Reunification drill scheduled for October 30

Dear NEOMED Campus Community,

On Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., our campus will host a School Reunification Drill in partnership with the Rootstown Local School District and the Portage County Emergency Management Agency.

During this exercise, members of the campus community may observe increased activity involving emergency personnel, Rootstown Schools administrators and staff. This drill involves staff only, no students.

What is a Reunification Drill?

A reunification drill is an exercise that practices the process of safely and efficiently reuniting students with their parents or authorized guardians following an emergency or disruptive event. While schools regularly practice evacuation, lockdown and shelter-in-place procedures, reunification exercises focus on what happens after an incident when students must be released in a controlled and accountable manner.

The drill allows participating agencies and school officials to evaluate communication procedures, site logistics, student accountability measures, traffic flow, and coordination among responders and support personnel.

Why is Reunification Planning Important?

In a real emergency, families naturally want to be reunited with their children as quickly as possible. A well-planned reunification process helps ensure:

• Student safety remains the top priority.
• Students are released only to authorized individuals.
• Families receive accurate and timely information.
• Emergency responders and school officials can manage large numbers of students and parents efficiently.
• Community partners can identify opportunities to improve plans before an actual emergency occurs.

Exercises such as this strengthen coordination among schools, first responders, emergency management professionals and community partners, helping ensure everyone is better prepared to respond during a real-world event.

What to Expect on Campus

• Increased presence of school staff, first responders, emergency management personnel and community partners
• Activity related to the drill in the NEW Center (Watanakunakorn Auditorium/Atrium and Cook Hall.
• No impact to normal campus operations beyond the immediate drill area.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we collaborate with our local partners to enhance emergency preparedness and community safety.

If you have questions regarding the exercise, please contact the NEOMED Police Department at police@neomed.edu or 330.325.5911.