NYC Public Schools Policy on Maximum Temperatures in School Buildings and Facilities
During an extreme heat event, the BRT is activated to monitor conditions, implement mitigation strategies, and execute relocation plans if necessary.
- BRT Leader: Provides overall direction based on temperature readings. Liaises with the Principal and Custodial Engineer to decide when to implement mitigation (82°F) and relocation (88°F) protocols. Communicate the final decision to the school community.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Moves through the building with the Custodial Engineer to take temperature readings in various rooms (3 ft. above floor, shaded area). Gathers essential elements of information (EEI) on which rooms are hottest, which are coolest, and reports this immediately to the BRT Leader.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Relays instructions from the BRT Leader to staff (e.g., "All classes move to first-floor shaded rooms"). May be tasked with coordinating a parent staging area for early dismissal. Contacts the EOC at 718-233-8515 as directed.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Identifies and tracks students with medical conditions (e.g., asthma, heat-sensitive conditions) that make them more vulnerable to heat. Ensures they are prioritized for relocation to the coolest available spaces.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): If relocation is necessary, manages the movement and accounting of students in the designated cooler assembly areas (e.g., air-conditioned auditorium, shaded courtyard). Maintains order and takes attendance.
- Recorder: Documents all temperature readings (time, date, location, temperature), mitigation actions taken (fans distributed, blinds closed), and all communications regarding the incident for official reporting to the DSF HVAC Database and OORS.
Emergency Operations Plan for Power Outages
BRT’s primary focus during a power outage is on safety, communication, and managing the logistics of a potentially darkened and insecure environment.
- BRT Leader: Activates the team and takes initial charge. Assesses the severity and potential duration of the outage with input from the IA. Makes critical decisions on whether to shelter-in-place or relocate. Serves as the main point of contact for the principal.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Quickly assesses the scope of the outage (whole building or partial), checks the status of emergency lighting and backup generators, and identifies immediate safety hazards (e.g., darkened stairwells, stuck elevators). Gathers EEI on which critical systems are down.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Supports the BRT Leader by relaying instructions to staff via battery-powered megaphones or runners. May be tasked with coordinating with the custodian to manually secure main entrances. Assists in communicating with utility companies via the EOC or Custodial Engineer.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Checks on students and staff with mobility issues or other disabilities who may need assistance during an evacuation or who use electronic medical devices. Coordinates their safe movement.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): If evacuation is required, manages students at the designated outdoor assembly point. Accounts for all students and staff, keeping groups together and calm in the absence of normal communication tools.
- Recorder: Logs the time the outage began, all assessment findings, decisions made, and the time power was restored. Documents any injuries or incidents that occurred during the outage for after-action reports.
Emergency Operations Plan for Flooding
The BRT responds to flooding by assessing the source and severity of water intrusion, coordinating evacuations from affected areas, and managing relocation.
- BRT Leader: Directs the overall response. Based on the IA's assessment, decides whether to isolate a wing, relocate within the building, or execute a full building evacuation. Coordinates with the Custodial Engineer on water shut off and cleanup efforts.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Determines the source of flooding (e.g., burst pipe, external seepage, roof leak) and the areas affected. Scouts for safe relocation areas within the building (e.g., "higher ground" on upper floors).
- Emergency Officer (EO): Relays evacuation or relocation orders to specific parts of the building. Acts as a runner to communicate with staff in areas where PA systems or intercoms may be down due to water damage.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Ensures the safe evacuation of students and staff with mobility challenges from flooded areas, particularly basement classrooms or first-floor spaces.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): If the building is fully evacuated, manages the assembly point. If relocation is within the building, manages the "safe zone" area, accounting for all evacuated students and staff.
- Recorder: Documents the time the flooding was discovered, its source, the areas impacted, the response actions taken (e.g., "evacuated rooms 101-110 to the library"), and all damage observed.
Emergency Operations Plan for Communicable Disease
For a communicable disease event, the BRT's role shifts from immediate physical response to support, coordination, and documentation for health authorities.
- BRT Leader: Works with the School Nurse and Principal to coordinate the school's response to a declared outbreak. Helps implement directives from DOHMH/OSH, such as coordinating student dismissal or facilitating access for health officials.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Gathers essential elements of information (EEI) on potential exposure, such as identifying which classrooms or students may have had contact with an infected individual. May assist in mapping movement patterns for contact tracing.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Supports the dissemination of information from the Principal and Public Information Officer (DOE’s Communication Office) to staff and families. May help coordinate the distribution of protective equipment (masks, sanitizers) or instructional materials for remote learning.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Identifies students with compromised immune systems or other high-risk health conditions who may need special accommodations or early transition to remote learning.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): Role may be adapted to help manage logistics during a health-related event, such as organizing an orderly flow of students during an early dismissal or assisting at a testing/vaccination site set up at the school.
- Recorder: Critically important for this EOP. Meticulously documents all cases, suspected exposures, communications with health authorities, and actions taken (closures, cleanings). This log is essential for official reporting to DOHMH and for the after-action review.
Emergency Operations Plan for Air Quality Emergencies
The BRT ensures the school effectively implements shelter-in-place protocols, activity restrictions, and communication during poor air quality events.
- BRT Leader: Makes decisions based on official AQI alerts and guidance from school administration. Directs the implementation of activity cancellations, shelter-in-place, or early dismissal. The main liaison for the Principal on the internal response.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Assesses the internal environment by checking the functionality of HVAC systems and air purifiers. Reports any issues (e.g., a broken fan) to the BRT Leader and Custodial Engineer.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Relays instructions from the BRT Leader to staff, such as "all outdoor activities are cancelled" or "close all windows." May be tasked with distributing N95 masks to classrooms or staff.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Works with the School Nurse to identify students with asthma, respiratory issues, or other conditions that make them highly vulnerable. Ensures these students are in the best-ventilated areas and monitors their well-being.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): Role is typically not used for external assembly during an air quality event, as the protocol is to shelter indoors. May assist in managing indoor "safe zone" areas if the school is being used as a clean-air shelter for the community.
- Recorder: Documents the AQI levels that triggered the response, the time actions were taken (e.g., "2:00 PM - recess cancelled"), the distribution of any equipment (masks), and any health incidents (e.g., asthma attacks) that occurred.
BRT Roles for an EMP Incident or Cyberattack
An EMP or catastrophic cyberattack represents a worst-case scenario where standard electronic communication and power are unavailable. The BRT's role shifts to manual, analog processes (methods of completing tasks that do not rely on digital technology, computers, or electronic networks) with a paramount focus on immediate student safety, accounting for all individuals, and establishing basic order.
- BRT Leader: Provides overall direction and assumes command if communication with the Principal/Central Office is lost. Makes critical decisions on shelter-in-place, student release, or relocation based on the IA's assessment. Liaises with the Custodial Engineer on facility status. Uses the hardened communication kit (e.g., satellite phone) to contact the District EOC if possible.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Conducts an immediate initial assessment. Gathers EEI (Essential Elements of Information): Is this a power outage, cyber incident, or something wider? Checks for hazards (e.g., stuck elevators, darkened stairwells, loss of water pressure). Assesses the status of backup generators and determines which critical systems (fire alarms, security doors) are functional. Reports all findings to the BRT Leader.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Acts as a runner to relay instructions from the BRT Leader to staff throughout the building, as PA systems and phones will be inoperable. Manually operates two-way radios if available. May be posted at key points to control movement and information flow. Assists in coordinating with first responders if they arrive.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Immediately identifies and accounts for all students and staff with medical needs or disabilities that require assistance (e.g., those reliant on electronic medical devices, with mobility issues). Ensures they are safe and that their needs are met with available manual resources.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): Manages the designated indoor assembly area if the building is safe. If evacuation is ordered, manages the outdoor assembly point. Accounts for all students and staff using paper rosters and clipboards (as digital systems will be down). Maintains order and organizes students for parent reunification or relocation.
- Recorder: This role is critically important. Documents the entire incident in real-time using paper logs and forms. Records the time of the event, all assessment reports from the IA, decisions made by the BRT Leader, actions taken, and all communications. This manual log is vital for after-action reports and accounting for everyone during the crisis.
BRT Roles for Environmental Decontamination and Waste Management
During a contamination event, the BRT's primary role is immediate isolation, safety, and acting as the liaison between the school and the external remediation experts. Their actions are critical in the initial minutes to prevent exposure and spread.
- BRT Leader: Takes immediate charge upon confirmation of a contaminant. Makes the decision to isolate the area. Serves as the primary liaison for the Principal and helps provide direction to the school staff based on official guidance.
- Incident Assessor (IA): Conducts the initial safe assessment to identify the type and location of the contaminant (e.g., suspicious powder, chemical spill, biological substance) from a safe distance. Safely gathers EEI (Essential Elements of Information): Where is the source? Is it spreading? How many people were potentially exposed? Reports this critical information immediately to the BRT Leader.
- Emergency Officer (EO): Relays the BRT Leader's instructions to staff throughout the building via runners or radios (e.g., "Evacuate the north wing," "Do not use the main staircase"). May be posted to secure and control access points to the isolated area, preventing anyone from entering.
- Special Needs Coordinator (SNC): Immediately identifies any students or staff in the affected area who have mobility, respiratory, or other health issues that could be exacerbated by the contaminant or a rapid evacuation. Ensures they receive priority assistance.
- Assembly Point Coordinator (APC): If a full or partial evacuation is ordered, manages the evacuation and accounting of all students and staff at the designated outdoor assembly point. Uses rosters to ensure everyone is accounted for, as digital systems may be inaccessible.
- Recorder: This role is vital for liability and public health. Meticulously documents the entire event on paper, including the time of discovery, location, description of the contaminant, actions taken (e.g., "Ventilation shut down at 10:05 AM"), names of potentially exposed individuals, and all communications with authorities. This log is essential for DSF, OSH and NYC Health and after-action reviews.