Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for ... - INEE Toolkit

Vulnerable groups members – it may also be important to have an individual representingpeople with disabilities and other vulnerable groups whose needs mightotherwise be overlooked;Students – ideally, this will be an elected representative from the student body.Representatives are needed to facilitate two-way communication between all concernedgroups, in the process of planning.Members should remember that resilience is not accomplished all at once, but is a continuousprocess that can be broken down into small steps. Every small step is important inreaching the goals of safety and educational continuity. The committee might start by creatinga calendar of activities to develop awareness and build momentum throughout theschool year. Major milestones include:Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for SchoolsForm or re-form committee;Distribute Family Disaster Plan forms to staff, students and families;Complete School Hazard Impact Assessment;Identify vulnerabilities and capacities;Prioritize mitigation activities;Develop staff training plan;Review basic emergency and standard operating procedures;Conduct school and neighborhood hazard hunt;Check School Evacuation Route Maps posted in each classroom and corridor;Check fire suppression equipment;Identify campus and neighborhood risks, and resources on maps;Post neighborhood and school campus maps prominently;Check and re-supply administration, nursing office, and classroom Go-Bags;Request student comfort kits from families;Check and re-supply first aid kits and emergency supplies;Communicate student-family reunification procedures to parents;Update student emergency release permissions;Schedule fire drill and full simulation drills;Practice drills with each class;Minimum of two annual fire and building evacuation drills;Implement full simulation drill for other hazards.Evaluate drill and revise plans and procedures.It is a good idea to have one large school safety bulletin board in a prominent location,which the committee can use to share information and to create and maintain disaster pre-6