RENO, Nev. — The priority of any first responder and community partner during a crisis is to minimize the loss of life and mitigate the pain of those affected.
During the first general session of the 2015 STN Expo, representatives of local law enforcement, emergency personnel and school districts, in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), discussed the coordinated efforts to de-escalate a scenario involving a serious security threat aboard a school bus.
The proposed scenario dealt with a mother illegally boarding a bus during its morning route carrying a knife. Unable to find her intended target, she demands the bus driver to take her directly to the school to confront a bully who has been tormenting her child.
The tabletop exercise walked attendees through the entire ordeal, from the initial 911 call to the apprehension of the suspect and release of the hostages, illustrating the roles of the police and sheriff’s departments, the fire department, paramedics and school officials in handling the situation.
“School buses attract a lot of attention wherever they go — sometimes for good, sometimes for not so good,” said Victoria Campbell, public information officer for Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada.
As the panel members spoke, each highlighted the important role of technology during these crises: Cellphones alert authorities to the danger, while providing the critical information to gauge the appropriate response — such as whether or not SWAT should be mobilized — through video and text; GPS tracks the bus, providing the route and intended destination; advanced communications keeps everyone connected, providing real-time updates; and social media maintains a stream of current news as the situation unfolds.
The one downside to being this connected is that social media can quickly become a hindrance as misinformation can spread and bystanders get in the way in their attempt to chronicle events.
The panel addressed this difficulty with an even-handed approach: School districts must have a strong communication network to ebb the flow of bad information and allay the fears of parents and law enforcement, and they also need to firmly establish a controlled perimeter around the scene.
“It’s about survival, not putting any lives in jeopardy,” said Denny Coughlin, a consultant with School Bus Training Company and moderator of the exercise.
The tabletop exercise was organized in partnership with the TSA, utilizing its Intermodal Security Training and Exercise Program (I-STEP).
I-STEP provides exercise, training and security planning tools and services to the transportation community by bringing together public and private sector partners to share information and address transportation security issues.
