What School Leaders Need to Understand About Emergency Commands

“Shelter in place” has become one of those phrases we throw around without much thought.

We plug it into emergency plans. We recite it during drills. But do we really understand what it means or why we say it?

Lately, the phrase has come under fire. People point to high-profile disasters and ask, “Did sheltering in place fail?” They mention 9/11. Katrina. Wildfires in mountain towns. The implication is that staying put leads to tragedy.

That’s a dangerous oversimplification.

Shelter in Place Isn’t the Problem. Misunderstanding It Is.

The truth is, sheltering in place has saved far more lives than it’s ever cost. But those stories don’t go viral. They don’t get attention because they don’t create outrage.

Here’s what school leaders need to keep in mind:

Sheltering in place isn’t a guarantee of safety. It’s a calculated choice based on the information available at the time.
It’s often the lesser of two risks. When evacuation becomes more dangerous than staying put—due to fire, flooding, violence, or infrastructure collapse—shelter in place is the right call.
It only works when people are prepared to follow it correctly.

The real issue isn’t the command itself. It’s when people don’t take warnings seriously. When they wait too long to act. When they assume every alert is just noise.

Sound familiar?

Schools Are Not Immune

Emergency planning in schools is often reduced to checkboxes:

Lockdown drill? ✅
Communication plan? ✅
Evacuation maps posted? ✅

But plans don’t protect people. People protect people—when they’re trained, informed, and supported.

The problem isn’t that we issue commands like “shelter in place.” The problem is when we issue them to staff who haven’t been properly taught what that really means. Or why it matters.

Don’t Wait for the Crisis

As school starts back up, your emergency planning should already be in motion. If it’s not, you’re behind.

Start with these three priorities:

1. Rebuild situational awareness.

Most staff are coming off summer. Safety isn’t top of mind. It’s your job to reframe that and remind them what to watch for. Call out risky behaviors and walk them through expectations.

2. Begin with a simple drill.

Kick off with a fire drill. It’s familiar, easy to execute, and sets the tone. Don’t hit them with a high-stakes lockdown on day one. Ease people into it, then build complexity.

3. Communicate relentlessly.

This can’t be said enough. If people don’t hear from you, they assume everything is fine. Use newsletters, emails, staff meetings—whatever works. Talk about what’s happening, what’s expected, and how they can help.

Tech Can’t Replace Common Sense

There’s a rush to buy shiny new security tools. Doors that cost more than cars. Cameras that claim to recognize threats. Drones. Biometrics.

Here’s the truth: None of it matters if your staff doesn’t know how to respond to a threat in real time.

If you’ve got $75,000 to spend, spend it on training. Not on a single door. Teach your people how to lock the ones they already have. Reinforce the basics: communication, coordination, clarity.

Because no piece of equipment will ever be as valuable as a staff member who knows what to do.

Turning Plans Into Culture

You don’t need a new protocol. You need a stronger culture.

The good news? That starts with you.

Set the tone. Get everyone talking about safety before it becomes urgent. Lead by example. And above all, don’t let bad headlines define good practices.

Sheltering in place isn’t a failure. Failing to prepare is.