Hazards are classified in three categories: natural disasters (tornado or winter storm), technological disasters (fire or hazardous material incident), and civil disturbance (bomb threat or demonstrations). Although school authorities are legally responsible for the safety of students, staff and facilities; the board of education, school administrators and teachers, custodians, nurses, food service managers, transportation managers, and community members should all be involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating the school’s emergency operation plans. Federal, State, and local emergency services and disaster agencies are available to help schools develop emergency plans. Emergency operations plans should include a “chain of command” or “continuity administration” so that everyone is aware of whom to contact for decision making. Plans should be updated at the beginning of each school year or whenever there is a change in personnel. Schools should establish policies for determining a method for preserving vital records, such as personnel files, student records, and fiscal documents. There should be specific plans for alerting staff and students, including people outside the building, of impending hazards. Schools should determine tornado and severe thunderstorm shelter locations. Each school should have a plan for evacuating and relocating in the event of a disaster. Instructions and procedures for turning off utilities should be developed with the school engineer or custodian. Conducting drills ensures that procedures are reasonable, familiarizes staff with assigned duties, and reinforces procedures so that everyone can react immediately and appropriately when hazards threaten. People with physical, motor, developmental, mental, and sensory disabilities should be given special consideration when developing evacuation and relocation procedures. 7 appendices