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

Information and planning: these are documenters and analyzers (support themission)This branch is typically mobilized in advance of a disaster, identifying and researchingresources, executing memoranda of understanding in advance. During anincident it documents the situation, activities, and assures accurate record keeping.Finance/administrators: these are payers (pay and negotiate)This function typically keeps records of resources and staff time expended duringany emergency, arranging compensation where permitted, and negotiating asneeded for access to needed resources.Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for SchoolsICS is a flexible system that can be activated to different levels, depending on the situation.For example, an intruder on campus, a fight between students, or traffic accident mightbe handled by activating Level I alone. A small fire or flood might require Level II activation.A major disaster, such as an earthquake might require full activation of multiple teamsat Level III. Maintaining this structure allows more responders to be integrated, maintainingthe chain of command, and a manageable span of control (i.e., 5–8 people per supervisor). Itis not normally recommended to have permanent teams with single functions because eachsituation differs, and may call for more or fewer people on any particular team. As much asresources permit, staff should cross-train. Even if response teams are formed ahead of time,staff should understand and be prepared to assume any response role, as needed. IncidentCommand Systems are designed to be flexible, and to activate from the top down, only to thelevel, and only those functions required by the particular disaster or emergency.Standard operating proceduresStandard emergency response procedures depend on the hazard, and can and should be customizedto your unique circumstances. These are built around six basic emergency proceduresdetailed below:Building evacuation;Shelter-in-place;Lockdown;Assemble and shelter outside;Evacuate to safe haven;Emergency student release/family reunification.Each of the procedures is described in detail below. Remember that individuals withdisabilities, foreign language speakers and visitors unfamiliar with these procedures may20