North Carolina Daycare Emergency Drill Requirements

Running a fire drill with four toddlers is not the same as filing out of a school building in an orderly line. You are one adult managing small children who may not understand what is happening — which is exactly why DCDEE requires you to practice regularly and document every drill.

Monthly Fire Drills

You must conduct a fire evacuation drill at least once every month during operating hours. The drill should follow your posted evacuation route: children exit the building through the designated door, walk to the outdoor assembly point, and you do a headcount.

Vary the time of day and the day of the week so drills happen during different activities — during nap time at least once a year, during mealtimes, during outdoor play. A drill that always happens at 10 AM on Tuesday teaches children exactly one scenario.

After each drill, log the date, time, number of children present, the exit route used, the total evacuation time, your signature, and any issues. Your DCDEE consultant reviews the fire drill log during compliance visits — they are checking for monthly frequency and whether you are actually timing the evacuations.

Quarterly Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place Drills

In addition to monthly fire drills, you must practice a lockdown or shelter-in-place drill at least once per quarter. The lockdown procedure should include securing all exterior doors, moving children away from windows, and remaining inside until you give an all-clear.

For severe weather (tornado warnings), the procedure shifts: move children to an interior room on the lowest level, away from windows and exterior walls. If your home does not have a basement, a first-floor bathroom or interior hallway works.

Document these quarterly drills the same way you document fire drills — date, time, type of drill, number of children, length of time to reach the designated locations, your signature, and observations. Keep these logs for at least one year.

Your Written Emergency Plan

Beyond the drills themselves, DCDEE expects you to have a written emergency preparedness plan covering:

• Fire evacuation routes (post a diagram near the main care area and each exit)
• Lockdown procedures
• Severe weather shelter locations
• How you will contact parents during an emergency
• Where your emergency supplies are stored (first aid kit, flashlight, battery-powered radio, emergency contact binder)
• Reunification procedures — where parents pick up children if you cannot return to the home

This written plan is part of the records your consultant reviews. Parents should receive a copy at enrollment or have it included in your parent handbook.

Common Deficiencies

The most frequent drill-related citation is a missing month. Life gets busy, you forget February, and now you have a gap in the log. Set a recurring calendar reminder on the first Monday of every month.

The second most common issue: drills conducted only when the full group is present. DCDEE does not require every enrolled child to be present for a drill to count. Practice with whoever is there that day.

For a drill schedule template and a complete emergency plan worksheet, the North Carolina Home Daycare Licensing Guide has both ready to print and post.

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