The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD’s) Hazard Mitigation Plan, developed by the District’s Office of Safety and Emergency Management.
A comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan is necessary to receive federal mitigation and recovery funding under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, but a formal Hazard Mitigation Plan is also an important step in making sure that the District is prepared to support students and families during natural or man-man disasters and to reduce the loss of life and damage to property.
FEMA praised SBCUSD’s plan for clearly identifying potential hazards and explaining the risks and ways to reduce the impact in the community in a comprehensive, yet concise way. The plan also incorporates maps and figures to make it easier for readers to understand the potential dangers facing the community and how to cope with them.
“Disasters do not know the difference between a school and a residential community, neither should our planning,” said SBCUSD Safety and Emergency Manager Eric Vetere, who oversaw the creation of the plan, with input from various stakeholders. “SBCUSD is a resource and safe place for our communities, families and employees, and stakeholder input was critical in developing the plan,” Vetere said.
An entire section is dedicated to the risk and mitigation of wildfires, which identifies the amount and type of plant life near a school to be the greatest factor in vulnerability to wildfires. The plan also addresses other potential hazards ranging from earthquakes to landslides, with the later being a minimal risk.
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