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It’s imperative that schools are ready when Mother Nature strikes. Because there is rarely time to plan before it’s too late, schools must have effective strategies in place. Let’s explore 7 key strategies that schools can use to ensure they are ready for the unexpected.
1. Plan on providing emotional support
Severe weather events can be scary and traumatic, and it’s important to provide emotional support to students and staff during and after natural hazards. Schools can offer counseling services, support groups, or other resources to help individuals cope with their emotions.
Make it easier for your staff to communicate which students need additional support with StudentSafe™, the first-of-its-kind platform to help schools recognize, document, support, and manage the wellbeing of individual students. With an emphasis on cataloging low-level concerns in a single, secure platform, your trained teams can see a picture forming of a student who may need help.
2. Address Misconceptions
Misconceptions and misinformation can increase anxiety and confusion during severe weather drills. Schools can address these concerns by providing clear and accurate information about the potential risks and safety procedures.
3. Seek Expert Guidance
Schools may not have the expertise or resources to address all of the challenges that arise during severe weather drills. It’s important to seek guidance from experts, such as local emergency management agencies, to ensure that drills are effective and relevant to the type of hazard
Looking for more resources? Responding to and recovering from a severe weather event starts with creating a plan to keep everyone safe. Read Raptor’s Strategies for Effective K-12 Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery guide to learn the best ways to update your disaster response plans.
4. Practice Communication
Effective communication is essential during severe weather events. Practice communication strategies during drills, such as using a public address system, social media, or other communication tools to provide updates and instructions.
5. Address Logistics
Severe weather drills can present logistical challenges, such as ensuring that everyone is accounted for or addressing the needs of students with disabilities. Schools can address these challenges by developing clear protocols and procedures for addressing logistics during drills.
Raptor Emergency Management syncs with your student information system—and with Raptor Visitor Management—which means emergency responders have real-time information on the location and status of every person on campus.
6. Offer Training
Students and staff may not be familiar with the safety procedures or equipment used during severe weather drills. Schools can offer training sessions or workshops to familiarize individuals with the procedures and equipment, reducing confusion and increasing confidence.
7. Evaluate and Improve
Practice and more practice. Severe weather drills should be evaluated regularly to identify areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement. Schools can solicit feedback from students, staff, and parents and use this feedback to make changes that enhance safety and preparedness.
Raptor Drill Manager empowers your schools with the ability to schedule, track, and analyze drill performance—so you can see what is working and where you need to improve performance.
Raptor helps make schools a safer place to learn
Addressing the challenges and concerns that arise during severe weather drills requires careful planning, communication, and collaboration. By implementing these strategies, schools can help ensure that everyone is prepared and confident during emergencies.
Learn more about how Raptor can help your school prepare for any situation—schedule an Emergency Management demo.
Related Resources
Strategies for Effective K-12 Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Responding and recovering from a severe weather event starts with creating a plan to keep everyone safe.
Listen to this blog
4 minutes
