Emergency Preparedness & Response
MCOE monitors weather and public health events, and maintains communication with schools and the Marin County Office of Emergency Services.
For the most up to date emergency services information and public health updates, click here
- Model Emergency Management Plan
- Marin Schools Emergency Preparedness Council (MSEPC) & Maintenance Directors Collaborative
- Emergency Communications & Radio Drills
- PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs
- Resources
Model Emergency Management Plan
The Marin Schools Model Emergency Management Plan is a comprehensive reference, updated to reflect the broader range of hazards and threats that school campuses must now be prepared to face. The Model Plan was developed by the Marin County Office of Education as a tool to assist in the planning and implementation of effective school emergency preparedness programs.
The Model Emergency Management Plan provides a framework for protecting students, staff and school facilities and describes the roles and responsibilities of staff members in a variety of emergency situations. Schools are encouraged to download the Model Plan and adapt it for individual site needs.
Annexes:
Student Release Resources
Recommended student release protocols are referenced in The Marin Schools Model Emergency Management Plan. Below are additional resources related to student releases:
Student Emergency Contact Card
- School nurses participated in the development of the Student Emergency Contact Card. It contains student and parent/guardian contact information, adults authorized for student pick up, and medical background about the student. Print double-sided in landscape page setup on card stock.
- This form is used to request the release of a student from the school site and facilitate verification of the authorization to pick up the student. Print on brightly colored paper and distribute to parents to implement the student release process.
Population Assessment Signs
- These signs are used at the evacuation assembly area to inform the Incident Commander whether all students and staff are accounted for or if there is a problem. Print "All Clear" on green sheets, "Need Help" on red sheets and laminate the signs. Distribute to teachers for their classroom emergency backpacks.
72-Hour Medical Authorization
- This form should be provided with a Ziploc bag to store medication that is only used for emergency situations. Print the 72-hour Medical Authorization on lime-green paper with the Spanish translation on the reverse side. A cover letter to parents explaining the request for a 72-hour supply of emergency medicine is available in English and Spanish. Medication that must be administered daily to a student should be sent to school separately. Unused medication is returned to families at the end of the school year.
Managing Student Release Model Guide
- This is a double-sided flipchart that describes the student release plan, including staff assignments, population assessment, advice for parents and customizing instructions.
- A list of reminders for parents or guardians when the student release procedures are implemented at a school.
- A dozen hypothetical variations on requests to pick up students to test student release procedures.
- A page of questions which were asked during a Model Student Release Plan workshop to help schools organize their procedures.
Marin Schools Emergency Preparedness Council (MSEPC) & Maintenance Directors Collaborative
The purpose of the Marin Schools Emergency Preparedness Council (MSEPC) & Maintenance Directors Collaborative is to create a space for school staff to come together and share best practices in emergency preparedness or have a table to discuss current obstacles. By bringing our maintenance council to the table it creates a collaborative space with the people directly responsible for the daily preparations and a think tank for new innovations.
Meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of every other month during the year from 8:30am – 10:00am from September through May - Virtual or Location to be determined
2024-2025 MSEPC & Maintenance Directors Meeting Schedule:
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September 12, 2024, 8:30am – 10:00am – Remote*
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November 7, 2024, 8:30am – 10:00am – In-Person
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January 9, 2025, 8:30am – 10:00am – Remote*
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March 6, 2025, 8:30am – 10:00am – In-Person
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May 8, 2024, 8:30am – 10:00am – Remote*
* Zoom link will be provided for remote meetings.
Emergency Communications & Radio Drills
In an emergency, school districts will communicate directly with the Marin County Office of Education, which will issue directives through the Bay Area radio stations. Most schools also have a special phone number for recorded emergency information.
Click here for emergency contact information for Marin County communities.
Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) Drills
The Marin County Office of Education works with Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) to operate emergency radios at School District offices throughout the County to ensure communications capabilities in the event of disaster where other forms of communication are not functioning. A monthly test of the system is conducted to support training and preparedness.
Drills are scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. from September through May
(*except for the drills in November and December 2024, due to the holidays)
- September 25, 2024 ~Talk Group #1 All Schools
- October 30, 2024 ~ Local Talk Groups
- November 20, 2024 ~ Talk Group #1 All Schools
- December 18, 2024 ~ Local Talk Group
- January 29, 2025 ~ Talk Group #1 All Schools
- February 26, 2025 ~ Local Talk Group
- March 26, 2025 ~ Talk Group #1 All Schools
- April 30, 2025 ~ Local Talk Group
- May 28, 2025 ~ Talk Group #1 All Schools
PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs
Resources
Local Resources:
- Offers easy to follow instructions on how to prepare for emergencies, such as earthquakes, fires and floods.
Marin County Office of Emergency Services
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The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) develops, coordinates and manages emergency operations activities that prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate natural and man-made disasters and emergencies countywide.
Marin County Health and Human Services - Public Health
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The Division of Public Health Services includes access to community health and prevention services, vital statistics, communicable disease prevention and control, dental clinics, lab testing and more.
Marin County Health and Human Services - Emergency Medical Services Agency
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The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the EMS system established to provide pre-hospital services. Fire service-based paramedics, private ambulance providers, and three hospitals provide basic emergency medical services and on-line paramedic consultation as needed.
Marin Disaster and Citizens Corps Council
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Private and public organizations use their cooperative efforts to identify and improve preparedness planning, as well as communicate to decision makers and public on all matters related to disaster preparedness
Marin County Community Emergency Assistance
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A listing of emergency assistance resources in Marin County, from counseling for individuals to rescue and rehabilitation of animals.
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This community preparedness website provides tips for families to prepare and steps to respond to several types of emergencies. Translation of the website is available in four languages in addition to English: Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish and Russian.
State Resources:
California Office of Emergency Services
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The website links to laws, regulations, response information management systems, regional operations and other information regarding California emergency services.
California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)
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CalTrans updates current highway information throughout the state 24 hours a day.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE)
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Cal FIRE responds to all types of emergencies on a daily basis--wild land fires, residential/commercial structure fires, automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, lost hikers, hazardous material spills on highways, train wrecks, floods, earthquakes, and more.
National Resources:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
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FEMA is an independent federal agency that works in partnership with state and local emergency management agencies, 27 federal agencies and the American Red Cross. FEMA's web site provides updates on disasters, risk reduction advice, and assistance programs after a disaster.
American Red Cross - Bay Area Chapter
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The American Red Cross provides extensive information on disaster management and including individual and community disaster preparedness and recovery.
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS)
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The REMS Federal Technical Assistance Center offers a variety of additional resources to assist schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education with their emergency management efforts.
US Geological Survey - Earthquake Preparedness Information
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The Earthquake Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey posts links to earthquake safety and preparedness resources, frequently asked questions, publications and fact sheets. The USGS is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
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Read weather forecasts, flood and high surf advisories, storm warnings and other weather outlooks for the San Francisco/Monterey Bay Area.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Southern Pacific Division
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Over the last 30 year, the South Pacific Division (SPD) has serviced 52 Presidential Disaster Declarations, most recently responding to the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and the major floods of 1995, 1997 and 1998.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located in Atlanta, is the lead federal agency for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability, and protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)
- The nation’s first standardized management approach that unifies federal, state and local government resources for incident response. SEMS is used throughout California to manage and coordinate any emergency response involving more than one agency or jurisdiction. NIMS and SEMS establish the Incident Command System (ICS) as a standardized organizational structure to establish a unified command and line of authority, with a common language and set of procedures for the management of all major incidents.
- Use of SEMS during a disaster response is an eligibility requirement for local governments, agencies and special districts to receive STATE reimbursement following a disaster. A federal directive requires state and local governments and special districts to adopt NIMS in all preparedness, planning and response efforts.
- National Incident Management System (fema.gov)