School Emergency Drills

Simple guidance for teachers, administrators and safety officers


Emergencies can happen without warning. Regular drills help students and staff know what to do, practice their response and identify problems before an emergency happens.

Use this guide to help make your school's fire and earthquake drills safe, organized and meaningful.

Important: This resource provides general preparedness guidance and does not replace your school district's emergency plan or applicable laws and regulations. Schools should confirm requirements specific to their school and district.

Fire Drills

Fire drills provide an opportunity to practice two critical emergency procedures: safe evacuation and accountability.

California Fire Code establishes minimum fire-drill requirements for schools:

  • Elementary schools: At least once every calendar month.
  • Intermediate schools: At least once every calendar month.
  • Secondary schools: At least twice each school year.
  • First emergency evacuation drill: Must occur within 10 days of the beginning of classes.

Core Fire Drill Procedures

1. Sound the Alarm
Initiate the drill using the building's fire alarm system so occupants recognize and respond appropriately to the fire alarm signal.

2. Evacuate the Building
Students, teachers, staff, and other occupants should evacuate promptly and safely using designated evacuation routes.

3. Check Assigned Areas
Teachers and staff should follow the school's procedures for checking assigned areas and ensuring students have evacuated. Staff responsible for attendance records should bring them when required by the school's emergency plan.

4. Account for Students
At the designated assembly area, teachers should account for their students and immediately report anyone who is missing or unaccounted for.

5. Be Prepared to Use an Alternate Route
Everyone should know what to do if the primary evacuation route or exit is blocked or unsafe.

6. Document the Drill
Schools should document completed drills and maintain records as required by applicable regulations and district procedures.

Before the Drill

  • Review primary and alternate evacuation routes.
  • Make sure exits and pathways are clear.
  • Confirm outdoor assembly areas.
  • Make sure teachers and staff know how they will account for students.
  • Plan for students, staff and visitors who may need additional assistance.

During the Drill

  1. Sound the fire alarm.
  2. Evacuate calmly and safely.
  3. Use an alternate route if the primary route is blocked or unsafe.
  4. Proceed to the designated assembly area.
  5. Account for students, staff, and visitors and immediately report anyone missing.
  6. Maintain supervision and order while at the assembly area.
  7. Keep evacuation and assembly areas clear of fire department access routes and emergency operations.

After the Drill

Every drill is an opportunity to improve. Ask:

  • Did everyone hear and recognize the alarm?
  • Did students and staff respond appropriately?
  • Were evacuation routes and exits clear?
  • Did everyone know where to go?
  • Was everyone accounted for?
  • Were students or staff requiring additional assistance adequately supported?
  • Did the evacuation or assembly interfere with emergency access?
  • What caused confusion, delays, or other problems?

Document identified problems, assign corrective actions when appropriate, and make improvements before the next drill.

Download the School Fire Drill Checklist

Earthquake Drills

Earthquakes can occur without warning. During shaking, the immediate priority is to protect yourself from falling objects, broken glass, and other debris.

Before the Drill

  • Teach students and staff Drop, Cover and Hold On.
  • Identify safe areas in classrooms and other parts of campus.
  • Secure furniture, equipment and other items that could fall or move during an earthquake.
  • Review post-earthquake evacuation routes and assembly areas.
  • Plan for students, staff, and visitors who may need additional assistance.
  • Discuss potential post-earthquake hazards, including broken glass, damaged utilities, falling objects, and blocked exits.

Practice earthquake response in different locations—not just classrooms—including hallways, cafeterias, gyms, offices and outdoor areas. Cal OES recommends schools regularly practice earthquake response and provides specific resources for school administrators and faculty. (CalOEHHA)

During the Drill

DROP

Drop to your hands and knees before the shacking knocks you down.

COVER

Take COVER under sturdy furniture when available and protect your head and neck. If no sturdy cover is available, move away from windows and objects that could fall and protect your head and neck with your arms.

HOLD ON

Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops.

Do not run outside while the ground is shaking. Moving during strong shaking can expose you to falling glass, building materials, and other hazards.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the recommended protective action promoted by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and other emergency preparedness organizations. (CalOES News)

After the Drill

  • Follow the school's emergency procedures.
  • If evacuation is part of the drill, practice moving safely to the designated assembly area.
  • Account for students, staff, and visitors.
  • Identify simulated hazards, damaged areas, or blocked evacuation routes.
  • Evaluate communication and accountability procedures.
  • Discuss what worked well and what needs improvement.
  • Update procedures based on lessons learned during the drill.

After a real earthquake, do not automatically evacuate. Follow your school's emergency plan and assess conditions after the shaking stops. Damaged structures, broken glass, downed power lines and other hazards may make some evacuation routes unsafe. (CalOEHHA)

Download the School Earthquake Drill Checklist

Make Every Drill Count. The goal isn't just to complete a drill.

It's to find out what doesn't work before an emergency happens.

If students don't know where to go, an alarm can't be heard, an evacuation route is blocked or staff can't account for everyone, the drill has identified something that needs to be fixed.

Practice. Evaluate. Improve. Repeat.

 

Questions?

For questions about fire drills, evacuation planning or fire and life safety:

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
Community Risk Reduction Division
(916) 859-4330
crrdstaff@metrofire.ca.gov

 

 

Additional Resources

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) provides school emergency planning, earthquake preparedness and post-earthquake evacuation resources. (CalOEHHA)

Great California ShakeOut provides additional earthquake drill resources for schools.

The California Code of Regulations outlines the requirements for fire drills and emergency preparedness in schools. Schools should use these requirements, along with guidance from their local fire authority , to help ensure drills are conducted safely and effectively. They can be found in the California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13; California Fire Code Section 403.4; California Education Code §32001; and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, §550. (Leginfo)