- What must be done immediately to protect lives? Should the school go on lockdown, evacuate or close off areas of the building or grounds?
- Are people injured?
- Is medical attention needed?
Call for assistance
- Contact police and fire/rescue agencies.
- Contact leadership and crisis team at district central office.
Mobilize at site
- Initiate site-based emergency plan.
- Activate incident command team and protocols.
- Call for school buses, if needed.
- Determine if actions (e.g., lockdown) must be taken at neighboring schools.
Gather supplies
- Collect the “Go Box” with essential supplies. Click here for sample “Go Box” contents.
- Bring first aid kits.
- Collect staff and student directories with home phone numbers and emergency contact information.
- Activate cell phones and walkie-talkies. Keep one phone line open to the district office in case of lines jamming during the crisis.
Communicate to key internal audiences
- Develop a preliminary statement — what’s happened, what’s the immediate response.
- Develop a script for people answering phone calls.
- Disseminate accurate information to staff, district leadership, district communications department and other schools.
Communicate with families
- Initiate crisis plan parent notification system.
- Determine how, when and where families will be reunited.
- Begin external communications.
- Contact local and state NEA leaders.
- Communicate with appropriate state and local agencies.
- Contact school district attorney.
Manage media relations
- Establish a media briefing area.
- Work with law enforcement to set a designated area and perimeter for media.
- Identify the spokesperson (site-based or district official).
- Develop an initial media release. Click here to download a sample.
- Provide school and district fact sheets. Click here to download a sample.
- Hold a press briefing in conjunction with law enforcement.
- Control rumors by getting facts out as soon as information is verified.
- Take into account that personal communications tools, such as cell phones and text messaging, allow students to contact media and others directly.
Establish network to account for missing and injured
- Determine who is safe and who is not accounted for.
- Establish a liaison with local hospitals, if necessary.
Contact mental health support
- Request counselors and other trained professionals from neighboring schools.
- Contact district crisis response team.
- Contact local mental health agencies or centers.
- Contact state and national agencies who can provide immediate support to students and staff.