After the evacuation of 1987 students and 150 staff members to assigned areas on the football field, the faculty will take attendance and turn in their “missing persons” report to the Accountability Team. At this time, the Emergency Response Team will spring into action!!!

Please note: None of the "injuries" depicted on this page are real; they are artificially created using make-up, and do not represent any true injury.

120 students, mostly from TJ’s Emergency Response Club, will gather in their assigned teams and join the Faculty Teams assigned to the same building. These students then will don their orange colored vests and backpacks. One student from each team will don his/her helmet for identification as being the leader of that team. Four students comprise one student rescue (medical) team, and two of these teams are assigned to each building to help the Faculty Team rescue, treat, and transport the victims to the medical treatment area.

A total of eleven rescue teams are responsible for searching each of the eleven buildings on T.J.’s campus. Each rescue team is comprised of the following team members: one Building Survey/Damage Assessment staff, two Search and Rescue members, two Medical staff, one Fire Suppression staff member, eight Student Emergency Responders (medical), eight Transport team members, one Video Crew, and one Photographer. The responsibilities of each team are summarized below:

1. Building Survey/Damage Assessment Team – In this drill, the damage to each room is simulated by a written description found on the inside of the door. Each room on the campus has a different description, such as “wires and lights hanging from the ceiling, broken glass, computer’s on fire, TV stands knocked over blocking access to the next room, fire, free weights on top of a trapped victim”, etc. The Survey Team carries the master key and radio (if available), and is responsible for assessing possible damage to the room. If the structural integrity of this room or building appears to be compromised, the Survey Team aborts the search of this area. Their toughest decision is deciding whether to compromise the safety of the group of 14 rescuers for one or more trapped victims. The Building Survey person reports any discovered damage to the Incident Commander at the EOC. Upon departure of each room, the exterior doors are marked Not Enter!” tape will be used to block access to any room that is unsafe for future entry, until a structural engineer’s evaluation occurs.

2. Search and Rescue Team – This team enters a room only if the Damage Assessor agrees that the room is safe to enter. The team members search the darkened room, with flashlights being their only source of lighting, while the two Medical staff members and students wait at the door. If a victim is found, the rescuers attempt to free the trapped victim. If heavy tools are needed, they request these from the Incident Commander. The staff and student Medical Teams then enter the dark room to assess the injuries to the victim. The Search and Rescue Team documents the exact position and place of entrapment of each victim for future legalities (reference).

3. Medical Team Supervisors– This team supervises the assessment, treatment, and transport of the victims by the Student Emergency Response Team. They supply the needed first aid supplies and splints from their backpacks to the injured. . They also supply the lighting from flashlights and can partially open blinds to add daylight. They ensure documentation of all discovered injuries and the treatment of each victim. The Medical Team then escorts the packaged patient to the Treatment Area where it then releases all documentation of this patient. The Medical Team Officer communicates a summary of all injuries to the Incident Commander.

5. Fire Suppression Team – This team checks each room for fires, or for the potential of having a fire. They carry two fire extinguishers along with needed supplies in their backpacks. If they need more extinguishers or assistance, they request these from the Incident Commander. If the Fire Suppression Team is unable to extinguish an out-of-control fire, they call for an immediate evacuation of that building. The Incident Commander will determine if searches will continue in other parts of that building. The Fire Suppression Team documents the exact location, size, and exposures of each fire, and any attempts to extinguish the fire. The door is closed off with “Caution-Do Not Enter” tape.

These teams continue their search until all rooms in their assigned building have been completely searched for victims. Unfortunately, we may not be able to save every student and staff member. We use the triage theory of “Do the most amount of good for the most amount of people”, the rescuers must realize that they should not compromise their personal safety to save a victim.

While these searches are in progress, the Incident Commander oversees the responsibilities of the following remaining areas of faculty teams: Emergency Operations Center, Medical Triage and Treatment Operations, Site Security Team, Crisis Response Team, Student/Parent Reunion Team, Logistical Support Team, Field Supervision Team, and Shelter Operations Team. The following summarize the location, duties and responsibilities of these teams:

Emergency Operations Center – Located in a 40 foot container on the hill above the track on the north side of the campus. Entry to the E.O.C. is through a padlocked gate on the west side of campus, via a cul-de-sac on 41st Place South. This container holds the equipment and supplies necessary for immediate activation of our Emergency Response Teams. Other non-essential supplies and equipment, not used for immediate life saving are stored in an additional 40 foot container on the Northeast Faculty Parking Lot adjacent to the portables.

The Emergency Operations Center is the central meeting place in an emergency situation. One side of the container is solely dedicated to holding the 64 Emergency Response Teams backpacks for quick departure and dispensing out the East end of the container. The student Emergency Response backpacks are located on shelving with the medical supplies, and will be dispensed through the north side roll-up door. The Incident Commanders will operate through the south side roll-up door. The wall of the container on this side holds all of the logistical supplies for the EOC. This includes clipboards, maps, operation plans, etc. for the Command Officers. Supplies for the following teams are located on shelving behind that wall on the west end of the container: Site Security Team, Crisis Response Team, Shelter Operations, Logistical Support, and Student/Parent Reunion Team.

Medical Triage and Treatment Area – This area is where the Fire Department and Medic One vehicles will enter the campus. Arriving Firefighters and Paramedics will meet with the Medical Officer for an update on injuries, while the Fire Department’s Command Officer will meet with TJ’s Incident Commander, to create a Unified Command, and to then receive an update on the emergency situation on campus. Injured victims are triaged and treated in this location, before being transported to area hospitals.

Field Supervision and Student Accountability Team – This team is responsible for the direct supervision of students in the evacuation area on the track. They gather attendance and “missing persons” reports from staff, and reports status to the EOC. They reassure students throughout the duration of the emergency.

Staff Accountability Team – This team is solely responsible for staff accountability. They check the EOC to see which staff member’s backpacks were not picked up. They obtain a list from the Incident Command Officer of teachers who are absent for the day, and names and locations of their substitutes. The team regularly checks with each Staff Emergency Response Team to confirm the status and location of each team. If at any time a staff member or team cannot be accounted for, their last known location is immediately communicated to the Incident Commander. Additionally, the Search and Rescue Team will be notified immediately.

Site Security Team – Team members are assigned to specific areas of the campus perimeter in an attempt to keep unwanted visitors off campus. Each Site Security Team is assigned two student “runners” per staff member, to transport messages to the EOC. They can also to direct one of their “Site Security Runners” to personally escort parents to the Student/Parent Reunion Area on the concrete area above the EOC. The Security Team will also document all visitors’ requests and destinations on campus, and communicate these with the EOC.

Crisis Response Team – This team gives support to staff and students and their families before, during, and after an emergency. Once the evacuation has taken place, they will keep a record of any action taken for students and staff.

Logistical Support Team – This team distributes supplies and equipment from the Supply Trailer when requested. The team will set up a sanitation area and food delivery area, and distribute water to students and staff.

Student/Parent Reunion Team – The Leader is responsible for cordoning off an area in the bleachers by the baseball field, using colored tape. As soon as parents arrive, this team begins to process the release of students to their parents or authorized individuals. They check student identification cards and parent ID to assure that the adult is authorized to take the student. They must document the release of a student to an adult. They are responsible for keeping parents in the designated Reunion Area.

After completing the search of each building for victims, fires, damage, etc., the teams will reunite at the EOC to accept their next assignment.

A debriefing will be conducted immediately following all drills and emergencies. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing needs to be available immediately for staff, students, and families.

In case of inclement weather, the MCI drill will be postponed until later in the week of October 22rd to October 26th, 2007 at 8:45AM.

Staff and Student Participation Summary

The total of students and staff member’s participating in Thomas Jefferson High School’s MCI and Emergency Evacuation Drill during the week of October 23rd - October 27th:

148 Staff Members- divided up among the following areas and teams:

13 – Emergency Response Teams, coordinated into the following:
22 - Search and Rescue
13 – Building Survey
9 – Fire Suppression
23 – Medical Supervisors of Student Emergency Response (medical) Teams
4 - Medical Treatment Area Staff
37 – Field Supervisors and Accountability Personnel
8 – Site Security
19 – Logistical Support
8 - Crisis Response
9 - Student/Parent Reunion

The staff will complete their original team responsibilities, and then report back to the EOC for their next assignment.

320 Students - make up the following teams:

98 Student Rescue (medical) Responders
42 Victims
96 Transport Crew members
30 Video Camera Operators and Reporters
20 in a backup pool of Student Rescuer’s
10 Site Security Runners
32 Runners assigned to buildings (2 per building)
10 in a backup pool of runners
0 - Sports Medicine students assigned to the Triage and Treatment Medical Area.
2 - assigned to Utility Isolation Crew with the Custodial Staff
6 - assigned to the EOC
1 Ham Radio Operator
16 Photographers