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News Release

Clark County Multi-Agency Emergency Exercise Strengthens School Safety Coordination (Photo) - 04/24/26

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — School district and emergency management representatives from across Clark County convened at Ridgefield School District on Friday, April 24, to conduct a full-scale, multi-agency emergency exercise. The exercise, which focused on strengthening school preparedness in the event of an emergency, included collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), Educational Service District (ESD) 112, and multiple Clark County school districts. 

 

More than 100 school staff and partners participated in an emergency scenario simulating a tanker truck collision that resulted in a hazardous materials release. Throughout the exercise, school staff and first responders worked together to carry out each step of an emergency response. Ridgefield High School and Cascadia Tech Academy students participated in the exercise by taking part in simulated evacuation and reunification procedures.

 

“The best time to build coordination is before an emergency happens,” said Dr. Charlotte Ellis, executive director of schools and leadership for the Ridgefield School District. “Exercises like this give our school teams and emergency partners the opportunity to practice side by side, strengthen communication and make sure we are fully prepared to support students and families when every minute matters.” 

 

The training provided an opportunity to reinforce communication protocols and strengthen coordination across agencies. 

 

“Emergency plans are only as strong as our ability to carry them out together,” said Harold Chaves, emergency management training and exercise coordinator with CRESA. “Today’s exercise gave schools, emergency responders and community partners the opportunity to test those plans in real time, identify areas for improvement and strengthen our shared readiness across Clark County.” 

 

“As both a parent and an emergency manager, it was reassuring to see the strong coordination between the school, law enforcement and community partners,” said Lourdes Langan, Ridgefield High School parent. “Practicing with real students and families takes us beyond just having a plan. It offers the opportunity to test the process, and helps staff and students get experience walking through an emergency in a controlled environment. This practice allows everyone can act quickly and confidently when it matters most.” 

 

This exercise reflects Clark County school districts’ ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness, with support from the ESD 112 Regional School Safety Center. Two years ago, districts across Clark County and the six-county ESD 112 region adopted consistent emergency terminology known as Standard Response Protocol, helping support clear communication and coordinated actions across schools and partners during emergencies.


School district and agency partners plan to host another exercise in the future and will use insights from today’s experience to continue strengthening emergency procedures and coordination across our county’s schools. 

###

Attached Media Files: Clark County Sheriffs Office participates in the emergency simulation., Corina McEntire, ESD 112, prepares participants for the activity, Evaluators observe the practice evacuation, Evaluators observe the simulated emergency response, Evaluators observe the simulated emergency response, Family and student are reunited in simulated emergency scenario, Participants check parents in at simulated Family Assistance Center, School staff simulate a family check in area at a Family Assistance Center, Students are evacuated as part of the emergency simulation, Students are moved from evacuation gathering point to the bus, Students bus to the Family Assistance Center during the simulated emergency, Vancouver Fire arrives at the simulated Family Assistance Center, Participants prepare for the exercise,

Clark County Multi-Agency Emergency Exercise Strengthens School Safety Coordination (Photo) - 04/24/26

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — School district and emergency management representatives from across Clark County convened at Ridgefield School District on Friday, April 24, to conduct a full-scale, multi-agency emergency exercise. The exercise, which focused on strengthening school preparedness in the event of an emergency, included collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), Educational Service District (ESD) 112, and multiple Clark County school districts. 

 

More than 100 school staff and partners participated in an emergency scenario simulating a tanker truck collision that resulted in a hazardous materials release. Throughout the exercise, school staff and first responders worked together to carry out each step of an emergency response. Ridgefield High School and Cascadia Tech Academy students participated in the exercise by taking part in simulated evacuation and reunification procedures.

 

“The best time to build coordination is before an emergency happens,” said Dr. Charlotte Ellis, executive director of schools and leadership for the Ridgefield School District. “Exercises like this give our school teams and emergency partners the opportunity to practice side by side, strengthen communication and make sure we are fully prepared to support students and families when every minute matters.” 

 

The training provided an opportunity to reinforce communication protocols and strengthen coordination across agencies. 

 

“Emergency plans are only as strong as our ability to carry them out together,” said Harold Chaves, emergency management training and exercise coordinator with CRESA. “Today’s exercise gave schools, emergency responders and community partners the opportunity to test those plans in real time, identify areas for improvement and strengthen our shared readiness across Clark County.” 

 

“As both a parent and an emergency manager, it was reassuring to see the strong coordination between the school, law enforcement and community partners,” said Lourdes Langan, Ridgefield High School parent. “Practicing with real students and families takes us beyond just having a plan. It offers the opportunity to test the process, and helps staff and students get experience walking through an emergency in a controlled environment. This practice allows everyone can act quickly and confidently when it matters most.” 

 

This exercise reflects Clark County school districts’ ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness, with support from the ESD 112 Regional School Safety Center. Two years ago, districts across Clark County and the six-county ESD 112 region adopted consistent emergency terminology known as Standard Response Protocol, helping support clear communication and coordinated actions across schools and partners during emergencies.


School district and agency partners plan to host another exercise in the future and will use insights from today’s experience to continue strengthening emergency procedures and coordination across our county’s schools. 

###

Attached Media Files: Clark County Sheriffs Office participates in the emergency simulation., Corina McEntire, ESD 112, prepares participants for the activity, Evaluators observe the practice evacuation, Evaluators observe the simulated emergency response, Evaluators observe the simulated emergency response, Family and student are reunited in simulated emergency scenario, Participants check parents in at simulated Family Assistance Center, School staff simulate a family check in area at a Family Assistance Center, Students are evacuated as part of the emergency simulation, Students are moved from evacuation gathering point to the bus, Students bus to the Family Assistance Center during the simulated emergency, Vancouver Fire arrives at the simulated Family Assistance Center, Participants prepare for the exercise,