Emergency Management Plans Incomplete if Schools Neglect to Factor in External Risks

ATLANTA, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- While most schools have bolstered security on their campuses by beefing up emergency operations plans, implementing technologies such as video surveillance, access control, and mass notification systems, those plans should be considered incomplete if they fail to take external threats into consideration. In a new advisory, "Turning School Emergency Plans Inside Out", Wren discusses ways to strengthen safety plans to ensure administrators are not overlooking potential sources of external threats.

According to Wren(®), school administrations need to factor in events, such as a natural or man-made disaster, that could occur in their school's surrounding area and build plans for what to do in the event of a disaster in a surrounding area.

During the September 2009 flood in Atlanta, GA, Clarkdale Elementary School was inundated with flood waters and students had no choice but to grab their backpacks and wade through waist-high water to exit the building. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the school was submerged in water and everything inside the building was ruined. Other potential disasters include chemical spills, gas leaks, and industrial fires near a school's campus, which require organized, speedy responses that need to be well-thought-out in advance to ensure the safety of students and staff.

"The truth is, some emergency management plans do not factor in some very real dangers," said Jeff Floreno, Director of Operations and Security Strategy at Wren. "By identifying risks that would originate from the surrounding community, campus and building exteriors, administrators can be better prepared not only to manage the situation, but also prioritize limited security budget dollars."

By turning your security program inside out, you not only identify all risks, but you increase awareness and ultimately, preparedness. To learn how comprehensive outdoor assessments can bring to light previously unaccounted for risks and resources, visit http://budurl.com/vwe9.

About Wren

Wren specializes in physical security technologies and services for retail, education, hospitality, healthcare and government facilities. The company's solutions, including enterprise-class video management software, access control systems, security assessments, surveillance cameras and hardware, and professional services, enable organizations to protect people, assets and facilities, while empowering them with operational insights for better performance. Established in 1983 and headquartered in Jefferson City, MO, Wren is a member of the Security Industry Association (SIA), the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers (NASSLEO), and the National Retail Federation (NRF). Visit us at our website www.wrensolutions.com.

Wren®, the Wren logo, Encapsulon®, the Encapsulon logos, The Power to See Your Business, Wren IP Solutions, No Tools Required and Solution Set Series are trademarks of Wren. The trademarks that are followed by ® are registered trademarks in the U.S. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks mentioned herein are properties of their respective owners and are used for reference purposes only. The use of these trademarks does not indicate any affiliation with or sponsorship of or by Wren. ©2009 Wren. All rights reserved.

    Media Contact:
    Kathy Cabrera
    Carabiner Communications
    770.569.8221
    kcabrera@carabinerPR.com

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