Guidance for emergency planning in schools is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, the California Department of Education, the San Diego County Office of Education and the Carlsbad Unified School District. The information on this page is intended to supplement, but not replace, the information provided by the Department of Education.
The State of California requires all California schools to develop and implement comprehensive safe school plans and requires the formulation and submission of civil defense and emergency plans. California Department of Education has developed Safe Schools: A Planning Guide for Action that addresses these requirements.
Key elements of school preparedness
- Prepare a crisis response box
- Train in National Incident Management and Incident Command procedures
- Arrange for food, water, sanitation
- Develop and practice class room evacuation and escape routes
- Develop staff and student family communications plans
- Understand facility utility shut-off and facility hazard avoidance
- Understand school parent-child pickup plans and policies
- Safe storage of academic records, insurance and other vital records
- Accommodate special needs
Additional information
- All public employees are disaster service workers.
- Carlsbad Police Department School Resource Officers have been assigned to specific Carlsbad schools to assist in incident response.
- Carlsbad Unified School District schools served as model care and shelter facilities during the 2007 wildland fires.
- Parents can assist schools by understanding the school's emergency and parent-child unification plans.