Emergency Response Planning for Schools
by Doug Henderson
The need to communicate emergency instructions during a crisis situation is essential to the effective execution of the emergency management plan. Communicating accurate and detailed information about a facility evacuation or emergency lockdown presents a significant challenge. In this document, Doug Henderson discusses the importance of proper emergency procedures.
School safety procedures have historically focused on facility evacuation or fire drill exercises. These exercises are usually performed on a regular basis throughout the school year. Facility evacuation procedures are the appropriate response for fire emergencies and for certain other threats, such as bomb threats and internal hazardous releases.
NEW THREATS
During the past few years, terrorist attacks and “hostile intruder” situations have emerged as serious threats to schools. These threats require creating “emergency lockdown” or “shelter-in-place” procedures ? the exact opposite of a facility evacuation. Terrorist attacks and hostile intruder situations constitute life-threatening events, and conducting a facility evacuation or failing to respond properly could be a fatal mistake. Note that emergency lockdown procedures are also appropriate for other situations, such as external hazardous releases and, with some modification, tornado emergencies.
RESPONSES TO THE NEW THREATS
Teachers and staff are frequently the initial responders to an emergency situation. In particular, students view teachers as role models and leaders. In an emergency situation, students will probably follow the advice of their teachers and other adults. Yet very few of these initial responders have any formal training in emergency response.
Schools need to train all their employees in proper emergency response procedures. These instructions should be written in a concise manner and address all current threats. In addition, management needs to review these procedures with employees at meetings. Armed with this information, teachers will be in a position to discuss these procedures their students. Most importantly, as with facility evacuation exercises, emergency lockdown procedures need to be practiced.
Threats that trigger an emergency lockdown are probably life threatening. Although these exercises might cause some initial stress, it's critically important that everyone knows the proper action steps. In the longer term, these exercises will give everyone some level of empowerment in an actual emergency situation that might otherwise be overwhelming.
COMMUNICATION
The need to communicate emergency instructions during a crisis situation is essential to the effective execution of the emergency management plan. Communicating accurate and detailed information about a facility evacuation or emergency lockdown presents a significant challenge.
At a minimum, schools need some type of siren to alert everyone to a dangerous condition outside of the classroom that requires an emergency lockdown. It's also essential to use an intercom system for effective dissemination of emergency information about a hostile intruder, hazardous release, etc. that can't be communicated by a siren alone.
Depending on the specific threat, there are important differences in emergency lockdown procedures. For example, for a hostile intruder threat, doors need to be locked, windows and window treatments closed, and everyone should get out of sight. For a tornado threat (with time permitting), the school would probably want to relocate individuals from outside rooms to interior corridors ? a procedure that you wouldn't follow in a hostile intruder situation.
CONCLUSION
Every school needs to develop an Emergency Lockdown plan, as well as specialized procedures to respond to a hostile intruder, terrorist attack, and other threats. Communicate all plans and procedures to everyone involved or potentially affected. Most importantly, practice these plans and procedures on a regular basis; practicing emergency lockdown procedures is as important as mock Facility Evacuations.
Douglas M. Henderson, FSA, CDRP , can be reached at Disaster Management, Inc., 12321 NW 9th St., #100 , Plantation, FL 33322, (954) 452-1091, fax (954) 452-1086, Web site www.disastermgt.com, or e-mail [email protected].
Emergency Lockdown Procedures
If there's an emergency situation in which an evacuation of a building and/or classroom is not advisable (hostile intruder, hazardous release outside, terrorist attack, etc.), follow these procedures:
Communication
• Announce an Emergency Lockdown (or “Shelter-in-Place”) by intercom or other voice communication.
• If an individual discovers a situation that might require an Emergency, they should contact Police/Security immediately and provide as much information as possible.
• Do not sound fire evacuation alarms.
Procedures
• Lock classroom and other doors.
• Close windows and window treatments.
• Turn off lights.
• Have everyone remain quiet and not enter hallways.
• If the fire alarm sounds, do not evacuate the building unless:
• You have first-hand knowledge that there's a fire in the building, or
• Police/Security have advised you to evacuate the building.
• Crouch down in areas that are out of sight of doors and windows.
• Students in hallways should seek shelter in the nearest classroom.
• Students in outdoor areas should take cover immediately. Return to the gym if it's safe to do so. If the threat is outdoors on campus grounds, cancel all outdoor activities.