Response Protocols

A functional protocol is a set of basic procedures for handling different types of emergencies. (E.g., Lock-Down, Shelter-in-Place, etc.) All staff and students use them.

An incident-specific protocol addresses the specific characteristics and challenges of a particular emergency event (E.g., Missing student, Bomb threat, Suicide on campus, etc.). They are highly detailed and provide guidelines for the lead teams at the school (SERT) and district (ACT).

The Hour-Zero program employs an action-based approach that enables individuals to effectively respond to various incidents. Its flexibility ensures adaptability to different scenarios, empowering participants to handle weather events, fires, accidents, intruders, and other threats to personal safety.

The Hour-Zero program rationally organizes response tactics, providing a clear framework for addressing emergencies. It guides individuals through a structured process that minimizes confusion and maximizes efficiency during high-stress situations.

The development of the Hour-Zero program is an ongoing, collaborative effort involving experts from diverse fields. Extensive collaboration takes place among first responders, public safety officials, schools, districts, and communities. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that the program benefits from a wide range of expertise, knowledge, and perspectives.

The tactics and strategies within the Hour-Zero program are meticulously developed using a data-driven and research-based approach. Extensive research, combined with real-world experience and contemporary practices, shapes the program’s effectiveness and relevancy in addressing emergent threats.