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Emergency Procedures

In the event of a school closure or campus emergency, ‘Iolani School will keep parents informed through a messaging service, radio broadcasts, our website (www.iolani.org) and email.

The emergency broadcast station for Hawai‘i is KSSK AM 590: FM 92.3. Parents may also call the Upper School office at (808) 949-5355 or the Lower School office at (808) 943-2227.

TSUNAMI WARNING

‘Iolani School is not in a regular Tsunami Evacuation Zone, however it is in one of the recently-designated Extreme Tsunami Evacuation Zones (XTEZs). The new XTEZs do not replace the current Tsunami Evacuation Zones, but rather adds a second zone for a potential extreme event. Extreme tsunamis are low-probability, once-in-a-thousand-years occurrences, but they represent the high-impact “worst-case” inundation scenario for Honolulu. In the unlikely event of an “Extreme Tsunami Warning” the school will evacuate inland to higher ground as instructed in the Honolulu XTEZ plan.

In the event of a regular Tsunami Warning, ‘Iolani School will adhere to the following procedures:

  • If a warning is issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center through the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency while school is in session, school personnel will remain with the students until parents can safely pick them up. The O‘ahu Civil Defense advises that parents do not leave a safe area or drive through a danger zone to pick up their child(ren) during a tsunami warning. Wait until the “All Clear” has been announced. Lower school children are to be picked up at the Autoline Gate on Lā‘au Place. Upper school students are to be picked up at the Lower Gym on Kamoku Street. The school will follow instructions from the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency through local radio broadcasts.
  • If the warning is issued before school begins, classes will be canceled and the school will be closed. Parents, the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency, and radio stations will be notified by the Head of School’s Office.

HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM WARNING

The National Weather Service issues Hurricane or Tropical Storm WATCHES 48 hours prior to storm effects. Hurricane or Tropical WARNINGS are issued when one of these storms could affect O‘ahu in 36 hours or less. Extreme Wind Warnings for sustained hurricane-force winds of 115 mph or greater are issued when winds are expected within an hour. When a WATCH is issued, school administrators will monitor the storm and make decisions to close the school before the issuance of a WARNING. The timing of the closure will coincide with the end of a normal school day, if possible. If a WARNING is issued by the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency while school is in session, school personnel will remain with the students until parents can safely pick them up. Lower school children are to be picked up at the Autoline Gate on Lā‘au Place. Upper school students are to be picked up at the Lower Gym on Kamoku Street. Parents, the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency, and radio stations will be notified by the Head of School’s Office.

EARTHQUAKES

In the event of an earthquake of significant magnitude, ‘Iolani School will care for students until parents can safely pick them up. Lower School children are to be picked up at the Autoline Gate on Lā‘au Place. Upper School students are to be picked up at the Lower Gym on Kamoku Street. Parents, the O‘ahu Civil Defense Agency and radio stations will be notified by the Head of School’s Office.

CAMPUS EMERGENCY

In the event of an emergency that requires campus containment or school closure, ‘Iolani School will care for students until parents can safely pick them up. Lower School children are to be picked up at the Autoline Gate on Lā‘au Place. Upper School students are to be picked up at the Lower Gym on Kamoku Street. Parents will be notified through phone, text messages, email, radio broadcasts, and the school website www.iolani.org as to the time when students can be picked up from school.