Emergency readiness is a pre-arranged system to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies caused by natural disasters and human-caused events such as violent incidents or accidents that affect others. The following information is to assist you in developing a readiness plan and for educating your staff, students and parents.

The resources provided deal with programming in general and certain practices may not be applicable to 21st CCLC. If you are unsure if a recommended practice is permissible, please contact your program officer at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

21st CCLC Basic Emergency Plan Template

All Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers are required to develop a formal, written emergency readiness plan that is specific and applicable to the afterschool program needs. This template will guide centers through various emergency scenarios and provide direction on the needed information for each. Customize the content as needed and be sure to keep the plan updated.

All-Hazards School Planning Resources

The Pennsylvania All-Hazards School Safety Planning Resources provides guidelines for school districts/schools and communities to address all types of crises, emergencies, and disasters that might impact their campuses. Standard procedures are provided for these situations to assist facilities with a foundation for planning and a framework for response when an event happens.

A Guide to Developing a Severe Weather Emergency Plan for Schools

This guide produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will assist schools and other organizations to develop weather emergency plans.

Emergency Guidelines for Schools — Pennsylvania Edition

These guidelines will assist staff in helping ill or injured students. Topics range from helping students who have experienced burns and cuts to more extreme traumas such as seizures and shock. Each section covers generally accepted courses of action until a healthcare or emergency medical services provider arrives.

Online Emergency Readiness Training

Critical Incident Planning and Preparation for Afterschool Programs

This online training will identify critical incident situations and the stages of a critical incident. Participants will explore situational awareness and viewers will leave with a better understanding of command systems and necessary steps for thorough emergency planning.

Critical Incident Planning and Preparations Video

Critical Incident Planning and Preparations Transcript

Evacuation Decision Making for Afterschool Programs

This online training will identify viable protective actions and help viewers learn how to plan appropriately for evacuations. Participants will view steps for emergency decision making as well as circumstances when individual decision making is necessary and preferable over group decision making.

Evacuation Decision Making Video

Evacuation Decision Making Transcript

Parent-Child Reunification for Afterschool Programs

This video explores the personnel and processes needed to ensure an organized and smooth reunification process after an emergency occurs.

Parent-Child Reunification Video

Parent-Child Reunification Transcript

Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Through its courses and integrated programs, EMI serves as the national focal point for the development and delivery of emergency management training to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the American public. This course will help you create, update or revise an Emergency Operations Plan for your community or organization in order to effectively address the unique needs of children in disasters.

Course Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters

Preparing Parents for School Emergencies

This online training video provides parents of children in K-12 schools with an understanding of why schools develop all-hazards plans. Parents will receive information on ways they assist their families and the school in preparation for school emergencies. This session covers actions parents should resist taking in the event of an emergency at their child’s school.

Preparing Parents for School Emergencies Video

Preparing Parents for Schools Emergencies Transcript

School Shooters: An Awareness Program for School Staff

This online training video provides school staff members with a basic awareness of their responsibilities in preparing for and responding to an active shooter situation in their school. This session covers standard procedures for effective school staff interface and interaction with law enforcement during active shooter situations.

School Shooters Video

School Shooters Transcript