The Critical Incident Response Plan represented “State of the Art” when it was first introduced, however, the events of September 11, 2001, rendered this application of that term to be obsolete. The Critical Incident Response Plan, however, continues to provide School Site Critical Incident Response Teams with a wealth of valid information.
Due to the establishment of the Homeland Security Department, and Presidential Directives, a comprehensive review of emergency response management practices and systems was set in motion. The result of that review revolutionized the way in which critical incident responses are now organized and managed.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS), a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines has been developed. The intent of NIMS is to:
- Be applicable across a full spectrum of potential incidents and hazard scenarios, regardless of size or complexity.
- Improve coordination and cooperation between public and private entities in a variety of domestic incident management activities.
Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5 requires Federal departments and agencies to make the adoption of NIMS by State and local organizations a condition for Federal preparedness assistance (grants, contracts, and other activities) by fiscal year 2005.
Jurisdictions can comply in the short term by adopting the Incident Command System (ICS). The ICS defines the operating characteristics, management components, and structure of incident management organizations throughout the cycle of an incident.
Other aspects of NIMS require additional development and refinement to enable compliance at a future date. |
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M-DCPS Critical Incident Response Plan |
The Critical Incident Response Plan, developed and distributed to the District schools and facilities in August 2001, is based on the standards and expertise of State and National publications as well as input from relevant, nationwide, professional organizations.
The Critical Incident Response Plan provides School Site Critical Incident Response Teams with a wealth of valid information.
The Critical Incident Response Plan is organized into eight sections as follows:
- Facility Emergency
- Medical Emergency
- Threats
- Crime and Violence
- Critical Incident Response: Roles and Responsibities
- Protective Action Procedure
- Appendix
- Resources
Each of the first six sections contains specific directions for actions to be taken in response to the event(s) addressed within the section. In many instances, where other sections contain anticipated circumstances and procedures, they are cross-referenced for the convenience of the Incident Commander.
Appropriate levels of notification are provided, with the contact information included. School Site Critical Response Team Members should be familiar with the organization and content of this plan. It is critical that contact information be verified on a regular basis to ensure it is current.
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SCHOOL EMERGENCY KIT
Recommended Items
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Blankets
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Cell phone, hand radio, batteries
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Copy of student/staff schedules
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Yellow ("CAUTION") tape
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Current listings of students and staff, daily attendance
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Emergency contact cards
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First aid supplies/prescription medications
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Listing of school district/community contact numbers
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Log book and office supplies
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Map of the school (structural blueprint)
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Megaphone/whistle
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Name tags, pens, markers
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Tissues
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Water/crackers
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The “Emergency Pack” provides tools to the Incident Command Center (ICC) consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements. In particular, it provides first responder supplies to Command Center Staff. These supplies both expedite the treatment of minor, non-debilitating injuries to ICC staff, and facilitate the initiation of operations to mitigate the crisis. The contents of the Pack include light sources, a whistle, doorstops, dust protectors, and minor injury first aid supplies. There is also a Response Binder that speeds up the personnel accounting process through the use of forms and color-coded cards (non-verbal communications).
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| The Command Board is contained within a carrier that can be described as an over-sized briefcase. |
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It is readily portable, and for those occasions when it needs to be moved to a more distant site, a heavy-duty, shoulder carrier is provided. |
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To open the Command Board, the Velcro, fastened cover is released, and the board is unfolded. The self-contained unit is adaptable to be hung on a chain-link fence, bulletin board, or chalkboard.
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It can also be deployed on an automobile trunk lid, table-top, desk, or other flat surface. Key features of this board include its design and the design of the included forms, all of which are consistent with the NIMS and Incident Command System (ICS).
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Key features of this board include its design and the design of the included forms, all of which are consistent with the NIMS and Incident Command System (ICS).
The six clip-board locations hold pads of forms designed to aid in the accountability and rapid organization of responding personnel into effective crisis management teams.
The system provides the Incident Commander the means to assess the situation, identify available resources, develop and implement incident action plans, and account for all personnel, supplies and equipment. These features provide the means for both a detailed accounting of what went well and to identify opportunities to improve the next response.
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