HISD Risk Management Field Safety Team Leader Robert Cage, Jr. and HISD Risk Management Safety and Loss Control Manager Julie Burris-Richardson.

HISD’s Risk Management department recently rolled out a new Emergency Resource Administrative Guide aimed to prepare staff members and students across the district for potential emergency situations.

The new guide, which will replace the former Emergency Preparedness Plan (Red Book), is more compact and easier to use with each scenario listed in alphabetical order.

“It’s an exciting improvement on what we have had in the past,” said HISD Risk Management Field Safety Team Leader Robert Cage Jr. “The guide is easy, accessible, and we’re excited about it.”

Every HISD facility will receive two guides, including every occupied classroom. A total of 30,000 guides will be delivered throughout the district. Reagan High School received their books on Feb. 6. All campuses will receive them in the coming months.

“The most important aspect of the Emergency Resource Administrative Guide is knowing what to do prior to an incident,” said HISD Business Assistance General Manager Alexis Licata. “We want to develop a culture across the district where everyone will easily understand what to do in case of an emergency.”

Instructions on how to use the Administrative Guide are located within the guide. A representative from the Risk Management department will contact each campus to coordinate the delivery and installation of the guides. During that time, campus personnel and appropriate staff members will receive training on how to use the guides and will be instructed on how to properly display it.

HISD Risk Management Safety and Loss Control Manager Julie Burris-Richardson says in addition to the training, school principals will be responsible for conducting required emergency drills to prepare staff members and students for any potential emergency situations — such as fire drills, bomb threats and lockdowns.

Once the guide has been completely installed at school campuses, the new Emergency Resource Administrative Guide will available electronically through the Risk Management Department website.

“This is fantastic for the district to have accepted ideas and for us to be able to bring a group of people together to have the book come out,” said Burris-Richardson. “We are a very fortunate district.”

For additional information on the Emergency Resource Administrative Guide, contact Julie Burris-Richardson at jburrisr@houstonisd.org.