1. Purpose and Scope
This Emergency Operations Plan establishes comprehensive protocols for responding to environmental contamination events within New York City Public Schools, with the primary goals of ensuring student and staff safety, containing hazardous materials, and restoring safe learning environments.
The plan covers all phases of response from initial identification of a contaminant through decontamination, waste management, and recovery. It integrates with existing public health and emergency protocols while providing specific guidance for managing biological, chemical, or other hazardous substances, including procedures for site isolation, communication, contractor coordination, and continuity of essential services.
2. Key Objectives
The plan prioritizes core objectives during a decontamination emergency:
- Safety & Security: Immediately isolating hazardous areas to prevent exposure and injury to students and staff.
- Containment & Decontamination: Effectively containing the source of contamination and executing approved decontamination procedures to render the area safe for re-occupancy.
- Communication: Establishing reliable communication channels to keep staff, students, families, and public health authorities informed without causing unnecessary alarm.
- Operational Continuity: Minimizing disruptions to learning through temporary relocation or alternative scheduling while cleanup occurs.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring all decontamination and waste management actions adhere to local, state, and federal regulations.
3. Roles and Responsibilities
- Decision-Making Authority: The Chancellor or Superintendent, in consultation with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), will authorize cleanup actions, school closures, or relocations.
- Incident Command Structure:
- Incident Commander: Oversees overall school-based response and activation of the plan. Liaises directly with DSF, OSH and DOHMH and other supporting agencies.
- Operations Team: Handles initial site isolation, ventilation shutdown, and facility coordination. Manages the interface with external biohazard remediation contractors.
- Logistics Team: Manages resource needs, including providing space for contractor staging and coordinating with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) for bus decontamination.
- Public Information Officer (PIO): Coordinates all external communications in alignment with DOHMH and NYCEM guidance to ensure consistent, accurate public messaging.
4. Response Procedures
- Immediate Response (First 15 minutes):
- Identify and immediately isolate the contaminated room/area.
- Shut down ventilation systems serving the affected area to prevent spread.
- Evacuate adjacent areas if necessary and account for all students and staff.
- Notify the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at EOC@schools.nyc.gov or 718-233-8515.
- Stabilization and Assessment (First 1-4 hours):
- The principal or designee contacts the Superintendent’s office.
- OSH and NYC Health mobilize to conduct a threat assessment and determine the scope and severity.
- DSF, OSH and NYC Health, in coordination with the school, determines if remediation by private contractors are required.
- Decontamination and Cleanup (24-72 hours and beyond):
- DSF, OSH or NYC Health oversees contracted biohazard remediation teams to perform decontamination per the approved work plan.
- School facilities staff support contractors with building access and system controls.
- Waste is categorized, packaged, and transported according to regulatory standards.
- Clearance and Recovery:
- DSF, OSH or NYC Health verifies decontamination effectiveness through sampling and establishes clearance criteria for re-occupancy.
- The Incident Commander (Chancellor’s designee) authorizes re-entry once clearance is received from DSF, OSH or NYC Health.
5. Communication Plan
The communication framework begins with immediate internal alerts to school administrators and notification to the EOC.
A tiered notification system ensures timely information reaches stakeholders through:
- Direct coordination between the EOC and NYCEM/DOE Press Office for public messaging.
- DOE emergency alert system (robocalls, NYCSA emails and texts) to inform families of closures, relocations, or ongoing cleanup activities.
- Official website and social media updates.
- All messaging follows pre-approved templates from NYCPS and NYC Health to ensure consistency and accuracy.
6. Relocation and Resources
- Educational Continuity:
- If the entire building is affected, relocate students and staff to a pre-identified alternative location site.
- Activate remote learning protocols if physical relocations are not feasible.
- Essential Services & Resources:
- DSF, OSH or NYC Health will secure and manage private biohazard remediation contractors.
- DSF will provide logistical support, including access to utilities and a staging area for contractor equipment.
- Critical resources include PPE (N95s, Tyvek suits), waste storage containers, sampling kits, EPA-approved disinfectants, and access to permitted waste haulers.
7. Training and Preparedness
Preparedness activities should include:
- Annual tabletop exercises with school administrators and facilities staff simulating a contamination scenario.
- Training for custodial and facilities staff on initial isolation procedures and safe work practices.
- Regular review and updating of vendor contact lists for NYC Health and Facilities.
- Ensuring staff are familiar with the location and use of isolation supplies (e.g., caution tape, plastic sheeting).
8. After-Action Review
Following any significant decontamination incident:
- The Office of School Health and the Division of School Facilities will convene a debrief session with NYC Health and other response partners.
- The review will examine the effectiveness of the initial response, contractor performance, communication timelines, and decision-making processes.
- Findings will be used to update this plan and training materials, ensuring continuous improvement.