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

ConditionsExtreme weather during school yearLandslideForest firesTsunamiDrought / Food insecuritySolid waste managementWater and energy shortage and costsHazardous materials production orstorageAir pollutionSolutions to exploreschool design, alternate locations, alternate delivery methodstree-planting, slope stabilization, retaining wall, evacuation routesfire breaksevacuation routes, stairs, ladderrainwater harvesting, school gardens, tree planting, food storagerecycling pointwater and energy conservationcommunity “right-to-know”, regular review of safety measures,facility tours and dialogueswalking and bicycling to school, car-poolingThere are other ways that your school community can be involved in environmentalprotection and climate change mitigation—through ”green school” measures and throughcommunity activities such as environmental clean-up, anti-litter signage, awareness campaignsand similar activities to encourage citizens to reduce, re-use and recycle.Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for Schools3. Response capacity developmentThe final piece of the puzzle involves the development of response capacity. This includes thesystematic organization of response, standard response skills (including basic emergencyprocedures and procedures for specific hazards), and accessing provisions during an emergency.Details on each follows.Response organization using Incident Command Systems (ICS)Response capacity involves knowledge, procedures, skills, and provisions. The most importantaspect of response capacity is organization and mobilization of existing skills and resources.A standard emergency management system, such as Incident Command Systems(ICS) shown in the diagram at the bottom of this section, can be used as a guiding frameworkfor coordinating the many standard functions that may be called for in different emergencysituations.Incident command systemsThe purpose of ICS is to ensure that the most help reaches the most people, and to providea consistent system that staff, students, and emergency personnel can apply in any school,anywhere. Key principles are:18