Oklahoma Safe Schools 101

1. Oklahoma Safe Schools 101 29 April 2014

2. Overview Video • Safe Schools 101 • Play Video

3. Program Inception • May 20th, 2013 F5 Tornado • Several Public Schools Damaged/Destroyed • Post-Event Site Visit Team • FEMA Risk Analysis • Texas Tech Wind Engineering Team • American Society of Civil Engineers Representative • Oklahoma Dept. of Emergency Management (OEM)

4. Program Inception • Initially Focused on Six Metro Counties Impacted by Storms • Analysis of Findings Revealed • Significant Differences in: • Construction • Layout • Age • Need for Individual Assessment • Identify Potential Safe Refuge Areas

5. Program Inception • Based on the initial assessments by FEMA and OEM, through the auspices of the Office of the Governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, form a Task Force to initiate project “Safe Schools 101.”

6. Program Inception • Scope to require Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to provide training for volunteer architects, engineers, and other officials who would assess individual school structures and identify options for safe refuge sites.

7. Program Inception • FEMA Contacted URS Corporation • Provide Training to Architects and Engineers • Conduct Safe Site Assessments in Area Schools • OEM Staffing Contacted • Ok Board of Architects & Structural Engineers Association • E-mailed Peers and Contacts

8. The Process • Enrollment Included: • Architects • Engineers • Emergency Managers • School Administrators

9. The Process • Day One - Design Assessments Using: • FEMA P-361 Design and Construction Guidance for Community Safe Rooms • International Code Council/National Storm Shelter Association (ICC/NSSA) 500

10. The Process • Day Two – Technical Specifics, Wind Pressure/Safe Rooms • Day Three – Site Visits Looking for Refuge • New Assessment Tool – Created by OEM • Standardized Electronic Form, Color Coded • Matches Report Templates Created at Same Time

11. The Process • Assessment results in follow-up report • Includes Options for: • Identify Current “Best Available Refuge Area” • Hardening Existing Structures • Hardening Techniques • Potential Retrofit Opportunities • Installing Safe Rooms • Volunteers Encouraged to Train/Assist Others

12. The New School Process • Superintendent Contacts OEM via Website • safeschools101@oem.ok.gov • OEM Director Sends Program Information Package • Work Book Created • Blueprints/Floor Plans of Current Refuge Area Ordered • Interior and Exterior Picture File of School Created • National Floodplains Insurance Program Platte Maps • Google Maps Aerial Photos

13. The New School Process • Workbook Delivered to Team • OEM/School Provides Ladders, Flashlights, Escorts • Access through Ceiling Tiles and Roof Exterior • Visit Scheduled Non-School Day (Weekend or Summer) • Observations and Recordings Made • Executive Summary Presented to Superintendent • No Fees Are Charged for Any of These Services

14. Progress • First Class Held November 2013 • Subject Matter Experts Trained 48 Participants • Four 12 Person Teams • Site Visits to Four Schools • Students Included FEMA Regions 4,5,6 and 7 Administrators • Additional Classes Held First CY Quarter 2014

15. Progress • Total of 217 Graduates from Program • 31 Site Visits in Impacted Area • Range From Single Structure Elementary to University • Private, Public, and Technology Centers • 29 State Technology Centers to be Used for Training • All 72 Oklahoma Graduates Willing to Continue Site Visits

16. Progress • As of 01 April 2014, OEM Assumes Control of Program • All 77 Counties in State Covered by Regional Graduates • Many From Quadrants and Many Willing to go Statewide • OEM Pays Nothing for Their Service and They Charge Nothing • Performed for Need of Community and State School Children • High Percentage of School Refuge Areas Differ From Team Recommendations

17. Future Plans • Continue Program Statewide • Create Digitized Repository of all Assessments • Reports • Flood Plain Analysis • Building Blueprints • Refuge Area Floor Plans • Supporting Documentation

18. Future Plans • GOAL: Safe Room, Retrofit, or Safe Refuge Designation for All 517 School Districts Statewide; Over 1800 Buildings • Public, Private, Elementary Through Universities Including Technology Centers • Governor’s Initiative Wants All Schools Statewide Examined • Voluntary Process, Not required by Law

19. Legal Ramifications • NOTE: New State Law Requires 10 Drills Annually • Two Evacuation • Two Tornado • Two Active Shooter • Two Lockdown • Two As Required for Locally Assessed Threats • This Law Goes in Hand With but is Not Driving the Program

20. Legal Ramifications • Liability • Informal Review Based on Best Professional Estimates • Only as Good as Documents Provided • Review Without Endorsement by Professional Architect • Team Membership Not Revealed or Identified in Report • Report ID Based on Location, Building Assessed, and Date • Legislation Being Considered • Exempts Architects/Engineers/Others from Prosecution

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