School Emergency Response Team

Build the school’s emergency response team with people who can perform the functions identified below. Backup personnel should be assigned to each function, and key personnel should be cross-trained in critical requirements of the functions. Staff members who are not responsible for students should fill as many of the functions as possible. Depending on the emergency, one person may be able to perform multiple assignments.

See text following box for descriptions of emergency response team functions.

Function	Staff Assigned	Backup Staff
Incident Commander (person in charge)
Safety
Public Information
Liaison
Operations Chief
Medical
Attach list of qualified first-	aid/CPR responders in	building
Site Security/Facility Check
Student Release Coordinator
Logistics Chief
Communications
Transportation
Planning Chief
Financial Recordkeeping
These functions mirror the National Incident Management System (NIMS) used by emergency responders.

School Response Team Functions

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is intended for use by all state and federal agencies when responding to emergencies. The system provides integrated and coordinated management guidelines for all types of disasters and emergencies.

Most functions necessary for emergency response in the community are also necessary for emergencies within the schools. Incident management functions below are described in the context of a school setting.

Incident Commander (person in charge)	Activates school’s emergency response plan; assesses the threat; orders protective measures such as lockdown, evacuation or shelter-in-place; notifies district authorities and provides situation updates; requests resources.
Safety	Responsible for safety and security of the site; stops operations if conditions become unsafe.
Public Information	May be designated site spokesperson; cooperates with the district and other agencies on joint news releases; coordinates media briefings as necessary.
Liaison	Contact person for outside agencies; may represent school/district at city emergency operations center or at emergency responders’ on-scene command post.
Operations Chief	Directs actions; i.e. lockdown, evacuation, site security, release of students to parents/guardians, first aid or medical care, cleanup, control of utilities.
Medical	Provides for first aid or other medical care; coordinates with emergency medical services personnel as necessary; activates school’s first aid/CPR responders.
Site Security/ Facility Check	Responsible for seeing that the school building and grounds are visually inspected and secured.
Student Release Coordinator	Responsible for implementing school’s plan for release of students to parents/guardians from relocation site; takes necessary documents to relocation site.
Logistics Chief	Estimates logistical needs; gets personnel, facilities (relocation sites), services and materials to support operations.
Communications	Responsible for emergency communications systems and equipment; may act as lead or hub for internal communications response.
Transportation	Responsible for arranging transportation for emergency relocations and early dismissal of school; keeps current contact list of transportation providers.
Planning Chief	Assists in assessing emergencies; establishes priorities, identifies issues and prepares an action plan with incident commander.
Financial/Recordkeeping	Manages financial aspects of an emergency; compiles record of expenditures; tracks injuries and lost or damaged property; coordinates with district for insurance; initiates business recovery efforts.