Santa Ana USD Deploys Crisis Management System

• By Chris Riedel
• 09/02/08

Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has announced plans to install Prepared Response's Rapid Responder crisis management system for use during emergencies in the district's 78 schools.

According to SAUSD, the system--paid for through a 2007 Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Grant from the United States Department of Education--will provide critical information to first responders, including floor plans, 360-degree facility imagery, hazmat information, and evacuation routes, among other things. The information is designed to better prepare emergency agencies, providing for more efficient coordination, as well as increasing each agency's awareness of the individual emergency situation.

"Deployment of the Rapid Responder emergency management system is a step forward in ensuring that our schools and staff members are becoming better equipped to protect our students in the event of an emergency," said Superintendent Jane Russo in a prepared statement. "The fact that we are partnering with the police and fire agencies is another positive in reaching a common goal," Russo said. "We thank all our supporters, especially our elected officials who rallied behind us in seeking the School Readiness Grant that makes this all possible."

According to Prepared Response, Rapid Responder is currently in use at 275 school districts in 12 states.

Get daily news from THE Journal's RSS News Feed

About the author: Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Illinois. He can be reached via e-mail here.

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].