ALLOUEZ, Wis. -- When the tornado sirens sound for Thursday's drill, schools across the area will be ready. At Langlade Elementary in Allouez, faculty, teachers and students have prepared for weeks.
Principal Jesse Brinkmann said student and staff safety are the top priority.
"We do a lot of planning ahead of time," he said. "We have a plan that's laid out, a map of the building, where each classroom needs to report."
"Students know once they get into that spot that they are to be at a zero voice volume, meaning absolutely no talking to their neighbors."
Students are well aware of the plan after practicing multiple times.
"We duck and cover, we cover our heads and we go in the halls where there's no windows," said fourth grader Nolan Rauscher.
The constant practice helps things go smoothly, according to Brinkmann.
"We have a time of under two minutes that we like to evacuate the classroom and get to our safe point, and we have been lucky enough to meet that goal each time this year," he said.
Preparation begins well before the sirens go off, according to teachers.
"We explain exactly why we're doing what we're doing, why we cover our head and neck, why we get as low as possible, why we're away from windows and open doorways," said third grade teacher Jill Decker.
Brinkmann said they communicate with parents, telling them about the tornado drill for the last two weeks through their weekly newsletter. Parents should also have a plan for home, too, according to experts.
"To practice your plan on the [day of the] drill is an excellent way to educate kids who might be home alone in that time between after school and when parents get home from work," said Brown County Emergency Management Coordinator Justin Steinbrinck.
Plans that could save lives if severe weather strikes.
