Pasadena, Texas Incorporates Shelter-In-Place Plans To Protect Schools And Community
Release Date: February 6, 2003
Release Number: HQ-03-037
Washington, DC -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) commends Pasadena, Texas' Smart Practice efforts in implementing a comprehensive shelter-in-place plan to protect school children, faculty and staff when an evacuation may be dangerous. The close proximity of Pasadena's Independent School District to the chemical plants in Houston, TX, make it necessary for emergency plans and procedures to be implemented. Once local emergency officials notify the schools' administration that shelter-in-place procedures should be initiated, the school begins precautionary procedures to secure the school and the safety of those inside. FEMA recently launched an initiative to gather and share the smart practices of state and local emergency managers and responders on a weekly basis. The shared information will benefit the national emergency response community by improving state and local preparation and response plans for emergencies and disasters of all kinds. This week's submission highlights Pasadena, Texas.
"FEMA's effort to prepare the nation includes highlighting the smart practice of state and local emergency managers and first responders to strengthen their preparedness and response capabilities," FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said. "By collecting and sharing the best ideas from the state and local level, FEMA can help communities improve their emergency preparedness and response-related activities for effective programs."
State and local smart practices could involve: effective mutual aid practices, response operations, training, assessment tools, planning models, exercises, standards and competencies, incident management and much more. Selected smart practices will be e-mailed to state and local customers in a weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices bulletin. Visit www.fema.gov/onp to read about Pasadena, Texas and their efforts to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of their schools and all of its occupants in the event of a chemical leak or explosion at a nearby chemical plant, as well as view other smart practices.
To submit a smart practice idea to share with other emergency managers and responders or to subscribe to the weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices, e-mail a request to SmartPractices@fema.gov.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-May-2007 15:46:49