program designed to prepare citizens to help themselves, their families and their neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster.听 For more information, visit听cityofirvine.org/CERT听or email听CERT@cityofirvine.org.