Emergency Management

It is important for families to know that our school is on the Bushfire at Risk Register. The following procedures come directly from our schoom Emergency Managment Plan (EMP). 

Bushfire nearby

Indications: A bushfire is burning nearby, which may threaten the MACS school.

Procedure

1. Monitor conditions. Ensure key school leadership staff have watch zones set up in the VicEmergency app to notify them if warnings are issued for the area surrounding the school. Be reasonably vigilant for signs of a developing emergency nearby, such as many sirens, the smell of smoke or a building smoke plume. Phone MACS Emergency Management if you are uncertain and require advice.
2. Monitor and follow warnings. ‘Advice’, ‘Watch and Act’ and ‘Emergency Warning’ will be issued via VicEmergency and provide critical information on what action to take in the event of a bushfire. Read these warnings and consider the impacts on the school, and what actions the school can reasonably and safely take to comply with the warning directions. Phone MACS Emergency Management for advice if required.
3. Consider whether it is appropriate to close the school or conduct an offsite evacuation before the school comes under direct threat from the bushfire. Phone MACS Emergency Management for advice if uncertain.
4. Prepare to initiate the shelter-in-place procedure if a bushfire threatens the school, a ‘shelter now’ warning is issued, or if the principal or delegate determines it is necessary. Phone MACS Emergency Management for advice if required.

Shelter in Place:

Indications: An external incident or emergency is underway. It is unsafe to evacuate, and the safest course of action is to remain inside a designated building in the facility.

Procedure:

1. Trigger the shelter-in-place signal according to the instructions, ensuring the internal assembly area location is communicated to everyone, along with any key information (such as routes to take or areas to avoid). Alternatively, it may be most appropriate for all students and staff to shelter where they are.
2. Take your school’s emergency kit, first aid kit, a copy of this EMP, and attendance lists for staff and students to the shelter location.
3. At the shelter location, check all students, staff and visitors are accounted for.
4. Phone 000 and notify emergency services (call Police in the first instance, who have responsibility for evacuations); include information on how many people are sheltering, where they are sheltering and any individuals not accounted for.
5. Liaise with emergency services to provide any necessary information and support.
6. Notify your region’s General Manager and/or MACS Emergency Management of the incident.
7. Maintain a log of all activities.
8. Notify parents/carers as appropriate. This would usually include instructions to stay away from the school, as attending may place parents/carers at risk from the incident.

As you can see from the overhead photo of our school below, the Hall is the designated Shelter in Place. There is a secondary Evacutation meeting point on the School Basketball Court.