CUSD Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Page

SITE EMERGENCIES: PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Welcome to the Carlsbad Unified Site Emergencies: Preparedness and Response Page.

“Disaster preparedness is the art of being ready for something you hope will not happen.”

In California, schools are required to have a disaster plan. There is a lot that can be done by school officials to plan for disasters, to limit the risk, to protect the safety of students, teachers, and staff, and to ensure that schools recover quickly.

Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) takes its responsibility to students, staff, families and the community very seriously. We have a protocol in place to prepare for and promptly manage site environmental emergencies; to ensure the safety, health and well-being of everyone on our campuses.

The following is a brief overview. For more information on CUSD’s protocol, contact Curt Huckins at chuckins@carlsbadusd.net or 760-331-6923. For information on Belfor, visit www.usbelfor.com.

PREPAREDNESS

Under the direction of Curt Huckins, Director of Facilities, Operations & Transportation, CUSD maintenance employees at each site are trained to recognize and respond to environmental emergencies. Designated staff members are on call 24/7.

At the District level, Curt Huckins, District Superintendent John Roach, Ed.D., site administrators and other trained staff are ready to respond; day or night, weekday or weekend. The team is familiar with and abides by San Diego County of Education (SDCOE) emergency guidelines.

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RESPONSE

Human safety is the top priority. Typically, in the case of a confined emergency such as a fire in one room, on-site maintenance employees provide initial response while additional staff are dispatched from other sites to help in early on-the-scene response.

The District also contracts with highly regarded industry professionals such as Belfor, the world’s largest and leading disaster restoration company, which has an office in nearby Sorrento Valley. These and other appropriate resources are contacted within the first few minutes of discovery. When necessary, District administrators seek a bid waiver from the Board of Trustees to ensure the response can be swift.

To guarantee the safety of students and staff, District officials and site administrators communicate immediately and completely via ConnectEd and other electronic media. Unless and until the site has been deemed safe to re-enter, no unauthorized persons are allowed in the area. Once safety and health issues are successfully resolved, staff, parents, students are notified.

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CASE STUDY: A Flood at Aviara Oaks Middle School

Thanks to a quick and comprehensive response to science classrooms that flooded over a weekend, all known potential health risks were avoided.

Within 40 minutes of discovery of the incident at 6:30 am on Monday, January 11, 2010, the District’s well-trained maintenance crew was on-site, performing water extraction procedures.
Upon learning of the incident, Curt Huckins immediately contacted Belfor, the world’s largest and leading disaster restoration company. The Belfor team was at AOMS by 8:00 am, beginning a rapid and thorough response.
Making sure that students and staff were kept from proximity to the flooded area, the Belfor team extracted all water, dehumidified the area, performed a complete dry-out, conducted thorough cleanings, replaced all drywall, cleaned the carpet multiple times and performed an array of other restorative and preventive tasks.
After completing the above procedures, Belfor tested for the presence of mold and other fungi and tested air quality in the building and surrounding areas.
Upon receipt of the report concluding that the air quality met rigorous governmental standards and the area was safe, staff and students were permitted to re-enter the area.

CONCLUSION FROM BELFOR’S AOMS REPORT: “The airborne total
mold spore concentrations in all interior areas are within normal ranges
for clean buildings in San Diego County.”

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CASE STUDY: A Fire at Aviara Oaks Elementary School

Six hours after an arson fire heavily damaged the teachers’ lounge and workroom, the school day proceeded as scheduled, with no current or potential safety risks to students or staff.

On Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Carlsbad and Encinitas firefighters responded to a fire engulfing the AOE campus building that houses the teachers’ lounge and workroom area. The fire did not spread to any classroom areas where students are regularly present.
Upon learning of the incident, Curt Huckins immediately contacted Belfor, the world’s largest and leading disaster restoration company. The Belfor team was at AOE prior to the arrival of students, beginning a rapid and thorough response.
Belfor cordoned off the area and secured the building. It knocked out partially shattered window glass and boarded up all windows. It completely cleaned all ash, glass and debris inside and outside the building. No potential health risks were detected.
Students were kept from proximity to the site during and after the cleanup.

CONCLUSION FROM CURT HUCKINS: “At no time during or after the fire were AOE students or staff exposed to any safety or health hazards.”

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