School Emergency Plans Know your children’s school emergency plan: Ask how the school will communicate with families during a crisis. Ask if the school stores adequate food, water, and other basic supplies. Find out if the school is prepared to shelter-in-place if need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away. In cases where schools institute procedures to shelter-in-place, you may not be permitted to drive to the school to pick up your children. Even if you go to the school, the doors will likely be locked to keep your children safe. Monitor local media outlets for announcements about changes in school openings and closings, and follow the directions of local emergency officials. For more information on developing emergency preparedness plans for schools, please log on to the U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov/emergencyplan.