file photo by Boyd Loving
October 20,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Ridgewood Board of Education the Ridgewood Police asked that our buildings shelter-in-place for a brief period this afternoon. Everything is fine and back to learning as usual!
October 19, 2017
Dear Ridgewood Public Schools Community,
Following is a message from Chief Luthcke of the Ridewood Police Department.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON INCIDENT UPDATE 10-19-17
Yesterday afternoon, Ridgewood Schools were advised to shelter in students in place after a resident reported a man wearing what appeared to be a bullet proof vest gruffly asked for directions to Willard school. The person described by the resident was located by patrol a short time later and it was discovered he was wearing a black weighted vest, which has the appearance of a bullet proof vest. The man was transported to the Ridgewood Police Department for questioning as there was a language barrier with the man. All schools were cleared of the shelter in place at 2:15pm. This shelter in place was issued out of an abundance of caution to the school community. After an investigation, it was determined the man was headed to Willard School to pick up his grandchild and had gotten lost along the way and was attempting to ask for directions. The situation was explained and he understood the confusion. The man was released without any charges.
The Ridgewood Police Department would like to thank all of the surrounding agencies, including Midland Park, Wyckoff and Glen Rock, for their assistance during this incident. We know this incident may have caused stress in the community, but we need to take all incidents, such as this, very seriously as our community’s safety is of paramount importance. Fortunately, this was an innocent misunderstanding and simply was a lost resident.
Sincerely,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
https://ridgewood.k12.nj.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_207516/File/Superintendent’s%20News/2017-2018/Shelter%20in%20place%2010.18.17.pdf
The Ridgewood Police added this afternoon (Wednesday) Ridgewood Schools were advised to shelter the students in place after a resident reported a man wearing what appeared to be a bullet proof vest asked for directions to Willard School. The person described by the resident was located by patrol a short time later wearing a black weighted vest which has the appearance of a bullet proof vest. All schools were cleared of the shelter in place at 2:15pm. This shelter in place was issued out of an abundance of caution to the school community.
What Shelter-in-Place Means:
One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place
At School:
Close the school. Activate the school’s emergency plan. Follow reverse evacuation procedures to bring students, faculty, and staff indoors.
If there are visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay – not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
Provide for answering telephone inquiries from concerned parents by having at least one telephone with the school’s listed telephone number available in the room selected to provide shelter for the school secretary, or person designated to answer these calls. This room should also be sealed. There should be a way to communicate among all rooms where people are sheltering-in-place in the school.
Ideally, provide for a way to make announcements over the school-wide public address system from the room where the top school official takes shelter.
If children have cell phones, allow them to use them to call a parent or guardian to let them know that they have been asked to remain in school until further notice, and that they are safe.
If the school has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the school is closed, students and staff are remaining in the building until authorities advise that it is safe to leave.
Provide directions to close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
If you are told there is danger of explosion, direct that window shades, blinds, or curtains be closed.
Have employees familiar with your building’s mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air – these systems, in particular, need to be turned off, sealed, or disabled.
Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and plastic garbage bags.
Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Classrooms may be used if there are no windows or the windows are sealed and can not be opened. Large storage closets, utility rooms, meeting rooms, and even a gymnasium without exterior windows will also work well.
It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
Bring everyone into the room. Shut and lock the door.
Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room.
Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your schools’ designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you.
Listen for an official announcement from school officials via the public address system, and stay where you are until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.