Does your child’s school lack a disaster plan?

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       http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6537795

     Does your child's school lack a disaster plan?

May 18, 2007 02:16 PM PDT 

 Report gives school terror plans an "F" 

  Our nation's schools have been given a failing grade on how prepared they are for a full-scale terrorist attack, flu pandemic or natural disaster, almost six years after 9/11. 

That's the conclusion from a government accountability office study which looked at schools in all 50 states. 

Eight years after the Columbine High School shootings, and almost six years since 9/11, a new government study says our nation's schools are failing in preparing for emergencies. 

The report was sent to Congress' Homeland Security Committee. Paul Houston, from American Association of School Administrators, says it should be a wakeup call, "This is a good opportunity now not just for schools but for government and others look at what may be needed to be done to get to next level of preparedness." 

The study found that while most school districts have plans to deal with an attack or disaster, 27% have never trained with first responders, and 62% cite a lack of equipment and expertise in planning for emergencies. 

The Bush administration has budgeted, but twice tried to cut, 99 million dollars in state grants for schools. Pennslyvania Congressman, Republican Christopher Carney, says much more is needed, "99 million dollars spread across the country for these kinds of programs is far too little. We're spreading roughly 12 million dollars an hour in Iraq." 

But the Department of Education says there is enough money. Michael Sheehan, from  the Center on Law and Security, agrees, "Most of the steps that are required can be done with the existing resources...and security people should communicate with their police and fire officials, talk about how they would respond and aggressively react." 

Government investigators found in some districts, schools were without walkie-talkies to communicate with first responders, others didn't have locks on school doors. Changes that need to be made immediately. 

The federal government requires school districts to file emergency plans, but the government does not have to review them. A loophole some members of Congress want to change. The government report is also critical colleges and universities are not required to have emergency plans; something that may change after last month's massacre at Virginia Tech. 

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	http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6537795 Does your child's school lack a disaster plan? May 18, 2007 02:16 PM PDT Report gives school terror plans an "F" Our nation's schools have been given a failing grade on how prepared they are for a full-scale terrorist attack, flu pandemic or natural disaster, almost six years after 9/11. That's the conclusion from a government accountability office study which looked at schools in all 50 states. Eight years after the Columbine High School shootings, and almost six years since 9/11, a new government study says our nation's schools are failing in preparing for emergencies. The report was sent to Congress' Homeland Security Committee. Paul Houston, from American Association of School Administrators, says it should be a wakeup call, "This is a good opportunity now not just for schools but for government and others look at what may be needed to be done to get to next level of preparedness." The study found that while most school districts have plans to deal with an attack or disaster, 27% have never trained with first responders, and 62% cite a lack of equipment and expertise in planning for emergencies. The Bush administration has budgeted, but twice tried to cut, 99 million dollars in state grants for schools. Pennslyvania Congressman, Republican Christopher Carney, says much more is needed, "99 million dollars spread across the country for these kinds of programs is far too little. We're spreading roughly 12 million dollars an hour in Iraq." But the Department of Education says there is enough money. Michael Sheehan, from the Center on Law and Security, agrees, "Most of the steps that are required can be done with the existing resources...and security people should communicate with their police and fire officials, talk about how they would respond and aggressively react." Government investigators found in some districts, schools were without walkie-talkies to communicate with first responders, others didn't have locks on school doors. Changes that need to be made immediately. The federal government requires school districts to file emergency plans, but the government does not have to review them. A loophole some members of Congress want to change. The government report is also critical colleges and universities are not required to have emergency plans; something that may change after last month's massacre at Virginia Tech.