Disasters, Emergencies and Schools
Preparing now for future emergencies is especially important in schools. Natural disasters and emergencies like wildfire, smoke events, floods, and extreme heat are affecting schools across the nation.
The following resources can be useful for teachers, facility managers, custodians, principals and school administrators.
Schools as Cleaner Air and Cooling Centers
The Schools as Cleaner Air and Cooling Centers: Tips for Facility Managers, Principals, Teachers, and Parents and Caregivers fact sheets are designed to help schools and communities facing the health consequences from disasters like heat waves and wildfires. As extreme weather events overlap with other stressors such as infectious diseases, it’s important for schools and their partners to work together to mitigate the health risks to students and the community.
Audience: The fact sheets help guide important school partners on how to make schools safer during these events.
Improving Indoor Air Quality in Buildings During Smoke Events
The guide, Best Practices Guide for Improving Indoor Air Quality in Commercial/Public Buildings During Wildland Fire Smoke Event, provides recommendations and resources to minimize smoke impacts indoors and create a Smoke-Ready Plan in public, commercial, and multi-unit residential buildings, including schools. Wildland fires include both prescribed fire and wildfire.
Audience: This guide is intended for use by facility managers and school administrators, among others.