Are you ready? Emergency preparedness in New Zealand schools

Schools have a responsibility to ensure that students in their care are kept safe during and after emergency events. This paper describes the results from a survey that explored the emergency preparedness activities of 355 New Zealand schools. The survey identified current preparedness levels for schools, the majority of which had undertaken a range of emergency preparedness activities such as developing plans, conducting drills, and providing hazards education to students. However, differences exist between schools in the extent of their emergency preparedness efforts, suggesting that many schools may be under-prepared to respond to future emergencies, especially if that response requires family reunification. The study also provided evidence to support the premise that previous emergency experience increases preparedness. The findings identified a need for clarification of the legislative requirements of schools, and also support the establishment of benchmarks and standard operating procedures for emergency preparedness activities to ensure consistency across schools. In addition, increased engagement with stakeholders, both parents and emergency management practitioners, is suggested to enhance school preparedness efforts. The present study is expected to inform policy decisions relating to school safety in New Zealand, suggest priorities for future school-based emergency management efforts, and contribute to international school safety research.