Emergency Planning for Schools

Although every school has unique needs, there are a number of common steps that can be taken to ensure that schools are READY for natural or human-caused disasters. Parents and school staff should check with administrators to find out more about their school's emergency plan.

If a plan isn't in place, discuss ways that the school can begin the process of risk assessment and planning. Perhaps a special committee comprised of school staff, parents, and students can be formed to begin the planning process.

There are a number of resources available to assist schools in preparing for disaster. The U.S. Department of Education has developed a publication called "Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities." Visit their website to download a free copy of the guide, and to find other tools and resources.

Promising Practices
Take a look at these schools which have been identified by the U.S. Department of Education as having model emergency plans in place:

• Fairfax County Public Schools
• Montgomery County Public Schools
• North Carolina's Critical Incident Response Kit Project