Community-Wide Emergency Response Simulation

Community-Wide Emergency Response Simulation
Posted on 09/20/2024

On Tuesday, October 8, Scottsbluff Public Schools, Educational Service Unit #13, WNCC, UNL Panhandle Extension Office and Education Center, and other area schools will conduct a joint emergency response simulation. Emergency response personnel will coordinate activities at each school. Students and parents will be given advance notice that the activity is occurring and is only a simulation – not a real event. 


Emergency responders who will be coordinating the exercise include members of the Scottsbluff Police Department, Scottsbluff County Sheriff’s Office; Scottsbluff Fire Department, Gering Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Region 22 Emergency Management and 911 Communications. James Todd, SBPS Director of Safety and Security will be overseeing the simulation. The simulation incorporates advice from each of these agencies to help all schools improve response protocols and enhance security practices. 

Emergency readiness in schools includes four key areas:  mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This planning drives the schools’ efforts to ensure a high-quality school emergency operations plan.

The exercise is intended to operationalize the procedures detailed in SBPS’ “Emergency Operations Plan” which follows guidelines from the National and State Emergency Management Systems, the US Department of Homeland Security, the FEMA Incident Command System, the “I Love You Guys Foundation,” and the Nebraska Department of Education School Safety Center.