Schools disaster planning

Nadar, K., P3moos, R. (1993). School disaster Planning and initial interventions. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 8(5), 299-320. 

The best thing for families to do develop a disaster plan just as they would for natural disasters. The disaster plan should include an emergency communications plan, a meeting place, and a disaster supplies kit. Parents should check with their children s school to get a copy of the emergency plan of the school. More information is obtainable at the local Red Cross chapter or at the Red Cross Web site http //www.redcross. org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpected.html... 

Zhang, Y, M.K. Lindell, and C.S. Prater. 2004. Modeling and managing the vulnerability of community businesses to environmental disasters. Paper presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. 

Bhatia S (2008) Earthquake-resistant school buildings in India. Urb Plan Des 161(4) 147-149 California Watch (2011) K-12/public safety/spotlight/on shaky ground. 22 Dec 2011. Accessed 3 Feb 2012 CNN (2014) Haiti earthquake fast facts. http //edition. cnn.eom/2013/12/12/world/haiti-earthquake-fast-facts/ index.html. Accessed 6 Jun 2014 Coalition for Global School Safety (2008) School disaster reduction think globally, act locally. Mother slide presentation... 

In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together. 

Wilbamson, A. (2007). Citizen participation in the Unified New Orleans Plan Cambridge, MA Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. Retrieved from http //www.americaspeaks.org/wp-content/ data/n 0001 /resources/live/ciUzenpartstudyl. pdf Wilson, P. A. (2009). DeUberabve planning for disaster recovery Re-membering New Orleans. Journal of Public Deliberation, 5(1), 1-22. 

Next, the team should make a determination of the potential for injuries or deaths that could possibly occur from an all-hazards approach to any catastrophic event at the school. The all-hazards planning approach focuses on developing capacities and capabilities that are critical to preparedness for a full spectrum of emergencies or disasters. This process can begin by addressing the following issues ... 

Determining the hazards that require planning is a matter of historical research for weather experience, natural disaster experience, school experience, state law, and... 

In a 2011 report by the National Center for Education Statistics on crime, violence, discipline, and safety in U.S. public schools, only 41% of schools had a written plan for instances where the National Terrorism Advisory Systan (which replaced the Homeland Security Advisory System based on color-coded levels) alert indicates an imminent threat. This is compared with 95% of schools that reported having a written plan for natural disasters and 94% of schools that reported having a written plan for bomb threats (Neiman and Hill, 2011). Additionally, the same report notes that a higher percentage of suburban schools drilled students on a written plan describing procedures to be performed during a school shooting (58%) than did city schools or rural schools (49 and 48%, respectively) (Neiman and HiU, 2011). 

An academic continuity plan is a series of steps that allows a school to regain operational capability as soon as possible following an incident. An incident can be any event that impacts a school s operational capacity. On one end of the spectrum, it can be something as small as a simple power outage. On the other end of the spectrum, it can be the total loss of a school because of a natural disaster. 

Academic continuity planning will typically include three phases emergency response, crisis management, and academic resumption. The activity that takes place in the first two phases is similar to what occurs when creating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency action plan. Emergency action plans include an evaluation of what disasters could impact a school and identifying ways... 

Dr. Della-Giustina, a professional member of American Society of Safety Engineers, has published more than 125 articles and 14 textbooks in the discipline of safety, health, and environmental studies. He has presented scholarly papers at numerous meetings and conferences at the national and international levels. He has presented papers at the International Sports Medicine Conference in Brisbane, Australia the 2nd International Conference on Emergency Planning and Disaster Management, Lancaster, UK Crime and Its Victims—International Research and Public Policy Issues, (NATO Conference) Tuscany, Italy and Fitness and the Aging Driver, Stockholm, Sweden. He currently serves as editor of The Safety Forum, published by the School and Community Safety Society of America. 

---