Professional Services

As part of our comprehensive implementation services, Hour-Zero collaborates closely with your designated Program Coordinator to ensure a smooth and successful launch of the Hour-Zero School Emergency Program. Our well-honed implementation process includes the following key components:

• Site Visits: Our experienced team conducts thorough site visits to assess each location’s unique characteristics and challenges, enabling us to develop tailored emergency preparedness solutions.

• Risk and Hazard Assessments: We perform comprehensive risk and hazard assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities specific to your school environment. This analysis forms the basis for developing targeted mitigation strategies.

• GAP Analysis: We conduct a detailed GAP analysis, carefully evaluating your existing emergency plans, policies, and practices. This assessment helps us identify areas of improvement and develop customized recommendations for enhanced preparedness.

• Emergency Map Sets: We create site-specific emergency map sets, which serve as essential visual aids for effective emergency response. The map set (10 maps) provides clear, concise information for emergency evacuations, executing emergency protocols (lock-down, shelter-in-place, student release set-up, etc.), utility shut-offs, hazardous material storage, and other critical emergency information.

• Site-Specific Procedures: Hour-Zero works closely with your team to develop site-specific emergency procedures that align with best practices and regulatory requirements. These procedures are customized to address each location’s unique needs and characteristics.

• Staff and First Responder Onboarding: We facilitate comprehensive onboarding sessions to ensure that all staff members and first responders are well-prepared and equipped to handle emergencies. These sessions cover important protocols, communication strategies, and key roles and responsibilities.

• Training: Our team provides comprehensive training programs for your staff, focusing on essential emergency response skills, protocols, procedures, and responsibilities. These training sessions enhance preparedness, foster a culture of preparedness, and empower individuals to respond effectively during crises.

• Documentation and Data Management: We assist in documenting and organizing critical data related to emergency preparedness, ensuring easy access and efficient retrieval. This includes loading relevant information onto our secure HZ Online platform and providing a centralized repository for emergency plans, procedures, and resources.

Hour-Zero’s implementation services support your school in establishing a robust and effective emergency preparedness program. Through a combination of site-specific assessments, tailored procedures, comprehensive training, and streamlined data management, we ensure that your school community is well-equipped to handle emergencies with confidence and efficiency.

All schools are required, by law, to establish and maintain a Fire Plan. These plans must meet the specific requirements of your location, including Fire Code regulations and local bylaws.

Hour-Zero creates legislative-compliant fire plans to address the unique needs of K-12 schools.

• We meticulously document all the required information, covering a long list of items that include fire protection equipment, fire department access points, potential fire hazards, inspection and maintenance procedures, and many other elements.

• We ensure the school’s fire plan is consistent with its emergency plan, outlining clear and concise emergency procedures, designating command staff, incorporating mandatory training and guidelines for operating emergency systems, and establishing schedules for fire drills.

• Every element is captured in a comprehensive fire safety plan, which can be easily updated yearly to ensure its currency.

Hour-Zero’s fire plans go beyond basic requirements to ensure your school is well-prepared to address fire safety issues.

As K-12 school safety professionals, we provide specialized risk and crisis communication consulting services designed to empower educational institutions in effectively managing and mitigating communication challenges during critical situations.

We ensure your emergency communication plans are consistent with and accurately reflect the policies and procedures outlined in your emergency plans.

Our expertly crafted service offers the following key features:

• Comprehensive Communication Strategies: We develop comprehensive communication strategies tailored to the unique needs of K-12 schools. These strategies encompass proactive risk communication, crisis response communication, and post-crisis recovery communication, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing communication needs throughout the entire crisis lifecycle.

• Risk Assessment and Preparedness: Our consulting service includes a thorough risk assessment to identify potential communication vulnerabilities and gaps. By understanding the specific risks faced by schools, we assist in creating robust communication plans and protocols, ensuring preparedness for various scenarios.

• Message Development and Tailoring: We provide expert guidance in developing clear, concise, and tailored messages that effectively convey crucial information to different stakeholders, including students, parents, staff, and the broader community. Our focus is on crafting messages that are easily understood, accessible, and culturally sensitive.

• Stakeholder Engagement Strategies: Effective communication during a crisis relies on engaging and involving key stakeholders. We offer strategies to foster meaningful engagement with various stakeholders, including training sessions, workshops, and guidance on utilizing multiple communication channels to reach diverse audiences.

• Media Relations and Public Perception Management: Our consulting service equips schools with tools and techniques to navigate media relations effectively. We provide guidance on handling media inquiries, conducting press conferences, and managing public perception to ensure accurate and timely information dissemination while protecting the school’s reputation.

• Training and Exercises: We offer specialized training sessions and crisis simulations to enhance the communication skills of school personnel. Through realistic scenarios and interactive exercises, we help build confidence and preparedness in handling communication challenges during emergencies.

• Support and Evaluation: Our consulting service provides support, guidance, and evaluation to ensure that communication strategies are effective and relevant. We offer periodic reviews, feedback sessions, and assistance in updating communication plans based on emerging best practices and lessons learned.

By engaging our consulting service, K-12 schools can enhance their communication capabilities, strengthen relationships with stakeholders, and more effectively manage crises.

We are also available for conference keynote presentations and workshops engagements.

Through a meticulous review process, Hour-Zero examines the school’s existing Emergency Response and Safety Plan for completeness, conformity, and compliance, identifying any gaps or maintenance issues that may exist. 

Using HZ’s proprietary auditing tool, specifically designed for auditing K-12 programs, Hour-Zero conducts a thorough assessment in alignment with recognized auditing practices and standards, including NFPA 1600, NIMS, ICS, legislative requirements, and best practices in school emergency preparedness.

Hour-Zero auditors will also review and analyze related policies, procedures, and practices. 

The audit is comprised of five major components: 

• Document Review: Hour-Zero carefully examines relevant documents pertaining to the District’s Emergency Response Program, assessing their effectiveness and identifying any areas that require improvement. 

• Interviews: Hour-Zero conducts interviews with key stakeholders, including District personnel and staff, to gather valuable insights and perspectives on the emergency preparedness program. 

• Surveys: Surveys may be administered to gather feedback from a wider range of individuals, such as students, parents, and community members, to assess their perceptions and experiences related to emergency preparedness. 

• Observations: Hour-Zero conducts on-site observations and assessments of school sites, examining physical facilities, emergency equipment, signage, and other critical elements of the emergency response infrastructure.

• Report: At the conclusion of the review, Hour-Zero provides a comprehensive report that outlines findings, recommendations, and suggested strategies for addressing any identified gaps or deficiencies.

We encourage the District to have designated personnel accompany Hour-Zero during meetings, interviews, and school site assessments, facilitating a collaborative and inclusive approach to the review.

Hour-Zero offers expert school emergency mapping services designed to enhance preparedness and response in K-12 educational settings. Our comprehensive service utilizes the HZ digital mapping tool and leverages expert knowledge to create detailed and interactive maps tailored to your school’s specific needs.

Building – Site – Vicinity

Customized Mapping Solutions: We take into account the unique layout, infrastructure, and characteristics of each school, ensuring that the maps are tailored to their specific needs and challenges.

Detailed Emergency Map Sets: We create detailed maps highlighting critical information, areas, routes, and equipment.

• Maps can be shared electronically or printed.

Map sets, captured on corresponding vicinity, site, and building diagrams, include:

Hazard Identification and Mitigation: Our mapping services assist in identifying potential hazards within the school premises. By mapping out areas prone to fire risks, chemical storage, or other safety concerns, schools can proactively implement measures to mitigate risks and ensure a safe learning environment.

Map creation and updating: Our mapping specialists are available to assist schools during the implementation phase of the Hour-Zero School Emergency Program and for ongoing updating of school maps to ensure maps remain current.

Custom map creation: Using the HZ maptool, custom maps can be easily created to document such items as maintenance work, asbestos tracking, communications system patterns, security cameras, grass-cutting areas, traffic patterns, etc.

Comprehensive risk, hazard, and vulnerability assessment services are instrumental in identifying potential dangers and implementing effective mitigation strategies. By leveraging Hour-Zero’s expertise and employing a systematic approach, we can help educational institutions create safer environments conducive to learning.

• Risk Assessment: Our risk assessment services encompass a 350-point evaluation of potential hazards and vulnerabilities within a school’s premises. By conducting an in-depth analysis, we identify risks related to natural disasters, security threats, infrastructure weaknesses, and other potential dangers. Risk mitigation recommendations are developed from this examination.

• Hazard Identification: Our professionals identify and assess hazards specific to your school environment. This includes evaluating factors related to potential hazards in the areas of natural hazards, technological hazards, biological hazards, and human-induced hazards that could affect your school.

• Vulnerability Analysis: Our services include a comprehensive vulnerability analysis, which examines the school’s infrastructure, security issues, safety protocols, training plans, communications procedures, and emergency response capabilities. This analysis allows us to identify areas that require improvement, ensuring that schools are well-prepared to handle emergencies and threats. By addressing vulnerabilities, we create a robust foundation for effective emergency management.

• Mitigation Strategies: Based on our findings, we develop mitigation strategies tailored to your school’s unique needs. Our experts will recommend measures such as implementing safety protocols, improving infrastructure, enhancing communication systems, and establishing clear lock-down procedures. These strategies are designed to reduce risks and enhance the overall safety of the school community.

Hour-Zero provides a wide range of exceptional training services – both online and in-person.