Puyallup School District ‘Valley Schools’ to Participate in Lahar Evacuation Exercise on April 29
Posted on 04/29/2022
Schools located in the Puyallup Valley will participate in a full-scale lahar evacuation exercise on Friday, April 29. The exercise is coordinated by the East Pierce Interlocal Coalition Emergency Management Team and is designed to test and improve the ability to evacuate students and staff in the event of an incoming lahar from Mount Rainier. The Puyallup School District joins with the City of Puyallup, neighboring school districts, fire, police, and public agencies to practice evacuation and raise awareness in the event of a lahar emergency.
Students will exit schools at approximately 9:15 a.m.* and will practice walking the designated emergency evacuation routes from the valley floor out of the lahar hazard area before turning back. In the interest of time, the practice evacuation will involve a modified rather than full evacuation route. The exercise is expected to last about one hour.
The City of Puyallup Emergency Operations Center will be activated. Although the general public will not participate in the exercise, we ask that everyone be patient as students and staff practice walking along the evacuation routes.
Puyallup School District participating schools and facilities are:
• Puyallup High School
• Walker High School
• Aylen Junior High
• Kalles Junior High
• Karshner Elementary
• Maplewood Elementary
• Meeker Elementary
• Stewart Elementary
• Spinning Elementary
• Shaw Road Elementary
• Sparks Stadium
• District Administration Offices
(ESC/109, Transportation, Capital Facilities & Operations)
In May of 2019, the district participated in a similar lahar evacuation drill where more than 8,000 students and staff practiced evacuating and walking to safety in the event of an actual lahar.
* Exact start time will vary depending on individual school start times.