Conducting a School-Based Mock Drill: Lessons Learned from One Community

Abstract

Over the past decade, school districts have been required to develop comprehensive emergency management plans designed to effectively coordinate resources to respond during a range of crisis situations. Although many school systems have implemented school safety plans, few have systematically evaluated the short-term or long-term effectiveness of the plans. This study proposes a model for planning, executing, and evaluating a multiagency mock drill. A school-based mock drill was conducted to examine a systematic process of planning, executing, and evaluating a multiagency mock drill exercise, and to evaluated the ability of one school district's administrators to respond during a crisis situation. More than 500 people participated in the drill from local, state, and federal agencies, and 26 district and school administrators took part in the study. All local and federal agencies received positive evaluations based on their ability to secure both students and staff in the event of a crisis. The results show differences between written procedures and actual practices used during the mock drill. Notwithstanding the positive benefits of the mock drill, feedback from participating school personnel demonstrated a need to strengthen communication and coordination between school personnel and outside agencies so that future crisis events are handled more effectively.