For a school preincident plan, which non-fire scenario should be included to improve preparedness?

• A. Hostile event
• B. Severe weather
• C. Elevator entrapment
• D. Power outage

Answer: (A)

Focusing on non-fire emergencies that threaten safety and require rapid, coordinated action is the main idea. A hostile event scenario is essential because it directly tests how students and staff respond to an intentional threat, where quick lockdowns, controlled movement, and clear communication with authorities become critical. Planning around this kind of incident helps establish and practice lockdown procedures, entry/egress controls, incident command, and reunification processes. It also trains staff and students to act under pressure, make time-sensitive decisions, and understand how to work with local law enforcement and emergency services during an active threat. Drills built around a hostile event reinforce the flow of information, the roles and responsibilities during a crisis, and the steps needed to secure the building and account for everyone.

Severe weather, while important, is typically covered in its own category of plans and drills and doesn’t stress the same interagency coordination and protective actions that a hostile event drill requires. Elevator entrapment and power outages are specific operational issues; they’re helpful to practice, but they don’t broaden preparedness for the broad, high-stakes decision-making and collaboration that an active threat scenario demands.