On Monday, November 17, Hood River County School District and community partners successfully conducted a full-scale tabletop and reunification exercise designed to test and enhance its emergency response and family reunification protocols.

The comprehensive drill involved department staff, administrators, and relevant personnel and simulated a critical emergency scenario. The exercise was a significant undertaking focused on identifying both the strengths and areas for improvement in the organization’s procedures for coordinated emergency response and the critical process of safely reuniting individuals with their families.

“Safety remains our highest priority, and these exercises are important to ensuring we are prepared for any emergency,” said Superintendent Bill Newton. “The active participation and dedication of everyone involved were crucial in thoroughly testing our communication, decision-making, and reunification steps.”

The organization is now collecting feedback from all participants to inform the development of an After-Action Report. The findings from this exercise will be used to revise and strengthen operational plans, further enhancing the organization’s readiness to respond effectively to real-world emergencies.