Natural disasters and security risks are a reality for schools. A solid plan to manage these potential risks will ensure student and staff safety as well as avoid a financial crisis. To prepare for the unexpected, regularly review and adjust your security and disaster readiness plans to help you minimize the impact of any potentially threatening situation.

Key Components of a School Emergency Preparedness Plan

Physical Property Security

Bomb threats, suspicious devices and terrorism are just a few threats to a school's physical property. It's important to review security issues including access control and perimeter security. Appropriate security measures include:

• Survey locks, fences, exterior lights and other physical security devices to ensure they’re in place where needed and in proper operating condition. Establish a monthly inspection of your security perimeter and key protective features of your facility.
• Create and follow strict visitor control procedures (e.g., mandatory sign-ins, name badges, escorts). Additionally, lock all doors while school is in session, with a staff member monitoring entrances and exits. If you're considering building a new facility or renovating a current one, include security and disaster resilience in the building plans.
• Review your procedures for issuing facility keys and access cards. All staff, volunteers and part-time or seasonal staff should be screened before issued building access. Keep a key and card list and have a procedure for handling a situation when an employee is terminated.

School Violence

With the growing trend of bullying and highly-publicized school violence (e.g., shootings), school violence is a serious risk that should be addressed by:

• Installing metal detectors at entrances to the facility, if needed.
• Hiring security guards or officers to monitor activity in the school.
• Enforcing student conduct and dress code policies.
• Training staff of the warning signs of potentially violent behavior.
• Educating students about violence. For example, create an anti-bullying instructional program and conduct an active shooter training.

Other Criminal Activity

Be aware of criminal activity that occurs within 1,000 feet of school property including gang activity, selling drugs and physical assaults. Crime prevention can include:

• Advising staff and volunteers to report suspicious persons or activity in or around the building.
• Closed circuit television (CCTV) can serve as an excellent crime deterrent, and when the system is equipped with a recorder it can help solve crimes.
• Discussing security with your local police department. They are often very willing to provide information and support to local schools and child care facilities.

Fires & Hazardous Materials

Fire departments respond to thousands of fires on educational properties. Ask your local fire department to evaluate your building(s) for potential hazards and fire suppression priorities. Conduct monthly fire drills with your local fire department. Additional precautions:

• Pay attention to the storage of any explosives, flammable or toxic chemicals. Properly secure and inventory these areas with limited hands-on contact when possible. Evaluate other critical facility locations for proper security including 
  • Electric, telephone and gas units 
  • Building entrances
  • Transformers
  • Outside storage 
  • Computer rooms
• Ensure security and/or fire alarm systems are operating properly. Don’t forget to regularly inspect and maintain fire suppression systems. Verify several trusted personnel know how to activate, operate and shut these areas down.

Disaster Planning & Response

Though not all disaster and security threats can be avoided, some situations can be prevented with appropriate preparation. Due diligence is your responsibility; without sufficient security measures in place, your school could be held liable for any vandalism, theft or student injury.

• Evaluate and prepare for potential risks of disasters are most likely to occur in your area. Schools that are part of a larger campus or district, should have plans specific to your facility and procedures for collaborating with the larger entity. Keep copies of insurance policies and other critical documents in a safe and accessible location (e.g. a fireproof safe).
• Make sure your emergency response procedures are comprehensive and up to date. This may include evacuation, building lockdown, communication with authorities and/or parents, or other responses depending on the situation.
• Remind all parties that they should never attempt to enter areas that are closed by police or other emergency responders.
• Conduct periodic drills that include all staff and students to familiarize them with emergency procedures. Include security and disaster response education in the curriculum. Determine which staff members are in charge in an emergency situation and establish a chain of command and reporting for easy communication within the building. You also need an established procedure for which district administrators and local authorities need to be contacted in each situation. Parents should also be educated on the school’s security and disaster response procedures.
• Have call lists available for all key personnel so staff members can be contacted during non-working hours from any location. You also should have parent or guardian contact information for each student. Review procedures for notifying staff and parents that your facility is closed.
• Consider establishing an alternate method for your phone service if the switchboard becomes unusable (e.g. forwarding incoming calls to a cell phone or remote number).
• Check available emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, emergency generators/fuel, patching materials such as plastic sheeting, wood 2x4s, duct tape, spare fire extinguishers, first aid kits, etc.
• Establish a recovery plan for coping after a disaster situation. This will include physical recovery of building functions and infrastructure, a plan for resuming school as soon as possible, and also emotional recovery for staff and/or students in some situations.

To learn more about disaster coverage, please contact a member of our team.