School Preparedness and the Emergency Management Process

Fundamental to a school community developing a culture of preparedness is the understanding the Emergency Management Process to provide a template for planning, preparation, and execution. This process is a cycle in which steps don’t only happen sequentially, but can happen simultaneously as well. The phases of this process (Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) provide a holistic framework for a school preparedness network.

MITIGATION / PREVENTION: actions that can prevent, alleviate, or diminish the potential effects of all-hazard situations on a school community.

• School Mitigation examples: school all-hazard surveys; school district / school preparedness working groups and committees; public education; grant / budget and resource allocations; crime prevention design (CPTED) and disaster-resistant construction; public information programs; hazard-reduction programs; and incident planning, etc.

PREPAREDNESS: actions that enhance school and community emergency response capabilities for all-hazards.

• School Preparedness examples: Incident Command System (ICS), District and School Emergency Operation Plans (EOP); All-Hazard Incident Action Plans (IAPs) with associated public affairs guidance; FEMA education and training; and HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) drills and exercises.

RESPONSE: time-sensitive actions to save lives and property, reduce the possibility of secondary damage, and speed recovery operations for the school community.

• School Response examples: Mobilizing emergency response personnel and equipment; accountability of personnel; conduct search and rescue; alerting the public; school evacuation and student reunification; mass casualty treatment and tracking, etc.

RECOVERY: actions that restore the school community to pre-incident conditions and status.

• School Recovery examples: facility inspection and damage assessment; crime scene processing; crime scene bio-hazard clean-up; crisis counseling; memorial services; long-term medical assistance; reconstruction; post-incident investigation and litigation; rehabilitation; school continuity of operations (resiliency); etc.

Bottom Line: YOU NEED TO KNOW THE EM PROCESS IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS TEAM.