Individuals, community groups, and organizations that have designed and implemented effective school crisis plans offer the following tips for schools:

• Some communications equipment may not operate in all areas of a school. Test cell phones and radios in every room of a school.
• Pay phones may be the only phones to work effectively in a crisis. Carry change or phone cards to use with pay phones in an emergency.
• During emergencies, individuals may need to stand or walk for long periods of time. Keep a comfortable set of clothing, including shoes, ready.
• Keep food and water supplies at the school in case students and staff must be sheltered in place. In areas where these supplies are not available from government sources, work with the PTA and other community groups to obtain them.
• Staff may not be available when needed to perform duties outlined in a crisis plan. Have alternate people selected and trained for all positions.
• Utilize existing public records for information regarding hazardous waste sites, flood plains, how to deal with chemicals and other hazardous materials, and the best routes to school buildings. This information can be obtained at little or no cost from local agencies.
• Use existing school resources to assist with developing certain aspects of the school crisis plan. For example, school photography clubs or video clubs can help take digital photos or videos of school buildings.
• After a crisis, schools are often inundated with offers of assistance. Many of these offers are made by persons who are well intended but not properly trained. Develop a process for pre-screening experts and volunteers so that they can be called upon to provide assistance immediately.
• Schools face many needs immediately following a crisis. Often, the existing process for entering into contracts, hiring consultants, or purchasing services does not allow for expedited processing. Work with the school board to streamline contracting processes during a crisis.
• Many schools store the school crisis plan in one format (e.g., on a computer or in a binder on a shelf). During a crisis, there may be impediments to retrieving the plan, such as loss of electrical power, or the inability to grab the plan during a hurried evacuation. Store the plan in multiple formats and in multiple places. Make sure that more than one staff member knows its alternate locations.
• Many districts have students and parents who speak languages other than English. Ensure that instructions regarding the roles and responsibilities of students and parents in a crisis are printed in languages spoken at the school and disseminated where needed.
• Some schools relax rules related to access during vacations and other times when students are not present. Intruders can cause damage and offer potential threat even when students are not present. Maintain the same standards for access year round.
• Periodically update parent/ guardian contact information and obtain one or two alternate contacts in the event that parents are unavailable. Send home periodic reminders for parents to update their information or to note special circumstances such as custody issues. Some schools maintain Web-based systems that allow parents to update their own contact information as needed. Schools with electronic databases should also maintain hard copies that can be accessed if the school is evacuated or if there is no electricity.