Approximately 1000 students, faculty and staff at Brownwood High School participated in what officials labeled a successful emergency evacuation drill Tuesday morning.

At 9:30am, Brownwood High School went into lock down as a mock scenario unfolded involving a shooter who was in classroom 221.  According to officials, the shooter “shot” someone and was threatening to burn the school down.  Police and Guardian EMS were called to the mock scene responding to the front and west side entrances of the building.

Brownwood Fire Department as well as the Brown County Emergency Management communications trailer and crew were involved as support to the officers and EMS involved in the scenario, helping with communications and blocking off the streets during the drill as they would if it were a real incident.

Sandra Richardson, Vice Principal at Brownwood Middle School, helped as a school official observer and stated that she was glad that the drill was taking place and stressed its importance.

“It’s good to practice so that the majority of the kids will know what to do in a real situation,” said Richardson.  “The kids did really good.”

Richardson pointed out some of the variables that can happen during a real emergency.

“In a real event, parents will be calling the school worried,” she said.  “Also, we have to try to keep the kids from using their phones in case one of them is friends with the shooter and might tell them where everyone is going.  Or using their phones could jam up the cell phone network that might be needed (by emergency responders).”

Brownwood High School Principal Bill Faircloth stated that he really felt it went well, although he hopes the lessons learned don’t ever have to be put to use.

“Hopefully we don’t ever have to do this in a real situation,” said Faircloth. “The kids did great, the teachers did great.  I never had to call down even one kid out of 1000, not one.”

Faircloth stated that the kids and teachers really responded well and he was pleased that it only took 45 minutes to complete the drill.  According to Faircloth, the idea of an evacuation drill was thought of by BHS Resource Officer Fred Bastardo who put a lot of time into the planning and coordination with the different agencies who were involved.

Bastardo stated that the drill was necessary because of so many shootings that have happened at high schools across the country, and it is important to be prepared.  Having a child of his own at the school, Bastardo stated that campus safety is important to him not only as an officer but also as a parent.  He explained that during a real emergency, it’s good to know what to expect from performing drills, which gives the campus a chance to practice and then address any problems.

Above are students as they evacuated to the Church of the Good Shepherd which served as a safe location until the school was cleared.  Below are more photos of the drill.