Given the possibility that we may soon be at war, and that we may go to an Orange Alert Level, we want to provide some guidance as to what actions you may wish to take in that event. We are finalizing a more detailed guidance document in cooperation with the New York State Police and the Office of Public Security. We hope to have it to you in the next day or so, but we wanted to share this information with you today. You should now be reviewing your school safety plans, including your emergency contact information, to ensure that everything is up-to-date. In addition, at a minimum, you should consider taking the following actions in the event of an Orange Alert Level 2: Increase surveillance Consider restricting parking near building Review building use permits Confer with authorities for further action Consider postponing field trips to certain locations Heightened scrutiny of off-campus activities Limit access to facilities Review facility use Depending on the immediacy of the threat, at an Orange Alert Level 1 you may also wish to: Consider activation of Lockout or Lockdown procedures based on your local situation Lockout This is a procedure, which allows the school to continue with the normal school day, but curtails outside activity, and allows no unauthorized personnel into the building. Most commonly used when the threat is general or the incident is occurring outside school building, on or off school property. Steps to implement Lockout after possible threat has been identified: Announce Lockout has been implemented. Call 911. Activate building emergency plan and implement Incident Command System in accordance with safety plan instructions. Have students who are outside immediately return to school building. Administrators/Custodians/Assigned staff - lock and secure all exterior doors and entrances. Monitor main entrance and allow only AUTHORIZED personnel into building. Consider using "barricades" to close off school driveways and parking lots. Consider modified release of students for end of school day.  Lockdown A procedure used when there is an immediate and imminent threat to the school building population. School staff and students are secured in the rooms they are currently in and no one is allowed to leave until the situation has been curtailed. This allows the school to secure the students and staff in place and remove any innocent bystanders from immediate danger. Most commonly use when building has an intruder. Questions to ask: Does the school have a lockdown procedure in place? Is it activated using a code? Do all the staff members have keys to lock the room doors? Have teachers arranged classrooms in advance using "line of sight" as guidance? What are the procedures for accounting for students and staff? Do the teachers know what their responsibilities are? What about substitutes? Has the Lockdown been practiced? Steps to implement lockdown after threat has been identified: Lockdown signal is given – maybe a pre-selected word or phrase or audible sound from speakers. Can be initiated by any school building Management Personnel. Call 911. Teachers/Staff follow preset instructions to secure doors, turn out lights, cover windows, pull shades, and move students out of line of sight of doors and windows. Teachers/Staff take attendance and record students who are in the room, missing and extra students from hall and await further instructions. Teachers are not allowed to open doors for ANYONE under ANY Circumstances. All activities cease. Students/Staff outside building must evacuate to a predetermined. off-campus, location. This includes bus runs and field trips. If you have any questions about any of this information, you may contact Laura Sahr, Emergency Planning Liaison, at 518-474-3906 or lsahr@mail.nysed.gov.

Full Homeland Security Color-Coded System Guidance