Orange County Public Schools: Are they Prepared for Emergencies?*

With respect to reported constraints on emergency planning and preparation, over half of schools and almost three quarters of districts identified either limited time or funds. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees with this finding. If school districts had more personnel and resources, districts would be able to move forward with emergency management planning. At present, limited state funds are available and a federal grant program to support emergency management planning will end in Fiscal Year 2012.

Six (of 17) school districts have managed to apply for and receive relatively large grants from governmental agencies to greatly enhance their emergency planning efforts, while others have not. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees that school districts should seek grant The existing federal grant program will be phasing out in 2012 and other grant funding. programs will need to be identified.

Some schools anticipate responding to only a few emergency situations (e.g., earthquake and fire), while others have developed plans to respond to over a dozen different threatening situations. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees with this finding. Our school district . . ř., has developed information for the following emergency situations: Accidents, Armed Student(s), Bomb Threat, Earthquake, Fire and/or Explosion, Fire - Vehicle, Flood, Hazardous Material Spill, Homicide, Hostage, Poisoning/Bites, Rape, Shooting, Suicide, Suspicious Circumstances, Terrorist Attack, Terrorism, Oral Rehydration

School districts develop plans with respect to a number of different but overlapping regulations and standards, including those required by the county, state, and the federal government. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees with this finding. School districts have developed school safety plans under the Education Code. School districts are also required to comply with state and federal emergency management standards, Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). Efforts should be made to make these requirements consistent with each other.

Some schools reported they have not adequately anticipated the needs of students taking prescription medications, or with specialized medical needs, in the event of some emergencies, such as an extended lockdown. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees that this issue should be addressed and the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District is focusing on how to meet all students' needs during an emergency.

School districts are in communication with a variety of local and county departments, agencies, and systems to help them prepare for and respond to disasters or emergencies; not all districts access the same resources. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District agrees the different districts may access different resources. It is our understanding that different districts communicate in a variety of ways with first responders, local agencies, and other agencies to support matters of emergency management.

Few schools have plans or emergency preparation information available in languages other than English. Our district has not prepared emergency information in languages other than English, but it is our intention to do so in the near future. ₹.