Emergency Response Handbook
Quick-Click for Responsibilities

Superintendent	School Board	Principals	Administrative Council
Department Managers	Teachers	Secretary & Office	Bus Drivers
Cooks, Custodians Maintenance	Aides & Other Staff	Parents	Students
Response Guide	School Board Declaration	Definitions	Possible Hazards

1. Assess the situation.

• Are students or employees in danger?
• What is the threat or danger?
• How large of an area is threatened?
• Identify those who are inin the danger zone?
• Can the area be isolated?

2. Identify contingencies

• What could possibly follow from the present situation?
• What actions would be appropriate under those possibilities?

3. Determine objectives.

• Decide what must be done to protect students and others.
• Understand that actions and responsibilities may change as the situation develops.
• Establish priorities.

4. Take Action

• Do what needs to be done to save lives and prevent injuries.
• Consciously remind yourself not to panic.
• Remain calm and help others to do the same.

5. Account and Report.

• Roll call and account for students and all others from your area.
• Report all missing individuals, injuries, or other relevant and important information.
• Assist emergency responders as appropriate.
• Take care of those around you in terms of physical and emotional needs.
• If appropriate, provide activities to help students deal with the present situation.

6. Recovery

• Account for all students and others.
• Report any facility problems or other items.
• Be sensitive to those suffering from stress or other emotional issues.
• Facilitate the initiation of stress counseling by making recommendations to appropriate personnel.

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School Board Declaration
Safety Mission

The school district will provide a safe, supportive environment, which fosters mutual respect.  All district students and employees will follow the procedure for dealing with emergencies as outlined below:
 
 

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Possible Hazards

Accidental Injury
Bomb threats
Building collapse
Bus accidents
Child abuse
Child custody
Civil unrest/riots
Dangerous animals
Dangerous Weapons
Death at school
Earthquake
Explosions
Fire
Hazardous materials
Hostage
Interrogation of students
Missing student
Power failure
Suicide
Violent attack
Weather, severe
 

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Definitions:

• Evacuation:  Moving students from the school to another designated area.
• Reverse evacuation:  Moving students to a designated area inside the school.
• Shelter-in-place:  Keeping students where they are, such as in the classroom.

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School Board Trustees
Responsibilities

1. Preparation

• Serve as local agent with authority as granted by the constitution and laws of the state.
• Make policies and procedures to ensure the safety and welfare of all employees and students.

2. Response

• Do not micro manage events.  Allow district employees to execute emergency plans as written and approved.
• Receive information from Superintendent when emergencies occur and provide policy direction if/as needed.

3. Recovery

• Evaluate and revise the district safety policies and procedures as needed following incidents.
• Show gratitude to those who acted appropriately.
• Provide appropriate crisis counseling
• Approve recovery funding.

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Superintendent of Schools
Responsibilities

1. Preparation

• Direct and/or supervise the implementation of all actions and policies as outlined in the District emergency plan
• Assist in the coordination of communication with trustees, staff, students, law enforcement and emergency personnel when safety issues occur.
• Assist the district trustees in developing policies to ensure the safety and welfare of employees and students.
• Develop and implement a public education program explaining the district emergency plan.
• Establish and empower a school emergency committee, such as the administrative council, which includes all principals, directors, and department heads.  They will be charged with training students and employees, planning and evaluating fire drills and exercises, and updating each school's emergency plan.

2. Response

• Coordinate with building principals/district personnel when emergency situations occur.  Ensure that the emergency plan is followed to promote maximum safety of students and employees.
• Coordinate the release of emergency information to the parent, media, and the public.
• Inform board members and supervisors of all emergency situations and review district response.
• Insure documentation of events is taking place

3. Recovery

• Evaluate the district emergency plan following each incident.
• Report final actions to school trustees.
• Provide crisis counseling program if needed.
• Evaluate with administrative council.

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Administrative Council and Department Managers

1. Preparation

• Review, evaluate, and make update recommendations to the school emergency plan.
• Assist the superintendent and principals in developing policies and procedures to ensure the safety and welfare of employees and students.
• Develop a student and employee education program explaining the district emergency plan.
• Assist the superintendent and principals in planning and evaluating fire drills, shelter-in-place, reverse evacuations, and exercises.
• Update regularly with administrative council.

2. Response

• Follow the emergency plan as outlined.
• Look for and make notes of ways to improve the emergency plan.

3. Recovery

• Evaluate the district emergency plan following each incident.
• Report findings, actions, and recommendations to the superintendent.
• Help implement changes to the emergency plan and safety policies.
• Assist in organizing and implementing crisis counseling as directed by superintendent.

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Principal
Responsibilities

Direct the preparation for, response to, and recovery phases of any emergency occurring at his/her building.  The principal is the person responsible for coordinating all efforts of assigned school personnel to insure an efficient response in an emergency situation.  It must be understood that in the event any higher government official assumes jurisdiction, the role of all school personnel should be that of support and assistance.

1. Preparation

• See that appropriate first aid supplies are maintained.
• Provide necessary communication equipment and plan for alternate shelter appropriate to possible hazards.
• Train educational staff and students in emergency procedures and policies.
• Assign specific duties to staff members to be carried out in an emergency.
• Conduct training exercises as appropriate.
• Maintain current maps of campus, electrical configuration, and building interior.
• Maintain current hard copy of student names, parents, phone numbers, addresses, and absentee list for the day.

2. Response

• Direct the evacuation; reverse evacuation, or shelter-in-place procedure appropriate for the type of emergency.
• Contact emergency and district officials.
• Direct roll call.  Account for all students and employees.
• Greet and assist the emergency responders.
• Communicate with personnel assigned to other responsibilities such as first aid, releasing students, staging area, communications, building inspection, etc.
• Direct re-entry or exit when conditions are deemed safe.
• Update district officials as to the status of the emergency.
• Provide guidance for school dismissal or relocation to alternate shelter.

3. Recovery

• Account for all students and employees.
• Assist in the restoration of the physical facilities to usable condition.
• Assist in organization and implementation of crisis counseling as needed.

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Secretary and Office Staff
Responsibilities

The main responsibility of the secretary is to assist the principal in the preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergency situations.

1. Preparation

• Assist the principal in the acquisition of emergency supplies and equipment and copying and distributing emergency information to parents, staff, and students.
• Maintain daily record of absentee list and total student count.  Maintain working copy of total student enrollment.
• Maintain maps of campus, electrical configuration, and building interior.
• Assist the principal in the development of alternate evacuation plans as per situation.

2. Response

• Assist the principal in the evacuation, reverse evacuation, or shelter-in-place as appropriate.
• Sound alarms.
• Contact 911 or appropriate emergency response agency.
• Notify school district officials.
• Secure money and records.
• In the event of evacuation, take portable communication equipment, employee rolls, student rosters and daily absentee list.
• Secure the office
• Assist the principal in developing a location list of all students and employees in the event of shelter-in-place.
• In the event of reverse evacuation, assist students in building entry.

3. Recovery

• Document actions, times, and events.
• Watch for danger signs of stress in students and employees.
• Assist in logistics for crisis counseling as needed.

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Teachers
Responsibilities

The main responsibility is for health and safety of students, guests or visitors.  Teachers should be acquainted with the emergency plan and policies and teach them to students.  Teachers are accountable for their students at all times and in all locations as well as their classrooms.

1. Preparation

• Know each of your student's abilities and special needs.
• Know when to evacuate, reverse evacuation, or shelter-in-place.
• Know and practice different evacuation routes.
• Prepare and maintain an emergency kit.
• Teach students what to do during your absence.
• Train students on the emergency plan as soon as possible each school year.
• Maintain a list of absent students and the total count of those present.

2. Response

• Account for all students.
• Think.  Consider the hazard and take appropriate action.
• Evacuate if necessary.  Move to staging areas as planned, take roll and report.
• In the event of taking shelter in the classroom, secure doors and windows, instruct students appropriate to situation.
• In the event of reverse evacuation, return to classroom with students, take roll and report.

3. Recovery

• Account for all students and guests.
• Assure students appropriately.
• Watch for signs of stress.
• Report missing items.
• Submit recommended list of names for crisis counseling.

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Aides and other staff members
Responsibilities

The main consideration is the safety of all students, guests or visitors.  Everyone should be familiar with the emergency plan and policies.

1. Preparation

• Know when to evacuate, reverse evacuation, or shelter-in-place.
• Know and practice different evacuation routes.
• Train students on the emergency plan as soon as possible each school year.

2. Response

• Think.  Consider the hazard and take appropriate action.
• Return the student to regular classroom teacher for accountability.
• Evacuate if necessary, help return students to regular classroom teacher for accountability.
• In the event of shelter-in-place, secure and cover classroom doors and windows as appropriate to the situation, and instruct students accordingly.
• In the event of reverse evacuation, return students to regular teachers and report.
• Check rest rooms and other areas for missing students.
• Assist students with special needs.

3. Recovery

• Account for all students and guests.
• Be a source of positive influence.
• Watch for signs of stress in students or other employees.
• Make recommendations for crisis counseling.

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Cooks, Custodians and Maintenance
Responsibilities

Staff members are responsible for everyone in their area.  Students in those areas should be returned as quickly as possible to their regular classroom teachers.  They should inspect and secure their areas of responsibility and be prepared to report accordingly.

1. Preparation

• Know the assigned areas of responsibility.
• Maintain maps of assigned areas of responsibility.
• Be familiar with the overall emergency plan.

2. Response

• Inspect and secure the assigned areas of responsibility.
• Return any students to his/her regular classroom teacher when safe to do so.
• Evacuate as appropriate those in assigned areas.  Take students to staging area and return to regular classroom teachers and report.
• In the event of Shelter-in-place, secure your areas, cover doors and windows if appropriate, move students to safe areas, and assist the principal in securing the building and grounds.
• In the event of Reverse Evacuation, assist students in returning to regular rooms or classroom teachers, and assist the principal in securing the building and grounds as appropriate.

3. Recovery

• Report anything that is missing or out of order in your area.
• Restore the physical facilities to pre emergency condition.
• Make recommendations for crisis counseling as needed.

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Bus Drivers
Responsibilities

Take responsibility for the safety and well being of all students in their care until they are delivered to responsible parties at home or school.

1. Preparation

• Be familiar with the district emergency plan.
• Know special needs of students.
• Train students about what to do if the driver becomes incapacitated.
• Prepare and maintain an emergency kit.

2. Response

• Evaluate the situation and take appropriate action for safety of students.
• Account for riders.
• Contact emergency and school officials.
• Provide first aid as appropriate.

3. Recovery

• Account for all riders and those involved in the incident.
• Document what happened (who, what, when, where, and how).
• Make recommendations for crisis counseling as needed.

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Students and Parents
Responsibilities

1. Preparation

• Be familiar with the district emergency plan.
• Know to whom and where you are to report in an emergency.
• Know at least two evacuation routes from your classroom.
• Know where you are to go during an emergency.

2. Response

• Follow instructions of school officials.
• Help those around you.
• Do not cause problems by clowning around.
• Report to your homeroom teacher as soon as possible.
• Do not leave school without checking out unless the situation is extremely dangerous.
• Remain as quiet as possible so that all may hear and understand directions.

3. Recovery

• Report anything that is out of order or missing.
• Help school officials know where you are.  Do not leave school without checking out.
• Tell your parents what happened.
• If you are having trouble dealing with the situation, ask school officials or parents for help.

Parents:  During an emergency, please do not come to the school to get your children without checking first with appropriate officials.   Precious time may be wasted trying to account for children who have been already been secured by parents or family members.
 

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