The first priority is to care for children

 In an emergency the first priority of school staff is to take care of children at the school. 

Staff should be aware that essential services such as water, electricity, telephones and road could be cut and should know what to do before they have to do it. 

For example, Auckland Harbour Bridge and Upper Harbour Highway could be closed and parents could be trapped at work (or even injured). Teachers have to be prepared to stay and care for children and should have their own family emergency plan at home so their families can cope until they can join them.

The Board of Trustees at each school is responsible for planning what to do in a Civil Defence emergency.

What schools needs to consider in emergency planning

• Hazard identification
• Immediate responses to emergencies
• Evacuation procedures
• Staff training (especially first aid training)
• Fire and emergency evacuation drills
• Equipment and supplies
• Emergency recovery procedures

These are just a few aspects a school emergency plan should include. North Shore City Civil Defence can help schools prepare for emergencies.

Local state primary schools in North Shore City are also emergency reporting centres 

It's important to remember that local state primary schools in North Shore City are also emergency reporting centres during emergencies. State primary schools should make sure:

• they have Civil Defence signs outside their school
• the signs are visible and in good repair
• their staff know what to do in an emergency.