Railway
An intermediate school borders a railway and crossing. Its plan must address derailment, hazardous-material spills, and blocked access during arrival or dismissal.
Preparedness
Planning questions and campus examples from the 2019 report.
Administrator sessions
In summer 2019, more than 45 principals and administrators participated in PBK and council sessions in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
Participants examined rail incidents, chemical releases, flooding, and other conditions affecting their campuses.
The sessions addressed response procedures, agency responsibilities, communication, and recovery.
Planning questions
- What immediate actions will the principal and campus staff take?
- What secondary conditions could occur alongside the incident?
- What fallback plans exist if something unanticipated happens?
- Which outside resources and agencies will be mobilized?
- Who is responsible for public communications?
- How will the community receive updates?
- What coordinated plan supports an orderly return to school?
- What support is available for students, staff, and caregivers experiencing trauma, grief, confusion, or fear?
Campus scenarios
Chemical facility
An elementary school is near a chemical facility. Administrators considered hazardous releases, communication with the operator, and access to hazmat responders.
Flooding
A high school remains undamaged after a storm, but flooded roads prevent buses, parents, students, and staff from reaching or leaving the campus.
Source: report page 19.
Panic-button response
The report describes a campus with panic buttons in seven locations. Activating a button initiates notifications, access controls, and staff response procedures.
2019 campus example · Report page 20
01Distinct tone + visual notification
02Exterior access control activates
03District police receive the alert
04Staff implement the campus response
05Designated leaders assess next steps
Reunification exercises
Administrators discussed using reunification exercises to identify gaps in their plans.
One exercise assigned responsibilities across the district and responding agencies. The community was informed that it would be used to improve the plan.
The council references response and reunification protocols from the Texas School Safety Center and the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.
Find response and reunification resources →