Emergency Preparedness

As a small school district, Upper Lake Unified maintains one comprehensive safety plan that applies across all four school sites. California Education Code §32281(d) allows small districts with fewer than 2,501 units of ADA to use a single districtwide Comprehensive School Safety Plan.

A unified plan reflects that ULUSD is one interconnected community. It provides:

• Consistency: Common emergency language, procedures, and expectations across all schools.
• Coordination: A shared framework for responding to emergencies that may affect multiple campuses.
• Aligned training: Staff and students practice consistent emergency procedures.
• Clear communication: Families and first responders know what to expect across the district.
• Strategic use of resources: A unified approach allows our small district to focus time and resources on preparedness rather than duplicating systems.

While each campus has unique facilities, students, and potential hazards, those site-specific needs are incorporated into the districtwide plan.

One plan. One common language. One coordinated response. One shared commitment to safety.

Our Comprehensive School Safety Plan is not posted publicly on our website because it contains detailed information about school facilities, emergency procedures, security measures, and response protocols. Publicly sharing these details could compromise the safety and security of our students, staff, and campuses.

The plan is available for review upon request, consistent with applicable law and district procedures. To request access or ask questions about the district’s emergency preparedness plans, please contact:

Ronnie Valadez
Director of Maintenance, Operations & Transportation
Upper Lake Unified School District

ULUSD's Comprehensive School Safety Plan is reviewed and updated annually. The plan includes policies, procedures, and strategies designed to address a range of potential emergencies and support the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

School safety planning includes collaboration with school staff, families, local law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical personnel, and other community partners.

Our emergency response planning is aligned with the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to support a coordinated response during emergencies.

The Lake County Office of Education provides leadership and support for school emergency and safety planning throughout Lake County and works with local school districts and emergency response agencies to strengthen countywide preparedness.

ULUSD uses the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to provide consistent language and actions during school emergencies.

The SRP establishes five simple emergency actions that help students, staff, and visitors understand what to do when an emergency occurs. Using common language and procedures across our schools helps reduce confusion and allows our school communities and emergency responders to work together more effectively.

LCOE supports the use of standardized emergency response procedures throughout Lake County and provides training and resources to schools and districts.

Emergency preparedness is something we practice.

Throughout the school year, ULUSD staff and students participate in safety training and emergency drills designed to build familiarity with our procedures and strengthen our ability to respond during an actual emergency.

Drills may address a variety of situations, including:

• Fire and evacuation
• Earthquake and shelter-in-place procedures
• Lockdown and campus security
• Emergency communication
• Student and staff accountability
• Reunification procedures
• Other hazards identified through our safety planning process

These practices help students and staff understand what to expect and how to respond calmly and effectively.
 

Upper Lake Unified School District is part of a broader countywide emergency preparedness system led by the Lake County Office of Education.

LCOE collaborates with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Office of Emergency Services, fire agencies, local law enforcement, and school districts to coordinate emergency planning, training, communication, and response.

This regional collaboration is particularly important during large-scale emergencies, such as wildfires, earthquakes, severe weather, or other events that may impact multiple schools or communities.

Families play an important role in school and community emergency preparedness. We encourage families to:

• Review emergency procedures and safety information with their children.
• Keep emergency contact information current with the school.
• Make sure the school knows who is authorized to pick up your child during an emergency.
• Follow official communication from ULUSD and emergency response agencies.
• Avoid calling or going to a school during an active emergency unless directed to do so.
• Remain calm and rely on verified information from official sources.
• Understand that emergency procedures may vary depending on the type and location of an incident.

During an emergency, accurate information and clear communication are critical. ULUSD will communicate with families through established district and school communication systems whenever possible.

Emergency preparedness is strongest when everyone understands their role. Our goal is to ensure that every member of the ULUSD community knows that we have a plan, understands the procedures, and is prepared to respond.

At Upper Lake Unified, safety is not the responsibility of one person, one school, or one department. It is a shared responsibility.

Through a unified districtwide plan, ongoing training, regular practice, and strong partnerships with our community and emergency responders, we are committed to being prepared to respond when our students and community need us most.

Students First. Stronger Together.