K-12 School Messaging

Coordinated by the RDPO Disaster Messaging Work Group

BACKGROUND

Individual and family preparedness is a crucial part of school preparedness. If parents and caregivers can’t receive local opt-in emergency alerts, they may miss critical information about emergencies impacting their children’s schools. If they can’t get to their children’s schools in a timely manner, the schools may have to face the possibility of sheltering children for an extended period, which they may be unprepared to do. And the sooner students are safely reunited with family or other caregivers, the less traumatic stress they may experience.

This project will examine existing K-12 school disaster preparedness messaging. We will identify messaging gaps and develop recommendations for creating consistent, cohesive, and accessible all-hazards messaging to fill those gaps. Throughout the project, we will engage education partners, teachers, staff, students, parents, and caregivers to ensure all .

TIMELINE

2025

• Jun - Sept: Plan kick-off discussion

• Oct: Kick-off discussion with ESDs, districts, and state agencies

• Nov - Dec: Gap analysis and community feedback planning

CONTACT

To learn more or contribute to this project, contact Laura Hall at laura.hall@portlandoregon.gov. Laura is the project manager and chair of the RDPO Disaster Messaging Work Group.