A dozen area first responders visited the Wright City Support Services Center at 520 Westwoods Road Thursday and Friday to engage in training designed by the I Love You Guys Foundation.

The training involves parent and student reunifications at schools following an emergency situation that results in a lock-down of the school.

Warren County Emergency Management Director Mike Thornton said Thursday primarily involved in-class training, while on Friday the respective agencies engaged in an active practice exercise that was meant to replicate how the reunifications would proceed following an active shooter scenario at a school.

Thornton explained that in an active shooter scenario, parents would come to the school and go through a specific process in order to ensure the safety of the respective students and that reunification between parents and students could occur in a controlled fashion. He said upon entry parents would fill out a card with their information and their respective child’s information and then would proceed to another table where the information would be vetted. Parents would then go to a reunification center where they would then be connected with their children.

“During the training we discussed lockdowns and holding patterns and what that would look like in our jurisdiction,” Thornton said.

He said when agencies focus on training like active shooter drills, the focus is often on the event itself, but there is a lot more to such events, such as the psychological trauma such events can produce for students and parents alike.

Thornton said trainers from Arkansas and Michigan facilitated the training that included the following agencies: Warren County EMA, Warren County Health Department, Warren County Sheriff's Department, Washington School District, Liberty Christian Academy, Wright City School District, St. Vincent School, Lincoln County Fire Protection District, City of Washington Emergency Management, Warrenton Police Department, Wright City Police Department and representatives from Perryville.

According to information from the I Love You Guys Foundation website, “The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes the process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved.”

The website goes on to note that the reunification process is part of what they call a controlled release to enhance safety following an event. Part of the process can also include counseling and possible interviews, especially in the case of a crime related event that includes law enforcement.

“The Standard Reunification Method provides schools and public safety agencies with a clear, structured process for planning and conducting reunifications after incidents such as evacuations, severe weather, or other emergencies involving schools. The training helps establish common language, define roles and responsibilities, and strengthen coordination between schools and response partners,” Thornton said in a release.