Hazard mitigation plan finalized | Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Published 8:21 pm Friday, November 28, 2014

Recent natural disasters, from mud slides to wild fires, have highlighted the need to understand how disasters might affect schools.

Recently, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction finalized the Washington State K-12 Facilities Hazard Mitigation Plan. A result of three years of data gathering and research, plan was first released as a draft in April. The final version has been updated with additional information that reflects more accurate information than was possible earlier.

“We’re one of the first states in the country to undertake this large-scale study,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction. “Districts can use it to see the potential they face with certain natural disasters. That will help them better plan renovations and new buildings. Our point isn’t to panic anyone, it’s to help them prepare in case there is a disaster.”

The plan focuses on the six natural that pose the greatest threats to the state’s school buildings: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, volcanic events and landslides. In addition, the plan identifies which schools are vulnerable to each disaster. While not all of the buildings in the state are vulnerable, many of those can be at a high risk for damage.

The final plan is available at http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/PDM/Plan.aspx.