Schools & Universities

Disaster-related losses for educational institutions have risen sharply in the past decade, forcing schools and universities to reflect upon their responsibilities and adjust their behavior to reduce the impact caused by disastrous events. Educational institutions are realizing that becoming more disaster-resistant helps decrease faculty and staff attrition, lowers insurance premiums, and protects the lives of students. It is in the best interest of the institution and its sponsors to take stock of the hazards they face and to develop a plan for mitigating their potential consequences.

A crisis is the time to follow, not develop, the crisis plan and make use of your preparations. All Clear Emergency Management Group will guide public and private schools through the planning and preparedness process using an all-hazards approach. All Clear EMG regularly works with campus security, key leadership such as university presidents and chancellors, and community first responders to develop and implement plans which incorporate individual capabilities and local resources. Using FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG 101) and Building a Disaster-Resistant University (FEMA 443), in concert with the U.S. Department of Education’s Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities, we will help your institution design, review, implement, and train on its emergency preparedness plan.

The time to plan is now. If you do not have a crisis plan in place, develop one. If you do have a plan in place, review, update and practice that plan regularly.¹ “9 of 10 respondents from institutions that conducted comprehensive safety audits indicated that the review had resulted in changes in policies, procedures, or systems related to safety and security. Campus officials identified changes that were made in a number of areas, including: emergency notification systems; training and protocol for identifying and reporting disturbing or threatening student behavior; fiscal and staff resources devoted to campus safety; security enhancement systems and equipment; screening of applicants for admission and employment; and policies and protocol related to student mental health.” ²

All Clear Emergency Management Group offers comprehensive emergency preparedness services for schools and universities. The following is a select list of services offered. Please contact us for your specific needs.

Emergency Operations Planning: EOPs not only include how to respond to an emergency, such as how to evacuate the building in case of fire, but also how to manage the emergency, coordinate organizational response actions, and engage with emergency responders to achieve the best possible outcome.

ICS/Leadership Training: First Responders across the country have implemented the Incident Command System (ICS) as a method to manage an emergency and account for costs and personnel. Establishing a method for knowing who is in charge and how the personnel will organize their activities is a vital step in efficient and safe response. In addition to having a well organized internal response, schools that have personnel trained in the ICS will better understand how to support the agencies responding to the aid of the campus.

Site Security Assessment: A comprehensive security site assessment allows for greater awareness of vulnerabilities. Security plans and operating procedures can address the gaps identified during the assessment and begin to improve the overall security on campus.

Emergency Drills and Exercises: Having a plan is of little value if those responsible for carrying out the plan do not understand how the plan works. Training about a plan is valuable and necessary. Drills and exercises bring the entire process together by painting a mental image of what an emergency operation will look like and testing the theory of the plan in real time. Whether practicing through a low key tabletop exercise or through a high intensity full-scale exercise, drills and exercises offer a unique learning environment.

Continuity of Operations and Business Continuity Planning: COOP and Business Continuity Planning is important to maintain the daily functions and mission of the organization. These plans account for the vital functions of the organization and provide alternate facilities, necessary equipment, and personnel to achieve these functions.

¹ From U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities, Washington, D.C., 2003.
² From School Emergency Management Planning: Hazard Vulnerability Assessments. https://www.llis.dhs.gov/docdetails/details.do?contentID=26988 (U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Oct 05, 2007)