Terrorism and Schools

1. Terrorism and Schools Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery

2. April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City

3. September 11, 2001New York

4. September 11, 2001Washington DC

5. Canada Mexico Ireland United Kingdom Turkey Japan Spain Northern Ireland France Israel United States International Terrorism ~ SchoolsWhich of these countries has experienced acts of terrorism specifically directed at schools?

6. Israel 1974 attack - terrorists took over the school. 22 died, many injured Professional guards in every school since 1992; school security is responsibility of Israel Police Threats: suicide bombers, car bombs, close or long-range shooters, bombs placed in or near a school, terrorists taking hostages in a school Turkey Between 1984 & 1997, 146 teachers were killed, 373 schools destroyed, and many children died as direct result of terrorism Walls have been constructed around schools; crisis centers have been set up Threats come mainly from terrorists who live and train in Turkey International Terrorism ~ Schools

7. July 15, 1976 Chowchilla, California

8. May 21, 1998 Springfield, Oregon

9. April 20, 1999 Littleton, Colorado

10. October 2002 Washington DC “Everyone, everywhere was a potential victim. No one was excluded.” --FBI Special Agent Mark Hilts

11. Sniper Shootings:Impact onMontgomery County Public Schools • Shootings significantly impacted the safety and security of the MCPS including students, staff, parents and the school community • 14 area shootings: 10 homicides, 3 wounded • 6 homicides occurred in Montgomery County • 5 on October 2 - 3 • 1 on October 22 • On Oct. 7 a 13-year-old Prince George’s County student was shot in front of school

12. Key Decisions - October 3 • Superintendent declared a district-wide Code Blue (in effect Oct 3 - Oct 28) • School on-site emergency teams were activated • ALL outdoor activities, recess, extracurricular activities, open lunch, and field trips were cancelled • Normal school dismissal occurred with police presence • MCPS/police liaison assigned to share critical information

13. Key Decisions - October 3 • MCPS crisis teams were dispatched to help provide mental health support and outreach services • Superintendent convened MCPS command team two to three times each day • District activated the Incident Command System emergency response plan • Police officers, firefighters and federal agents provided security presence AM and PM • FBI tactical helicopters flew low above schools

14. Key Decisions - October 7 • Tasker Middle School student shot outside school in Prince George’s County, Maryland. • Reunification plan was put into operation • Superintendent sent letter to all parents • Student safety patrols were prohibited • More than 1,000 community members risked their lives volunteering to perform school crossing services • State troopers were assigned to schools

15. Key Events - Oct 22 • Bus driver shot and killed while getting off bus • Parents afraid to send their children to school • Code Blue continued • School counselors, psychologists and crisis response teams continued to visit schools • Stress debriefings held with many staff

16. October 22 Sniper note was released “Your children are not safe anywhere at anytime.”

17. Impact on activities/athletics • All outdoor sporting practices and activities were suspended • 20,000 youth league contests canceled • 1,102 high school games canceled • 5,475 practices canceled • High school gate receipts lost: $250,000 • Regional playoffs rescheduled for 5 sports

18. Cornerstones of success: • Careful planning and preparation • Defining roles and responsibilities • Managing information efficiently • Maintaining effective communication • Relationships, relationships

19. “It Won’t Happen Here” • Preparation is the responsibility of every school, community, and state • No region of the country is safe from the impact of terror • TOPOFF 2 exercises raised questions

20. What is Terrorism? • The perpetration of a destructive act to inflict harm through: • damage to infrastructure, • disruption of economy, or • direct injury to humans, plants, or animals • Terrorism seeks to create fear and insecurity resulting in long-term negative impacts

21. Goals and Motivations • The goals may be not only to harm specific high profile or essential targets but also to spread panic and fear throughout the population as a whole • The motivations may be to further a political view or goal, to protest against a policy or an activity, or to try to effect a social change.

22. Weapons Used by Terrorists • The Murrah Building of Oklahoma City: detonation of a bomb • World Trade Center Towers: conversion of jet aircraft into guided missiles • Smaller scale attacks: bombs hidden in dumpsters or cars and assassinations through use of high-powered rifles • potential of terrorists employing “Weapons of Mass Destruction”

23. Radiological Terrorism • Nuclear weapons • “dirty bombs”

24. Chemical Terrorism • “Blood” Agent (Cyanide), Incapacitating Agents (Anticholinergic compounds), Nerve Agents (Sarin), Riot-control Agents (Tear gas, Pepper Spray), Vesicants (Sulfur Mustard) • Sources: • trucks transporting volatile solvents or pesticides • stockpiles of chemical warfare agents • Sarin gas attack in Tokyo Subway in 1994

25. Biological Terrorism • anthrax, plague, smallpox • All have a high level of mortality or morbidity (serious symptoms of disease) • Some have no specific treatment • Some have no vaccine • Most can be easily delivered to victims via a respiratory route (i.e., inhalation) • All require both immediate public health intervention for those exposed and expert medical care

26. Application to Natural Events • not every school district will become the target of a terrorist attack • have connections with public health department and hospitals • the preparation also applies to accidents or natural disease outbreaks • radioactive waste is transported • toxic chemicals are stored • pandemic influenza might occur

27. Mitigation Reducing the chance that terrorism will lead to a disaster in schools

28. Getting Started • Many schools do not need new plans • Few plans address how the school fits in with the larger public health and emergency management response to a community-wide event, such as a terrorist attack. • Some parts of existing plans might need to be expanded or revised

29. Mitigation/ Prevention Preparedness Emergency Response Recovery Methods to Deal with Hazards or High Risk Behaviors/ Situations to Limit Potential of Harm or Escalation Proactive Planning & Communication to Establish Boundaries, Norms, Support, and Skill Development Post Incident Efforts to Return to Normal Operations, Review of Response, and Provision of Assistance for Individuals and Systems Organized Reaction to Emergencies Or Disasters Comprehensive Safe Schools Planning Model Re-establish Normal Functioning Adapted from: Office of Supt. Of Public Instruction, Olympia, Washington 2005

30. Comprehensive Safe Schools Planning To promote a supportive learning environment for all schools, OSPI has advanced the notion of Comprehensive Safe Schools Planning, including local assessments of: p Physical plant p Human Resources p Administrative Policies and Procedures p Student and Parent Involvement p Curriculum and Instruction p Community Agency Partnerships (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, social and mental health services). Adapted from: Office of Supt. Of Public Instruction, Olympia, Washington 2005

31. Evacuation and back up evacuation plans developed, reviewed and drilled. Shelter-in-place plans developed, reviewed and drilled. Lockdown plans, coordinated with local law enforcement, fire, and EMS, and drilled on a regular basis. Fire and earthquake drills, conducted on a regular basis. Office of Supt. Of Public Instruction, Olympia, Washington 2005 School Emergency Response Plans Should Include:

32. Assessment of Buildings and Grounds • understand the pattern of airflow through buildings • Assess hazards in the surrounding neighborhoods

33. National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism • June 12, 2002 - June 12, 2003 • Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 • Recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services related to terrorism and its impact on children: • The preparedness of the healthcare system to respond to terrorism/children • Needed changes in healthcare and emergency medical services • Changes, if necessary, to the National Strategic Stockpile (pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for a national emergency)

34. What is Currently Being Done? • School Food Biosecurity Guidelines • International Forum on Response to Terrorism • Threat Assessment in Schools: a Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating a Safe School Climate • Bomb Threat Guide

35. What are the Gaps? • make schools safer without turning them into places where children would not want to be • link policies and practices to other areas of school health • link schools or districts with public health agencies to improve data collection and analysis • help students understand the root causes and history of terrorism • teach students the skills, such as conflict resolution, prosocial behaviors and problem-solving that might lead to a decrease in violence in their world