oklahoma safe schools 101

Oklahoma Safe Schools 101

29 April 2014

Jackie Wright, Oklahoma STO April 29, 2014

Safe Schools 101

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Overview Video


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)

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

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.”

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.

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

Program Inception


Enrollment Included:

Architects

Engineers

Emergency Managers

School Administrators

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

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

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

The Process


1) Superintendent Contacts OEM via Website

a) [email protected]

2) OEM Director Sends Program Information Package

3) Work Book Created

a) Blueprints/Floor Plans of Current Refuge Area Ordered

b) Interior and Exterior Picture File of School Created

c) National Floodplains Insurance Program Platte Maps

d) Google Maps Aerial Photos

The New School Process

mailto:[email protected]


4) Workbook Delivered to Team

5) OEM/School Provides Ladders, Flashlights, Escorts

6) Access through Ceiling Tiles and Roof Exterior

7) Visit Scheduled Non-School Day (Weekend or Summer)

8) Observations and Recordings Made

9) Executive Summary Presented to Superintendent

10) No Fees Are Charged for Any of These Services

The New School Process


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

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

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

Progress


Continue Program Statewide

Create Digitized Repository of all Assessments

Reports

Flood Plain Analysis

Building Blueprints

Refuge Area Floor Plans

Supporting Documentation

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

Future Plans


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

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

Legal Ramifications

oklahoma safe schools 101

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governor of oklahoma

timethe processjackie

safe refuge sites

project safe schools

individual school structures

volunteer architects