El Paso Independent School District Conducts Extensive Emergency Preparedness Training to Protect Students and Staff

EL PASO, TX -- June 4, 2009 -- The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has completed extensive emergency preparedness training with school administrators and local first responders to protect students and staff. Consultants from Prepared Response, Inc. reviewed and updated the district’s Emergency Operations Plan and conducted on-site threat and vulnerability assessment training for staff to determine risks at each school in the district. In coordination with the district staff, training was also provided on mental health crisis team development and response, crisis plan development and maintenance, and conducting effective plan exercises. The consulting and training was performed over a six month period and was funded through a grant from the federal government.

“With the recent swine flu outbreak impacting schools across Texas, the El Paso Independent School District was prepared with emergency plans on how to deal with the crisis,” said Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Garcia. “The safety of our students and staff is our main concern and this training was timely for administrators when dealing with the outbreak.”

“The El Paso Independent School District is very serious about preparing for any emergency that may impact schools in the district,” said Jim Finnell, President and CEO of Prepared Response. “By including local police and fire agencies in the training, both district administrators and first responders are now more familiar with each other’s role during a crisis.”

Prepared Response has provided on-site emergency preparedness consulting and training for over 3,000 school campuses across the country. In addition, the company’s Rapid Responder® crisis management system provides first responders with instant access to critical school information and has been successfully used for emergencies ranging from bomb threats to a school shooting incident. Rapid Responder is the only campus crisis management system certified by the U.S. federal government as “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” and is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association. Rapid Responder is being used in 16 states with over 380 school districts and more than 600 public safety agencies.