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Emergency Management: Most School Districts Have Developed Emergency Management Plans, but Would Benefit from Additional Federal Guidance
Date: June 12, 2007
Institution: Government Accountability Office
Bibliographic Information: “Emergency Management: Most School Districts Have Developed Emergency Management Plans, but Would Benefit from Additional Federal Guidance.” United State Government Accountability Office. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07609.pdf (accessed July 2, 2007).
Electronic Link: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07609.pdf
Key Words: school safety, school preparedness, emergency management plans
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
The Government Accountability Office conducted a survey of the emergency management plans of schools nation wide. Even though these plans are not required by federal government, most school districts (85%) reported they had such plans in action. A vast majority have written emergency management plans (95%), and many of these address multiple hazards, such as natural disasters, intruders, and bombs. These plans do have their shortcomings however, and rarely address pandemic or radiological hazards. They also widely vary in the extent to which their plans address the needs of special needs and Limited-English Proficient students. Very few of the school districts have any interaction with local government, local health agencies and local first responders and little communication with them regarding the implementation of their emergency management plans. The GAO discovered that school districts had difficulties planning for emergencies, communicating with first responders and parents, and struggle in balancing priorities of educating students with activities related to emergency management. In order to mitigate these issues, the GAO makes several recommendations, including the identification of school districts as entities which will receive state and local funding by the Department of Homeland Security, the introduction of guidance to school districts on successful shelter and evacuating procedures for special needs students during emergencies, and collaboration between the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to give guidance to school districts regarding the implementation of emergency management plans that address influenza pandemics and the identification of factors which prevent schools and first responder interaction.
Name of Researcher: Crystal Boson
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: July 5, 2007