Several Texas school districts are participating in the “Safe School Alerts” system, which disseminates information to parents and the community about area emergency school closures and re-openings. Emergencies posted through the new system launched this summer can be weather-related, man-made or facility-related.
Users who need information on what’s happening in Harris County schools, for example, see a map of greater Harris County school districts on the opening page. Each district outlined on the map contains two hyperlinks. One link posts emergency information, while the other directs users to the school district’s Web site.
Subscribers may gain information directly through the Web site at www.safeschoolalerts.org. In addition, they may opt to join a mailing list that alerts them to emergencies within a particular school district.
According to a Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) press release, Safe School Alerts is powered through the Public Information Emergency Response System (PIER). PIER is a highly reliable, Web-based community emergency management system with stringent security standards. It is supported with a base of nationwide servers that serve current users such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Texas Medical Center and the Harris County Offices of Emergency Management.
“Over 900,000 students are served on 900-plus campuses in Harris County,” said John Wilson, senior consultant for HCDE’s Center for Safe and Secure Schools. “Hurricane Ike showed us the vulnerability of communications systems during emergencies. School districts are well served through this system.”
The center develops safety and security strategies for school environments. The following school districts are current members of Safe School Alerts: Aldine, Alief, Channelview, Clear Creek, Crosby, Cypress-Fairbanks, Dayton, Deer Park, Dickinson, Friendswood, Fort Bend, Goose Creek Consolidated, Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Huffman, Humble, Katy, Klein, La Porte, Lamar, New Caney, North Forest, Pasadena, Pearland, Sheldon, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford Municipal School District, Tomball and Waller. Future expansion is planned.
PIER is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Local Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. It is one of 30 sites designed to enhance regional redundant emergency communications.
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HCBE August 2009 press release.
