Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Response
It is a goal of the school district to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students. Schools regularly participate in drills including earthquake drills shakeoutbc.ca and fire drills.
All school sites maintain emergency and first aid supplies in the event of an emergency.
In addition, to natural disasters, our schools are also prepared for other risks and threats of dangers ranging from health related issues to potential intruders.
The school district has established a number of regulations to maintain a safe environment. To view our school district regulations, go to the following link.
Our response to an emergency will vary depending on the situation. Any response will be a coordinated effort with our local support and emergency agents. The school district works in partnership with the RCMP, Fire Departments, Coastal Health, the Ministry of Children and Family and the SCRD – Emergency Response Program.
Contact Information:
Phone: 604.885.2266
Gibsons – 604.885.6870 | GDVFD
Roberts Creek – 604.885.6871 | RCFD
Halfmoon Bay – 604.885.6872 | Halfmoon Bay Fire Department
Egmont – 604.885.2555 | Egmont District Fire Department
Sechelt – 604.885.7017 | secheltfiredepartment.ca/
Pender Harbour – 604.883.9011 | penderharbourfire.com/
Gibsons Health Unit
Phone: 604.984.5070
Sechelt Health Unit
Phone: 604.885.5164
Pender Harbour & District Health Centre
Phone: 604.883.2764
Phone: 877.387.7027 | Email: MCF.CorrespondenceManagement@gov.bc.ca
Local Offices
Gibsons – 604.886.5525
Sechelt – 604.740.8900
Helpline for Children – 310.1234 (no area code needed)
Emergency Preparedness
In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, the district will respond to the situation in a coordinated effort with the Sunshine Coast Emergency Program.
- Please view the Program Flow Chart (although not indicated, SD46 is included as part of ‘Local Government’ in the top box). The Sunshine Coast Emergency Program regularly monitors our readiness for an emergency and has facilitated simulated drills.
- Please read more on Emergency Management BC.
With the arrival of May comes Emergency Preparedness Week, an annual event to encourage Canadians to pause, reflect and take action around being better prepared for a major emergency. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Stock up on water: 4 litres per person per day, for a minimum of 3 days.
- Stock up on emergency food: a minimum 3-day supply of ready-to-eat foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking. Don’t forget the pet food.
- Gather emergency supplies: First Aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, battery-powered radio, work gloves, personal sanitation supplies (garbage bags/moist towelettes), whistle, and dust mask. Put it all together in one spot that is quickly and easily accessible.
- Make a reunification plan with your family. Where will you meet? Who will pick up your children from school if you aren’t able to get there? Talk this through with your family.
The most important thing to do is just start. For additional preparedness information, visit PreparedBC or the Government of Canada’s Get Prepared.
School Preparedness
Schools have a number of procedures in place to handle emergencies from minor to major emergency situations. These procedures are continually updated and protocols have been developed for critical incidence interventions. In the event of a major emergency, the school is prepared to care for your child if you are unable to reach the school.
If there ever is a major emergency, we ask for your help in the following ways:
- Please do not telephone the school. The lines must be open for emergency calls.
- Please walk to school and do not drive. The school access routes and entrances must be clear for emergency vehicles.
- A student will ONLY be dismissed if a parent/guardian or contact person previously identified by a parent comes to pick up the child. The parent or designated guardian must report to the office or Command Centre to sign out the child. Please make sure all of your emergency contact information is up-to-date.
- Please turn on your radio for instructions and news reports. Check the school district website for notices and critical information. Be prepared at home. Make your children aware of safety issues and what to do in the event of an emergency. Have emergency kits in your home and vehicle.
- Home Emergency Kit – Vancouver Coastal Health recommends that each household be prepared to have emergency supplies for a minimum of three days. Please view the emergency kit.
Emergency Drills
Overview of our drill procedures:
– Provincially Mandated Drills: Each school year, we conduct two lockdown, two earthquake, and six fire drills per site. More information about drill frequency can be found in the provincial guidelines here (see Page 12). Additionally, our district’s emergency preparedness policy provides further details here.
– Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Drills are intended for practice, and we present them to students in ways suited to their developmental level.
Drills explained:
- The fire drill involves an evacuation of the building and the taking of attendance in a timely manner.
- Our earthquake drill involves a simulated announcement that signals to the students to drop, cover, and hold.
- The lockdown drill allows us to practice what to do in a situation when there is an active threat inside a school.
To further clarify the types of emergency situations we prepare for:
– Lockdowns: Activated only if there is an active threat inside a school. In this situation, staff secure rooms, halt all activities, and students are kept in classrooms in a safe position and remain quiet.
– Shelter-in-Place: Initiated for external hazards (e.g., wildlife, environmental or weather events) that require students and staff to remain indoors while continuing regular activities.
– Hold and Secure: Used for security concerns outside the school (in the neighbourhood or surrounding area). Staff bring everyone inside, lock exterior doors, and close blinds, but activities inside the school continue as usual.
We do not publish the exact times of our drills but teachers receive advance notice so they can prepare their class for them. Drills help to create muscle memory and are important to practice. Any discussions that parents/caregivers might have with their children about drills are helpful for shared understanding.
Safety and Security Information
We very much encourage parent participation and presence in our schools. The following procedures are in place for safety reasons. Please adhere to the following:
- Check in at the school office when coming into the school during the school day.
- Please do not be offended if asked by a staff member to identify yourself and explain your reasons for being on the grounds or in the school ‐ they are just doing their job to keep students safe.
Violent Incident Response Plan
ERASE VIOLENCE/ EMBRACE COMPASSION: BC Ministry of Education’s School Safety Website
- Lockdown – A lockdown procedure protects staff and students from a threat inside the building such as an intruder. Activating lockdown quickly will potentially save lives, reduce injuries and will assist police and other emergency responders in dealing with the situation effectively. The RCMP may also call a lockdown procedure if an incident is occurring within the direct vicinity of the school and it is unsafe to release the students.
- Room Clear – is an action initiated by a teacher or supervising adult to send students out of a room away from a potential threat. Students will be sent to a designated safe area, which may differ depending on the situation.
- Community Threat Assessment Agreement – establishes a community protocol for dealing with high-risk student behaviour.
Current partners in the agreement include – Ministry for Child and Family Development, Child and Youth Mental Health, School District 46 and the Sunshine Coast RCMP.
Health Issues
Managing Medical Conditions
If your child takes medications that must or may need to be administered during the school day (this includes emergency medications/treatments such as EpiPens) please be advised that there are certain protocols in place. EpiPen should be with the student at all times (if possible provide a second EpiPen to be stored at the office). Any other medications must be stored in the school office (please do not send ANY medications to school with a child in their back pack or lunch kit).
The school works closely with families and the Public Health Nurse to maintain a safety plan for students. A safety plan must be established before administration of any medications by school personnel is allowed. Parents are welcome to come to the school to administer medications themselves if a doctor form has not been completed.
If your child has a known life-threatening medical condition or diagnosis (e.g. allergies resulting in anaphylaxis, seizure disorder, asthma, diabetes, etc.) please make an appointment with the principal at the beginning of every school year to review emergency plans specific to your child’s condition.
Parents should also please complete the “Request for Administration of Medication Form.”
Traffic Safety
Traffic safety is always an area of concern, particularly during the busy drop-off and pick-up times before and after school. Use extra caution in adverse weather conditions. Slow down and watch out for kids. Pay particular attention near schools. Reduce speed to 30 km/h in school zones on weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Do not pass school buses when their red lights are flashing, as this means that children are loading and unloading. If you are unsure of the school drop off procedure, please contact your principal.
Have your children exit the vehicle on the CURB side of the street instead of having them step out into traffic. Please encourage your children to cross at the stop signs instead of crossing mid-street (jay walking).
If at all possible, please assist us in decreasing the traffic congestion in front of the school by walking or riding bikes and scooters to school.
For further information regarding road safety please see our ACTIVE TRAVEL page.
Inclement Weather Procedures
Please visit our dedicated INCLEMENT WEATHER page for more information regarding our procedures and communications plan for extreme weather events.