ESD 112 grant helps schools prepare for emergencies
Longview SWAT Team
As part of a federal grant awarded to ESD 112 last year, more than 100 Cowlitz County school principals and administrators honed their emergency preparedness and management skills during an August 14 Safety Conference. The conference included training in integrating an incident command system into routine and emergency school activities. In addition, a SWAT team from the City of Longview demonstrated emergency response procedures involving an intruder in the school. The SWAT team methodically secured a classroom at Mount Solo Middle School while the administrators watched. School officials also learned how to make evacuation plans and build response teams.
The conference was funded with $5,000 from the $5.7 million dollar federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant, administered by ESD 112 in partnership with Cowlitz County school districts, law enforcement, and a host of other community organizations. According to State Senate Bill 5097, school districts are required to set up a plan with local law enforcement and fire departments to perform safety-related training drills annually.
Public Information - August 18, 2008