Disaster preparedness an important part of back-to-school planning

Key Takeaways:

• Back2School Safety Month focuses on student disaster preparedness in Springfield.
• Threats highlighted include severe weather, power or telecommunications loss, and potential school violence.
• Organizers say students “need emergency preparedness information” before classes resume.
• The push reframes emergency management as a standard part of back-to-school planning.

Back-to-School Meets Preparedness
As August classrooms fill, Springfield’s annual Back2School Safety Month reminds families that readiness is as essential as reading. “Whether it’s a severe weather event, power for telecommunications loss, or the threat of school violence, students need emergency preparedness information during this Back2School Safety Month,” the notice declares.

The Month’s Mission
Back2School Safety Month places emergency management on parents’ and teachers’ checklists, urging them to share action plans with students ahead of the academic year.

What Could Go Wrong
Potential Threats at School
• Severe weather events
• Power or telecommunications loss
• School violence

From Storms to Silence
Severe storms can shutter classrooms without warning. A downed power line may cut electricity and Wi-Fi, while violence—though rarer—poses its own dangers. The message: know the drill before crisis strikes.

A Lesson in Readiness
Organizers argue that rehearsing evacuation routes and communication plans equips students to act quickly, turning seconds into safety when emergencies arise.

The New Classroom Essential
Backpacks may still carry notebooks and calculators, but this August, Springfield’s students also carry a mandate: be prepared. Back2School Safety Month makes clear that disaster readiness is no longer extracurricular—but core curriculum.