Enhancing Situational Awareness When Addressing Critical Incidents at Suburban and Rural Schools.

摘要

This research identifies some of the terrorism-related vulnerabilities in suburban and rural school district facilities and operations throughout New York State. An evaluation of the resources and technologies available to first responders (i.e., police, fire, and EMS personnel) was conducted through a survey instrument delivered to agencies in the state. The survey identified areas for improvement in response capabilities and in protocols for dealing with critical incidents in suburban and rural schools. The research also identified and evaluated emerging technologies that could improve situational awareness (e.g., cellular technology), enhance public safety, and improve information access and management. A section on best practices compares the Canadian approach to emergency response in schools with the United States approach. A section on public-private partnerships discusses collaborative messaging strategies, use of social media, hyper-reach and accu-reach, FEMA's integrated public alert and warning system, and multi-disciplinary and interagency collaboration. The study makes specific recommendations for school districts in New York State.