Emergency Management
STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) is the emergency management organization required by California statute for emergency response and disaster management in multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction emergencies.
SEMS in the Kern High School District was established to provide an effective and coordinated response to emergencies. By standardizing key components of the emergency management system, SEMS in the Kern High School District is intended to:
The Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) is the emergency management organization required by California statute for emergency response and disaster management in multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction emergencies.
SEMS in the Kern High School District was established to provide an effective and coordinated response to emergencies. By standardizing key components of the emergency management system, SEMS in the Kern High School District is intended to:
- Facilitate the flow of information within and between all levels of the system.
- Facilitate interaction and cooperation among all responding agencies.
The use of SEMS in the Kern High School District will improve the processes of mobilization, deployment, tracking, and demobilization of needed mutual aid resources.
SEMS in the Kern High School District is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the varied types of disasters that occur in California and to meet the needs of all emergency responders.
The Kern High School District’s SEMS Plan is divided into the following sections:
SEMS in the Kern High School District is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the varied types of disasters that occur in California and to meet the needs of all emergency responders.
The Kern High School District’s SEMS Plan is divided into the following sections:
- Campus Layout/Maps/Blueprints
- Fire Alarm Turn-off Procedures/Utility Shut-off/Gas, Sprinkler, Cable
- Designated Command Posts/First Aid Supplies
- Evacuation Sites
- Incident Command System (ICS)
- Emergency Resource List
- Teacher/Employee Roster/List of Students with Special Needs
NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
In 2004, pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive Number 5, the federal government adopted a National Incident Management System (NIMS) to “provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state and local governments to work effectively together to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity”. Because NIMS explicitly includes school districts in its definition of “local government,” it is clear that schools must comply with both SEMS and NIMS requirements as they plan, train, and respond to emergencies.
Fortunately, NIMS is based largely on the same management principles embodied by California’s SEMS. This means that with but a few minor exceptions, compliance with SEMS will ensure NIMS compliance as well. SEMS/NIMS plans are updated annually at each school site.
In 2004, pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive Number 5, the federal government adopted a National Incident Management System (NIMS) to “provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state and local governments to work effectively together to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity”. Because NIMS explicitly includes school districts in its definition of “local government,” it is clear that schools must comply with both SEMS and NIMS requirements as they plan, train, and respond to emergencies.
Fortunately, NIMS is based largely on the same management principles embodied by California’s SEMS. This means that with but a few minor exceptions, compliance with SEMS will ensure NIMS compliance as well. SEMS/NIMS plans are updated annually at each school site.