Fort Bend School Districts Strive to Improve Emergency Management Capabilities

11 02 2010

My last two blog entries discussed efforts by Lamar Consolidated ISD to improve emergency preparedness efforts in its schools.  Much of LCISD’s recent efforts in emergency preparedness are a result of a grant the District received two years ago from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; more specifically, the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant.

 The REMS grant program provides funds for local education agencies (LEAs or school districts) to improve and strengthen their emergency management plans. The program also enables school districts to develop improved plans that address all four phases of emergency management: Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. School districts also must commit to developing written plans that are coordinated with state Homeland Security plans, support the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and are designed to prepare for a possible infectious disease outbreak, such as influenza pandemic.

As a 2007 grantee, LCISD is now finishing up its grant.  And currently, Fort Bend ISD is making application hoping to be a 2010 grantee. Katy ISD was a 2009 grantee, and is moving forward with a variety of activities to improve safety and security plans.  An implementation committee has been meeting for several months.  The committee includes appropriate school officials as well as first responder agencies that provide service to Katy ISD facilities.  Because the district straddles multiple counties, Harris County representatives are part of the committee also.  Throughout 2010, Katy ISD will be revising plans and strengthening emergency management plans.

Duing the last week of  October 2009, a team of individuals representing Katy ISD attended the Multi Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools class at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  This team of individuals included Alan Spears, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management, as well as first responders from the Willowfork Fire Department and the Katy ISD Police Department. 

While at EMI for one week, the Katy ISD team completed ten separate units of instruction with an overall purpose of reviewing a model emergency management plan for schools and comparing it to the Katy ISD plan.  Other school district teams, from other parts of the country, were also in attendance.  The training provided an excellent opportunity for Katy ISD to review and improve their plan, while exchanging ideas on school emergency management and hazards with the other participating districts.

I am heartened to see the enthusiasm of Fort Bend school districts to improve their emergency preparedness plans.  I hope all of the districts in the county make efforts to improve emergency plans— with or without a REMS grant.  To that end, the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management is committed to working closely with all public and private schools to improve emergency preparedness.


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Categories : Emergency Management, Schools

Lamar CISD Schools Complete Successful Tornado Drill

11 02 2010

As a follow-up to my last blog entry about Lamar Consolidated ISD’s emergency preparedness efforts, below you will find an article that was printed in the Fort Bend Herald on February 9, 2010.  The article was written by Juan Carlos Reyes.

Although the weather was calm, there was a tornado-like atmosphere in Lamar CISD schools Monday, particularly those along Mustang Drive in Rosenberg.  “Toto, go back to Kansas,” were the code words coming from Lamar CHS Principal Michael Milstead, letting the students know it was a tornado drill.

One of the reasons for the districtwide drill was to determine the response times at each campus, said Christy Willman, Executive Director of Community Relations.  Once the drill was completed, each campus was required to e-mail the completion time to district headquarters.

The LCISD schools that participated are all located on Mustang Drive, including Lamar Consolidated High School, Lamar Junior High, Wessendorff Middle School and Smith Elementary School — faced additional scenarios during the drill.  “The district had a similar drill a week and a half ago”, said Lamar CHS secretary Dora Piñeda.

“We had different signs instructing students where to go last time,” Piñeda said. “It was a little confusing last time, and it took longer to organize the kids.”  This time, the students from all portable buildings, as well as the students inside, were lined up as students calmly made it down the hall, sat down facing the wall and had their arms covered on their head.

Attending the drill was Danny Jan, with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. He called the drill a learning experience.  Tianay Geathers, a paraprofessional with Lamar CHS, called the drill a success.  “The kids were great,” Geathers said. “We know that we needed to prepare in case it happens, and I think we are.”


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Categories : Fort Bend County, Lamar Consolidated High School, Schools

Lamar Consolidated ISD Prepares Its Schools for Natural Disasters

11 02 2010

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in a functional exercise developed by Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (LCISD).  I was deployed to Wessendorff Middle School in Rosenberg to assist in the exercise, and then offer suggestions for improvements following the event.  The staff at Wessendorf fdid a fantastic job managing the incident, which included a simulated tornado, causing damage to the building and the need for student evacuation.  Within minutes of the simulated tornado causing damage to the school, the Assistant Principal Lorena Callis was unexpectedly put in charge of response (because the exercise controllers, like me, told the Principal that she was incapacitated). 

All members of the Exercise Control Team assigned to Wessendorff, led by Ray Burciaga from the Richmond Fire Department, were impressed by the quick reactions of all the teachers; the diligence of the Crisis Action Team members; and the processes used by Wessendorff officials to protect the students in their facility.  It is possible Ms. Callis put it best when she said “that most of what needed to be done was simply common sense.” 

As in any exercise, some ”lessons learned” were identified.  Most of these needed fixes are small ones; though a couple may require the expenditure of funds by the District.  Ms. Callis  and Principal Diana Freudensprung appear committed to making these changes in the next few weeks.  Administration officials who planned the exercise, including Katherine Bowen and Trudy Harris, will be conducting an After Action Review tomorrow.  I know they will be making suggestions to improve the emergency response process at all District schools, and if deemed necessary in their opinion, will recommend budget changes designed to improve response.


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Categories : Emergency Management, Fort Bend County, Schools, Wessendorff Middle School

Fort Bend County Breaks Ground On Emergency Medical Service Headquarters

11 02 2010

As reported on FortBendNow.com on February 11, 2010, Fort Bend County Officials broke ground this week at the new Emergency Medical Service Headquarters to be located at 4332 Highway 36 in Rosenberg.   The new 14,116 square foot building will include administrative offices, Medic One facilities, training and class rooms, conference rooms, a bunk area, storage capacity, and vehicle parking for employees and various Regional Response Vehicles that are in the county’s possession. 

The anticipated completion of the building is September 2010.  EMS Director, Daniel Kosler commented,   “Today is an exciting day for the employees of Emergency Medical Services,” said EMS Director Daniel Kosler. “We are all excited about the future transition into the new building, primarily the amount of additional space we will have.  This facility will allow us to continue to provide quality services to the citizens of Fort Bend County and will serve us well.”

Shown in the photo are Bob Bass, Jamie Knight, Kaye Reynolds, James Patterson, Bob Hebert, Jean Galloway, Daniel Kosler and Ben Oei at the recent groundbreaking for Fort Bend County’s new Emergency Medical Services Headquarters.


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Categories : Emergency Medical Service, Fort Bend County