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National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month, a time to recognize that preparing for disasters saves lives. Disasters are events that disrupt the normal conditions of existence and cause a level of suffering that exceeds the capacity of the affected community to respond. Creating plans and taking steps to keep children safe during a disaster is vital for protecting youth health and wellbeing.
There are 4 phases in addressing a disaster: prevention-mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Preparedness includes developing plans for what to do, where to go, or who to call for help before an event occurs. These are actions that will improve your chances of successfully dealing with an emergency. Good preparedness facilitates a rapid, coordinated, effective response when a crisis occurs that keeps the school community safe before, during and after a disaster.
Not all planning is helpful. Active school shooter drills often cause extreme mental distress without decreasing the likelihood of school shootings or increasing protection of the community if one does occur. Instead, it is important to weigh the differences between probability and possibility. While school shootings are, with good reason, the catalyst for many to start thinking about preparedness and require critical planning, a school community disaster is likely to be something more common. Planning for extreme weather events or a disaster that impacts a subset of the community such as death of a student by suicide are an important part of preparedness. Preparing for these more common occurrences might not be as top of mind, but the higher probability of encountering them is important to consider and plan for.
Unfortunately, research has found that as many as 1 in 4 schools districts fall short of achieving comprehensive preparedness goals. In addition, preparedness planning and funding in schools is not consistent across the country- with rural districts reporting less funding for disaster preparedness planning and training.
Disasters are unpredictable, but schools can do their part to be prepared to address and mitigate threats and hazards that may arise. From developing comprehensive plans at the district and school-level, to educating students on steps to take in disaster situations, everyone has a role to play in ensuring children are safe and prepared in the case of unforeseen circumstances. Explore the resources below to learn how to create safe learning environments where students are supported, protected and empowered during disasters.
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