and Virginia Center for School Safety School Emergency Planning: The Basics, a Few Best Practices, and Available Training and Resources Presented to the VAISEF October 25, 2013 School Emergency Planning: THE BASICS 1
It is human nature not to want to prepare for crisis. None of us likes to think deeply about bad things happening to us. -Bruce T. Blythe CEO of Crisis Management International Inc. What is a school crisis or emergency? 2
Response Continuum Potential Hazards and Vulnerabilities Air Craft Disaster Athletic Field/Playground Exposure Building Hazards Bullying Bus/Auto Accident (Regular route or field trip) Chemical Spill Childnapping/Lost Child Extended Power Outage or Potential Flooding (due to severe weather, etc.) Gas Leak/Fire/Explosion Hostage Situation (Irate parent, employee, etc.) Illness, Injury of Student or Staff (Allergic reaction, falling, fighting, suicide, etc.) Industry (Chemical, Deliveries, etc.) Inhalants Accessibility Internet (MySpace, youtube) Intruder Access Potential (Facility Use, open campus, wooded areas, schools used as polling locations, etc.) Intruder on School Bus Pandemic/long term disaster Potential Road Hazards (Interstate, t t busy highway, h etc.) Rail Road Crossing in close proximity Surrounding Area (Apartments, Housing Developments) Unknown Gas or Substance Release (Anthrax) Water Tank/Supply 3
What Should Crisis/Emergency Plans Include? According to VA Code 22.1 279.8. School safety audits and school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans required. "School crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan" means the essential procedures, operations, and assignments required to prevent, manage, and respond to a critical event or emergency, including natural disasters involving fire, flood, tornadoes, or other severe weather; loss or disruption of power, water, communications or shelter; bus or other accidents; medical emergencies, including cardiac arrest and other life-threatening medical emergencies; student or staff member deaths; explosions; bomb threats; gun, knife or other weapons threats; spills or exposures to hazardous substances; the presence of unauthorized persons or trespassers; the loss, disappearance or kidnapping of a student; hostage situations; violence on school property or at school activities; incidents involving acts of terrorism; and other incidents posing a serious threat of harm to students, personnel, or facilities. 8 4
School Emergency Planning: A FEW BEST PRACTICES What Should Emergency/Crisis Plans Include? Recommendations A pre-planned list of who will do what Almost t ready emergency letters Contact lists Floor Plans Family Assistance Center/Reunification Plan Go Kits containing emergency supplies Food Safety Plan Near and Far Evacuation Sites Plans to Assist Individuals with Special Needs 10 5
What Should the Emergency and Crisis Planning Process Include? Input from partners and stakeholders A process to review, test and and revise the plan An All Hazards Approach NIMS and ICS Four Phases A means to communicate effectively 11 All Hazards Approach Nature/Weather Related Threats Earthquake Tornado Hurricane Flood Manmade Threats Internet t Fire Intruder Terrorism Health Related Threats Pandemic 6
IS 700: National Incident Management, An Introduction IS 800: National Response Framework, An Introduction ti IS 100: Introduction to Incident Command for Schools IS 200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents IS 907: Active Shooter: What Can You Do (Suggested course for Crisis Teams) Incident Command System Began over 30 years ago as a result of catastrophic wildfires in California Numerous agencies responded with little coordination or communication Congress directed the US Forest Service to improve its effectiveness By 1981 ICS was widely used in California By March 2004 ICS was included as a mandate in the National Incident Management System Flexible and scalable Most qualified person in each role Span of Control and three deep coverage Incorporates common terminology No Codes! 7
School System Incident Command Incident Commander SUPERINTENDENT Safety Officer DIR OF SAFETY Public Information Officer COMMUN SPEC Liaison Officer COORD S & SS Planning PLANS STUFF Operations DOES STUFF Logistics GETS STUFF Finance BUYS STUFF What does school ICS look like? Incident Commander? Safety Officer? Public Information Officer? Liaison Officer? Planning? PLANS STUFF Operations? DOES STUFF Logistics? GETS STUFF Finance? BUYS STUFF 8
Four Phases of EMERGENCY RESPONSE Prevention/Mitigation Learn Evaluate Assess risks Mitigate hazards Preparedness Train Communicate Develop emergency plans Assemble resources Coordinate with partners, parents, community Response Take swift action Carry out plans Implement Incident Command System Document Recovery Get back to the business of working and learning Psychological, physical and structural, business and financial Communicating in an Emergency Emergency Communication Goals Enhance knowledge and UNDERSTANDING Build TRUST and credibility ENCOURAGE appropriate behaviors and levels of concern Who you might communicate with the MEDIA the DIVISION OFFICE or other SCHOOLS STAFF PARENTS and STUDENTS 9
Caring/Empathy When people are stressed and upset, they want to know that t you care before they care what you know. Dr. V Covello, Center for Risk Communications, New York In other words I don t care how much you know until I know how much you care. The 27/9/3 Template 27 words total 9 words per message 3 messages 10
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani 9/11 Mayor Giuliani, 9/11 1. The number of casualties is more than any of us can bear ultimately. COMPASSION 2. And I believe we will become stronger. CONVICTION 3. Stronger economically, politically, and most importantly, emotionally. OPTIMISM 11
School Emergency Planning: AVAILABLE TRAINING AND RESOURCES Mitigation/Prevention - BUILDING School Safety Inspection Checklists Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design 12
Mitigation/Prevention - CLIMATE Threat Assessment Policies and Protocols Student Threat Non-Student Threat Preparedness - TRAINING Model Critical Incident Response Video Manual 13
Available Resources DCJS/VCSS Web Site Model Bullying Policy (from DOE) School Safety Inspection Checklist Model Policies and Protocols for Threat Assessment SRO Program Guide Juvenile Law Handbook for School Administrators 27 Pending Resources DOE model school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan (under review) Administrator s Guide to Conducting Drills (undergoing revisions) 28 14
TRAININGS Annual School and Campus Safety Training Forum, August 2014, Hampton, VA School Administrator and Advanced School Resource Officer Forums: Enhancing School Safety through New Legislation and Resources, Multiple dates and locations October/November Basic and Advanced Threat Assessment Workshops, Multiple dates and locations 2013-2015 Effectively Creating a K-12 Threat Management System --Legal Implications of Threat Assessment Teams 29 TRAININGS CPTED for Schools Mental Health First Aid Adult Sexual Misconduct in Schools Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Interview and Interrogation Skills and Emotional Cognitive Interviewing i Multi-hazard Emergency Planning for Schools (in partnership with VDEM and VDOE) 30 15
DEVELOP PLAN, TRAIN, COMMUNICATE, REPEAT Provide a mechanism for conducting annual safety audits (Mitigation/Prevention) Continually strive to improve climate (Mitigation/Prevention) Incorporate procedures for addressing crisis response (Preparedness) Identify location of command post (Preparedness) Identify Incident Command/Chain of command (Preparedness and Response) Outline the communication plan (Planning and Response) Plan for continuity of operations (Recovery) Identify mechanism to bi bring closure to crisis i (Recovery) Evaluate response after the crisis (Recovery) Practice the plan! (Preparedness) Communicate Progress, Plans and Initiatives (Mitigation/Preparedness) Thank you! Shellie MacKenzie, School and Campus Safety Training Coordinator 804.225.1863 Shellie.mackenzie@dcjs.virginia.gov 32 16