How to Conduct an Effective School Safety Drill or Exercise

2017 Governor’s School Safety Conference

Introductions

Emily HarrisNortheast Regional Coordinator

Vermont Emergency Managementemily.harris@vermont.gov

802-241-5385

Max KennedyNorthwest Regional CoordinatorVermont Emergency Managementmax.kennedy@vermont.gov802-241-5820

Agenda

• Exercise Requirements• Homeland Security Exercise and

Evaluation Program• Exercise Types• Exercise Design• Exercise Conduct• Exercise Evaluation/Improvement

Planning

Exercise RequirementsTitle 16 VSA §1481 Title 23 VSA §1285

At least twice during each school year, each pupil who is transported in a school

bus shall be instructed by school authorities in safe riding practices, and

participate in emergency evacuation drills. (Added 1975, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.)

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

• Common nationwide approach• Capabilities-based• Informed by risk• Objective driven• Based on plans• Multi-year Training & Exercise

Program

https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/web/hseep-resources

Planning

Training

Exercise

Types of Exercises

Types of Exercises

Discussion Based - Tabletop Exercises

• Simulated events• Systematic in-depth

problem solving

• Facilitator• Evaluator• Players

http://schoolsafety.vermont.gov/exercises

Operations Based - Drills• Narrow focus but realistic

environment.• Validating a specific operation or

function.

• Controller• Evaluator(s)• Safety Officer• Players

Exercise Design

• Form a Team• Write objectives

• SMART

• Select capabilities to be assessed• Develop scenario to address

objectives

Exercise Conduct

• Real-world incidents take priority!• Safety• Personnel

• Facilitator/Controller, Evaluator(s), Players, Observers

• Communication• Appropriate channels• “This is an Exercise”

• Hotwash• +/-• Participant Feedback Forms

Exercise Evaluation/Improvement Planning

• After Action Report• What happened?• Strengths• Areas for Improvement

• After Action Meeting• Actions• POC• Timeline

Issue Recommendation Action POC DateBlackboard Connect didn’t have the appropriate contacts in it.

Call all parents to figure out if the correct phone numbers are on file.

Compare guardian contact sheet against contacts in Blackboard Connect

Rose Tyler

12/14

Vice Principal didn’t know how to issue Blackboard Connect message.

Provide training to all staff that would be expected to issue a Blackboard Connect Message.

Provide training to all staff that would be expected to issue a Blackboard Connect Message.

Billie Piper

12/20

Interested in learning more?

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

3-daysVEM Training Coordinator

DPS.EMHSTraining@vermont.gov1-800-347-0488

FEMA IS-120.A: An Introduction to Exercises

5 hours - online

FEMA IS-130:Exercise Evaluation and Improvement

Planning5 hours - online

https://training.fema.gov