Emergency planning guidance for 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, Department of Education provided information.
- 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.
During large-scale disasters fire, police and other response agencies may be fully tasked and not available to provide immediate assistance. Damage to roads, communications and other services may isolate schools from commonly available lines of support. Consistent with the requirements above, schools should prepare to be self-sufficient for the first 72 - 96 hours following a large-scale incident.
Key elements of school preparedness include:
- Preparing a crisis response box.
- Training in National Incident Management and Incident Command procedures.
- Arranging for food, water, sanitation.
- Developing and practicing class room evacuation and escape routes.
- Developing staff and student family communications plans.
- Understanding facility utility shut-off and facility hazard avoidance.
- Understanding school parent-child pickup plans and policies.
- Safe storage of academic records, insurance and other vital records.
- Special needs recognition and preparedness.
Additional school info:
- All public employees are disaster service workers.
- Carlsbad Police Department School Resource Officers have been assigned to selected Carlsbad schools to assist with 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.
- Great California ShakeOut