Safety and Security Measures

In effort to give you reassurance since the Holocaust Museum events of today, we are posting our security measures. Please note that the chaperones will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of your children and security in DC will be tighter than ever next week because of today's events. We ask that the students be patient next week while dealing with the long lines at security check points. You are more than welcome to call Sandy or Addie if you have any questions concerning next weeks trip.

We know you have concerns about the safety of your child, and we want to assure you that precaution and action plans are in place in case of a national emergency. Below is information about the security measures in place for the Youth Tour.

In the event that the Office of Homeland Security raises the alert code to "Code Red" between now and the time we leave for Washington, the Youth Tour will be cancelled. If a "Code Red" is declared once we are in Washington, the chaperones will bring the students back to the hotel so that all individuals and all states are accounted for. To the best of our capabilities, we will provide information about the situation.
In a “Code Red” situation, information will be posted on both the NRECA website www.nreca.org and the Youth Tour website www.youthtour.coop. Information will also be posted on our members-only website, www.cooperative.com to provide member systems and cooperative employees the same information. These sites will be updated as events warrant.

The hotel is also well aware of the climate we live in and the safety of its guests is a priority. Below are a few things the hotel will be doing in case of a Code Red situation:

• Reduce site ingress and egress to minimum

• Utilize non-security personnel to assist in increasing patrols

• Review emergency HVAC shut off

• Limit access at night to a single entry point

• Prohibit parking at front entrance

• Executive Committee member on premises at all times

• Do not check in walk-in guests.

• Limit under hotel parking to passenger vehicle's only-NO VANS

• Limit access to non-guests on all guest floors-post security at elevator posts

We have also contracted with a firm to provide security at the hotel from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. One security guard will be located on each floor during the evening hours and will be there to monitor the halls.

Finally, there will be two nurses available in case of emergencies: they are registered nurses and assigned to NRECA Youth Tour. If a student needs to make the nurses aware of a medical condition, they can be confident that they will receive professional service and their information will be kept confidential.

Please be assured that we will do everything we can to make the Youth Tour safe and enjoyable.