The Limestone County school system recently released a simplified brochure that allows parents to get all the information they need about their child’s safety during inclement weather and other emergency situations.

Currently accessible online at the district’s official website and social media feeds, a printed version of the brochure will be made available to the county’s 9,000-plus students at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

Transportation director Rusty Bates said that the brochure will make things easier for parents and schools when emergency situations arise. He consulted with several county principals and Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely to produce the brochure.

In an area prone to severe weather, the recently published flier outlines the ins and outs of the school’s inclement weather policy. It also includes a list of times that delays and dismissals will be announced.

The brochure also helps parents respond effectively to an emergency situation by following three key steps.

The first step encourages parents to be prepared by making sure contact information for each child in the school system is current. According to Bates, one of the biggest problems the schools encounter during an emergency situation is outdated phone numbers and addresses.

“It is imperative that parents call the school if any of their information changes,” he said. “It becomes very difficult when we can’t get a hold of parents or the people on their emergency contact list because the numbers are wrong.”

The second step outlines what a parent should do during a crisis. The brochure advises parents to avoid inundating the school with phone calls, but rather to check the school’s social media feed or website for updated information.

“When parents flood the school with calls, it interferes with their ability to coordinate with emergency personnel and administrators,” he said.

The brochure also warns parents to avoid texting or calling their children during a crisis, especially when an intruder is on campus.

“If your child is hiding in a closet and their phone rings, it tells the dangerous person exactly where to find your child,” Bates explained. “That is the last thing any of us want.”

The terminology used in the brochure is explained in the final step. Terms such as “modified lockdown” and “shelter in place” are defined so that parents can easily interpret the information released online or in automated calls.

“This is a consolidated effort on our part to give parents the most accurate information we can,” he said. “This brochure is very informative, and I think our parents will find everything they need in it.”

The flier can be accessed at www.lcsk12.org. Parents and guardians can also stay informed by following @LCSforKids on Twitter or Limestone County Schools on Facebook.