School Emergency and Crisis Response Plan “NIMS/ICS Supplemental Overview”

School Emergency and Crisis Response Plan“NIMS/ICS Supplemental Overview” Lt. Commander Joseph J. Leonard Jr. , USCG The Center for Safe and Secure Schools • Harris County Department of Education • 6300 Irvington Blvd. Houston, TX 77022 • Phone: 713-696-0770 Toll Free: 1-866-713-2343 • kboland@hcde-texas.org • www.safeandsecureschools.org

Concept of Operations • A description of the school district or school’s overall approach to an emergency • Explains how your school will respond to an emergency: “What should happen, when at whose direction”

Concept of Operations:Direction and Control The definition and assignment of roles and responsibilities for direction and control, with specific reference to: • Chain of Command • Designated Back-up for each role, and • Other critical functions • Reliance on the Incident Command System (ICS)

Concept of Operations:Direction and Control(continued) • Responsibilities of individuals who discover the emergency or crisis • Responsibilities of leader/commander and other members of the emergency team • Responsibilities of monitors who will ensure proper execution of the planned response

Concept of Operations:Direction and Control (continued) • Responsibility for communicating with first responders, building occupants, families, media and the community • Responsibility for maintaining emergency-related records

Functional Procedures Based on Drills • Immediate action steps in emergencies for: • Evacuation • Reverse Evacuation • Off campus evacuation • Lockdown • Shelter-in-place (severe weather, hazardous materials release) • Drop, cover and hold

Incident Specific Response Planning • Description of responses planned - “what should happen, when and at whose direction,” including: • Severe weather • Fire • Bomb threats • Structural failure • Bus accidents

Incident Specific Response Plans Required (continued) • Failure of utilities or loss of utility service • Release of hazardous materials indoors/outdoors • Intruder/use of weapon/hostage • Public health or medical emergencies • Earthquakes • Nuclear power plant accident(if school is within 25 miles of the facility)

Resource Inventory for Emergencies • Emergency contact list • Student Accountability and Family Reunification procedures • Response guidance material, method of distribution to all staff and students • Emergencies supplies and equipment

Training and Preparedness • Description of actions taken to ensure administrators, staff and students understand warning signals and response to emergencies • School Information: hazard analysis, area maps, site plans, safety reference plans (23 Ill. Adm. Code 180.120) community agreements, etc. • Records and results of required School Safety Drills and optional drills conducted

Examples of other important resources for emergencies • Maps (aerial photo of school and area) • Site Plan (floor plan with utilities shut-offs) • Faculty/staff/students rosters • Photos of students, staff on CD’s • Interior and Exterior photos of school • Interagency / private sector Agreements (I.E. shelters, transportation, equipment) • Response management Forms

4 Phases of Emergency Planning Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery

School Incident Command System • School-based emergency management organization to respond to critical incidents • Incident Command System (ICS) • Used by first responder agencies • Integrates school command and emergency agencies command functions

Incident Command System School and School District First Responders(Fire, Police, EMT) ICS Partners (Mental & Public Health, Parents, Media, etc.)

Incident Commander Safety Officer Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Operations “Doers” Finance/Admin “Payers” Planning “Thinkers” Logistics “Getters” Basic Incident Command System at a School

School Commander Safety Officer Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Admin Security Documentation Supplies Timekeeping Search & Rescue Situation Analysis Staffing Purchasing Student Care Communications Medical Sample School or District Incident Command System Organization

Principal (School Commander) Health Teacher (Safety Officer) English Teacher (Public Information Officer) Assistant Principal (Liaison Officer) History Teacher (Planning Chief) Science Teacher (Operations Chief) Social Studies Teacher (Logistics Chief) Math Teacher (Finance/Admin Chief) School ICS Organization

Incident Command System Scenario • Scenario: A student reports to a teacher that he witnessed another student carrying a weapon.

Incident Command System Scenario At the moment the student reports the weapon issue, the teacher is the Incident Commander. Teacher = Incident Commander The teacher reports the incident to the principal. Incident Command transfers from the teacher to the principal. Principal = Incident Commander

Incident Command System Scenario The principal places the school in lockdown and notifies the local police department and the district office. The police arrive on the scene and take over as the Incident Commander. The principal assists the police response. Police = Incident Commander Principal = Incident Command Staff

Incident Command System Scenario The school is placed in lock-down. The Incident Commander and team ask the district PIO to prepare a statement and bring in a recorder and the building custodian.

Incident Command System Scenario While the school is in lockdown, a student suffers an asthma attack. The school nurse is called for assistance.

Incident Command System Scenario The police investigate the incident and arrest the student. The school is closed for the day to complete the investigation. Parents are notified that students will be evacuated to a local elementary school to be picked up.

Summary & Lessons Learned • All staff and students must be trained on response procedures. • Emergency responders may not be available to assist the school immediately. - Schools must develop the capability to be self reliant until emergency agencies can help • Communication is a key factor in knowing how and when to respond. • Practice Response Drills and Exercises

Presenter: Lt. Commander Joseph J. Leonard Jr. , USCG • The Center for Safe and Secure Schools • Harris County Department of Education • 6300 Irvington Blvd. Houston, TX 77022 • Phone: 713-696-0770 Toll Free: 1-866-713-2343 • kboland@hcde-texas.org • ww.safeandsecureschools.org

School Emergency and Crisis Response Plan “NIMS/ICS Supplemental Overview”