School Issues

Sheltering, Relocating and Reception Centers In the event of any emergency ranging from severe weather, (the most likely hazard in Westchester) to a radiological emergency at the Indian Point Energy Center, school administrators are presented with the same choices and decisions to be made.  If the hazard will not arrive in time (as in a hurricane or similar threat) to have an impact on the school day, administrators can choose to continue school activities as normal. The second choice available to administrators is to bring students inside to take shelter. The third option is to conduct early dismissal if there is enough time to get everyone home before the onset of the storm or hazard occurrence.  The last and least likely option would be to evacuate students to another, safer location. This decision would be made when remaining in school would be unsafe, and early dismissal isn’t an option. Although the need to evacuate students to offsite locations is unlikely, it is the choice that may be the most difficult for an official to make. The County makes every attempt to supply school officials with the information and support to make the appropriate decision. Evacuation may occur as a precautionary measure. It may even occur before any notice is given to the general public. Because schools are a controlled environment, Westchester’s evacuation plans have the ability to easily notify and direct school populations in the event of an emergency.  Reuniting families is a priority in any evacuation plan. For an emergency at Indian Point, and when a school in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) is ordered to evacuate, those students would be bused to a pre-designated “School Reception Center” outside the EPZ. The “Planning for Emergencies” booklet contains a list of schools and School Reception Centers that were in place up to 2002. It can also be viewed by accessing the Emergency Information Map at http://www.westchestergov.com/currentnews/nypanew.htm. The County is currently revising school/reception center relationships. School authorities are participating in this process. These revisions will address parent’s concerns about keeping siblings together, the issue of parental pick-up, and other concerns.   Bus Transportation Westchester County has an excess of drivers (more than 800) trained to operate evacuation buses and vans in a radiological emergency. The number of drivers exceeds the number needed for even a “worst case” scenario. We continue to train more drivers than we need to allow for vacations or absences.  Evacuation bus route assignments and transportation providers are also currently under review and discussion with school representatives. The County is also in the process of identifying additional means of transportation.

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