How to prevent, prepare, respond and recover in the face of emergencies and disastersNatural disasters and other emergencies can happen at any time, and when they happen at school, everyone should be prepared to handle them safely and effectively. Administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students can work together to promote and maintain school-wide safety and minimize the effects of emergencies and other dangerous situations. This guide covers different ways everyone in the school community can prepare for various natural disasters and other emergencies to stay safe. Show
Is Your School at Risk? A Look at Natural DisastersSome natural disasters can be predicted, giving schools enough warning to evacuate or take other safety precautions, but others can happen unexpectedly or go through rapid changes that suddenly put a school in danger. The first step schools should take in preparing for these types of emergencies is to assess the natural disaster risks in their areas. The map below can help schools determine their likelihood of being affected by natural disasters like these:
Natural Disaster Risk Map[Map] AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Top Online ProgramsExplore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level. School Emergency Preparedness:Natural Disasters & Other EmergenciesStudents, faculty and administrators can prepare themselves for emergencies at school in a number of ways, from conducting regular, emergency-specific drills to making sure the building's infrastructure is up to code. When emergencies do happen, schools need to know how to respond appropriately and recover as quickly and effectively as possible. Earthquakes at SchoolMany natural disasters can be predicted and tracked, but earthquakes tend to strike without warning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 17 major earthquakes (7.0+ magnitude) and one great earthquake (8.0+ magnitude) are expected to occur in any given year along with millions of small earthquakes worldwide. While smaller quakes might not have much impact on a school, it's important to take precautionary measures in case a large earthquake happens. Warnings & AlertsThere aren't any prediction or warning systems in place for earthquakes; however, the U.S.Geological Survey's earthquake map and Global Incident's live earthquakes map provide information about earthquakes soon after they hit, including when and where the earthquake occurred and how large it was. For updates and information in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, schools and parents should have battery-powered radios on hand. Getting Your School PreparedThoughtful planning and preparation can help ensure the safety of students and staff should and earthquake occur during school hours. These tips can aid in the preparation process.
Earthquake Preparedness ResourcesEarthquake Facts and Earthquake Fantasy Earthquake Preparedness Earthquake Preparedness for Educational Facilities Earthquake Safety at Schools Earthquakes and Schools Great ShakeOut UPSeis Fires at SchoolBetween 2007 and 2011, fire departments in the U.S. responded to about 5,700 structure fires in educational facilities. Seventy-one percent of those fires were in K-12 schools, and about half of them were intentionally set. The remaining half of fires in schools occur unintentionally from things like malfunctioning heating units or chemicals interacting in a chemistry lab. Emergency preparation should not be limited to indoor fires. Wildfires can pose real threats to schools, especially those along the West and in rural areas, where dry climates and wind cause fires to move and grow rapidly. Warnings & AlertsSchools typically have a strong warning system in place for fires that will set off alarms throughout the building, turn on a sprinkler system and contact emergency services. Anyone on campus can pull manual fire alarms as well. Always be prepared to evacuate the building immediately, even if you can't see or smell the fire. Wildfires take some time to grow, which can provide ample warning time to get students to safety. However, they have a propensity to shift suddenly, so even a fire that seems far away should be taken seriously and addressed with speed. Schools should take note of fire risk warnings, which are common in areas where wildfires are a threat. In the event of a wildfire, alerts will be sent out through emergency channels, like California's CalFire Incidents page or Utah's FireInfo page. Schools, students and families should find out where to get wildfire alerts in their area before a fire occurs. Getting Your School PreparedWhether a fire threat comes from inside or outside the building, student and staff safety is the top priority. Smart planning and preparation for various types of fire threats can help schools prevent fires and, when prevention is not possible, respond to them appropriately.
Fire and Wildfire Preparedness ResourcesCampus and Dorm Fire Safety Tips Firewise How to Form a School Fire Safety Plan Incident Information System School Safety Tips Wildfires and Schools Hurricanes at SchoolHurricanes are tropical cyclones that bring high winds, flooding rains and storm surges. While they can typically be detected before they reach land, hurricanes can be highly destructive. Schools may be evacuated well in advance of a hurricane strike, but steps can be taken to prepare students, staff and the building itself for smoother recovery. Warnings & AlertsFortunately, storms are always detected well before they reach hurricane status. When the track of the hurricane becomes evident, warnings are issued to the affected areas through radio, television, newspaper and online sources. This allows plenty of time for residents to take appropriate actions. Schools are likely to cancel classes in order to keep students as safe as possible. Getting Your School PreparedSchools on or near the coast should help students, parents and faculty prepare for hurricanes. Planning ahead can reduce panic and increase safety during these storms.
Hurricane Preparedness Resources FloodSmart.gov How to Prepare for a
Hurricane Hurricanes Hurricane Preparedness National Hurricane Center Public Health Emergency – Hurricane Preparedness Tornadoes at SchoolAround 1,200 tornadoes occur in the United States every year, ranging from mild to severe. Those who live in areas where tornadoes are common may know a storm is coming just by looking outside: a dark, greenish sky; hail and debris; and loud winds can indicate a tornado strike. However, it is very difficult to predict exactly where a tornado will hit, and once it forms, it moves quickly. Immediate response is necessary to protect everyone in the building when a tornado hits at school. Warnings & AlertsAccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average lead time for a tornado warning is 13 minutes, but some tornadoes can have little warning at all. Schools should be equipped with weather radios tuned to NOAA stations so faculty can get tornado alerts immediately. Some communities have tornado sirens and may send text messages and emails alerts when a tornado approaches. Getting Your School PreparedStudents and staff should know exactly what to do and where to go when tornado warnings are broadcast. Here's how schools can prepare for tornadoes.
Tornado Preparedness ResourcesPrepare for a Tornado National Disasters and Severe Weather – Tornadoes Severe Weather 101 – Tornado Basics Tornado Tornadoes Tornado Protection Terrorist Threats & Active Shooter Events (ASEs) at SchoolBetween 2013 and 2015, there were 160 school shootings in 38 states. Nearly 53 percent happened at K-12 schools, while 47 percent occurred on college campuses. While these situations can seem to come out of nowhere, schools can increase prevention measures and better prepare students, staff and families in the event of a terrorist or active shooter threat. Warnings & AlertsAt the time of the event, school shootings can seem random and unprompted. However, after some investigation, missed warning signs tend to surface. Schools can educate teachers and students about different warning signs that could lead to an ASE and improve measures to address them. For instance, schools might increase counseling services for all students and their families, paying special attention to students who display violent outbursts, have difficult or violent home lives, are bullied or struggle to develop positive relationships with peers. Helping students develop and maintain good mental health and a sense of self-worth along with looking for warning signs and addressing them before a problem occurs can help ensure that schools remains a safe space for students. If a school is threatened by terrorist activity or armed persons near campus, police and administrators typically work together to keep each other informed and ensure the safety of people in the building. Getting Your School PreparedTaking steps to prepare the building as well as those inside it can help schools stay safe and respond appropriately to active shooter events and terrorist threats.
Terrorist Threat & Active Shooter Event Preparedness ResourcesCampus Safety Campus Safety Toolkit Campus Security Department of Homeland Security The National Center for Campus Public Safety Terrorism Response Protocols AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Top Online ProgramsExplore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level. College Students:How to Be Prepared When Emergency StrikesThe increased independence that comes with being in college also comes with more responsibility, especially when it comes to emergency preparedness. While college dorms do conduct emergency drills and provide information on what to do during natural disasters and campus threats, students need to make sure they also know what to do if emergencies happen while they are in class, away from their dorms or living off campus. Reading up on school emergency procedures, making sure that emergency supplies are available, knowing the campus layout and getting familiar with school resources, like campus police, resident assistants and health services can help college students be safe and prepared in emergency situations. Know Your Emergency ContactsEmergency contact information allows students and emergency responders to notify important individuals and loved ones in the event of an emergency. Students can store their emergency contacts in their phones or write them down, but it's a good idea to have the most important ones memorized. Consider including these:
Know Your School's Emergency & Disaster PlansEvery school has an emergency and disaster plan. If students aren't informed during orientation, they can ask for details from the campus safety office. Pay special attention to these aspects of the plan:
Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Dorm, House or ApartmentSchools are generally prepared to help students when disasters hit, but it's still a good idea for students to be equipped with emergency kits. When building their kits, students should include these items:
Grab-n-Go Emergency Kits for Your Home, School or VehicleSometimes known as bug-out-bags, emergency kits have everything students need get through an emergency. Making your own is cheaper and tailored to you, but also takes some serious time and planning for prepare. Those who want the basics can explore these options.
Advice from the Expert: What Can Schools Be Doing Better?Jason Russell Additional Emergency Preparation ResourcesGeneral Pet Care - Disaster Preparedness Make a Plan NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards REMS What's Happening in Your State? Zombie Preparedness What are the considerations for the nurse in responding to a disaster?Some special considerations for response include mental health (for both responders and the victims of a disaster), planning for special needs populations (such as the elderly, children, persons with disabilities, and people in incarceration), and surge capacity in hospitals and clinics.
Which is an example of a natural disaster quizlet?Droughts, Wildfires, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hailstorms, Heat waves, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Cyclones, Volcanic eruptions.
Which is an example of a natural disaster?Natural disasters are catastrophic events with atmospheric, geological, and hydrological origins (e.g., droughts, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides) that can cause fatalities, property damage and social environmental disruption [1].
What emotion would a nurse anticipate when working with an older person following a disaster?A nurse is working with an older person following a disaster. Which of the following emotions of the client should be anticipated by the nurse? A common reaction of older persons experiencing disaster may be fear of loss of independence. Young children may respond with regression.
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