Steamboat Springs School District to Host Full-Scale Safety Exercise on August 5

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO — On Tuesday, August 5, Steamboat Springs School District (SSSD) will host a comprehensive active threat training exercise in partnership with local law enforcement, emergency medical services, and other public safety partners. 

The day will be structured as follows:

• Morning: An active shooter response simulation will take place at Steamboat Springs High School (SSHS).
   
• Afternoon: A reunification drill simulating a family pickup after a crisis will take place at Yampa Valley High School (YVHS).

This exercise is part of SSSD’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of students, staff, and the broader community. The training will simulate an active threat scenario and will include practice in critical response procedures such as lockdowns, emergency medical triage, threat neutralization, student and staff accountability, public information, and family reunification.

No students will be on campus during the exercise, and no live ammunition will be used. Simulated blank rounds, makeup for mock injuries (moulage), CPR mannequins, and emergency vehicles will be used to create realistic but controlled training conditions.

“This type of coordinated training allows us to strengthen our preparedness and ensure a seamless partnership with local emergency responders,” said Dr. Celine Wicks, SSSD Superintendent. “It’s about being ready as a community for any scenario.”

Community members can expect to see and hear the following at SSHS and YVHS on August 5:

• An increased presence of law enforcement, EMS, and fire response vehicles
• Simulated sirens, emergency communications, and loud noises
• Role players acting as injured individuals or evacuees
• A simulated family reunification process will take place at YVHS

Key Exercise Details:

• Date: Tuesday, August 5
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – approximately 4:00 p.m.
• Locations: Steamboat Springs High School (morning) and Yampa Valley High School (afternoon)
• Visible Activity: Emergency vehicle staging, tactical operations, air medical coordination, and reunification center setup

Participating agencies include:

• Routt County Sheriff’s Office
• Steamboat Springs Police & Fire Departments
• UCHealth/Yampa Valley Medical Center
• Classic Air Medical
• Hayden Police Department
• Routt County Office of Emergency Management
• Steamboat Springs School District

To prevent unnecessary alarm, community members are encouraged to share this information with friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

No action is required from the public, and the training is not in response to any specific threat or incident. Real-world emergency calls will take priority, and all participating agencies are prepared to respond to actual emergencies if needed.

For additional information about the district’s emergency preparedness plans, visit the Steamboat Springs School District website.