PHASE III: RESPONSE PHASE

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PHASE IIIRESPONSE PHASE

• Edward A. Clarke
• Director, Department of School Safety and
  Security
• Montgomery County Public Schools
• Rockville, Maryland

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Overview of The Response Phase
Response, the action and steps taken to
effectively address, manage, and resolve a
school-related emergency or crisis

• School districts must adopt a multi-hazard and
  comprehensive approach in developing a
  system-wide and school-based response plan.
• Proactive efforts in prevention/mitigation,
  preparedness, and recovery validate and determine
  the effectiveness of response.
• Response must be implemented in an organized and
  strategic manner.
• Staff, students, and parents must be informed of
  the system-wide and schools emergency/crisis
  protocols and response plans.
• The response plan should incorporate the
  structure of the Incident Command System (ICS).

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Key Elements of a Response Plan

• Establish centralized and school-based crisis
  response/management teams
• Response team members must be trained and
  understand their duties, roles and
  responsibilities
• Seek public safety participation in developing
  and reviewing the emergency/crisis plan
• School emergency/crisis response plans should
  include

• On and off-site command posts
• Protocols for special needs students
• Accountability measures
• Multi-hazard evacuation sites

• Media staging areas
• Shelter-in-place
• Parent/child reunification protocols

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Key Elements of a Response Plan (Continued)

• Develop notification protocols/codes.
• Conduct emergency/crisis preparedness drills and
  test the response plans.
• Evaluate/assess emergency/crisis protocols and
  response plan continuously.

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Incident Command System (ICS) General Overview

• System-wide and school-based response plans
  should be based upon the structure and tenets of
  the ICS.
• ICS is a management tool that allows for an
  organized and strategic response to a
  school-related emergency or crisis.
• ICS vests decision making, problem solving
  authority, and responsibility in an incident
  commander.
• ICS support teams are established to assist the
  incident commander.
• Unified command identifies the lead problem
  solving agency that is responsible for resolving
  the emergency/crisis.

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ICS Roles

• The incident commander
• Assesses the situation and makes immediate
  decisions.
• Facilitates regular response team briefings.
• Works collaboratively within the structure of a
  unified command.
• Assigns a public safety liaison to coordinate
  information and response needs with the primary
  incident commander.
• Remains aware that the emergency/crisis location
  may be a crime scene.
• Determines the conclusion of the emergency/crisis
  and develops an after-action report.
• Other ICS roles should include
• Operations officer, logistics officer, planning
  officer, finance officer, public information
  officer, safety officer, liaison officer,
  recorders, etc.

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Key Summary Points

• Develop system-wide and school-based response
  guidelines/plans to meet the school districts
  needs.
• Include a multi-hazard approach in response
  plans.
• Incorporate effective mitigation and prevention,
  preparedness, response, and recovery strategies
  in the emergency/crisis response plan.
• Continually evaluate response plans/efforts.
• Create effective public safety partnerships and
  relationships.
• Educate all stakeholders.
• Train for and practice drills on an ongoing
  basis.
• Debrief after every drill and actual response for
  lessons learned.