Reunification presentation Uintah Fire

REUNIFICATION – UINTAH FIRE Lane Findlay – Weber School District

UINTAH ELEMENTARY • Foothills of the Uintah Highlands • 750 student enrollment • Full SRP drill in April 2017 • • • • • •

Parents night Lockdown Evacuation (on-site) Reunification Notification system Value of District Reunification Team

FAST FORWARD – SEPTEMBER 5TH • 0800 hours • Report of a power outage • Fire in Weber Canyon • Winds at 30-40 mph • Power restored at 0830 • Poor air quality due to smoke • Shut down ventilation system • Fire is spreading rapidly

MASSIVE WILDFIRE • High winds fuel the fire • Loss of homes & structures • Spreads throughout the Highlands • Down into Uintah City • West along I-84 in South Weber • Hwy 89 & I-84 closed • Strains LE & Fire resources

DECISION TO EVACUATION • 1100 hours • No contact from LE or Fire • Neighborhoods evacuated • Parents picking up children • Roads being shut down • Reverse 911 calls to evacuate • No LE units available

EVACUATION & REUNIFICATION • 13 buses to the school • Taken to the Dee Events Center • Evacuation center • Reunification activated • Quick & flawless process

LESSONS LEARNED • Value of a plan in place • Value of drills and training • Value of informed parents • Value of partnerships • Value of district team • Flexibility • The media • Always room for improvement

South Weber Windjammers — 803 students

Success comes from: 1.Having someone embedded in the command post — Blake Haycock.

2.Contacting other agency PIOs – DCSO DeeAnn Servey 3.Staying within my lane.