Emergency Preparedness Drills and Exercises Cont.
Outcomes and Future Development The statewide exercises provided a platform to clarify decision-making processes, allowing local teams to navigate complex scenarios and understand how their choices could impact both immediate response and long-term recovery. As local teams debriefed and evaluated their responses, they identified areas where additional knowledge and skills were necessary. This exploration deepened the understanding of how strategic decisions could impact immediate response efforts and the organization’s long-term recovery. Participants indicated that they were able to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. The key takeaways expressed by participants were: 1. Individuals had a clearer understanding of individual roles during an emergency; 2. Local schools and systems determined and planned for targeted training in the immediate future; and 3. Local partners refined decision-making frameworks in an effort to enhance local resilience in future emergency incidents. Moving forward, MCSS plans to host a February and October exercise each year for all Maryland public school systems and an August event for all Maryland nonpublic special education schools. LEAs will be encouraged to engage private schools within their jurisdiction to maximize coordination and communication efforts. MCSS will continue to refine and expand the scope of the Statewide Coordinated exercise by incorporating participant feedback and addressing emerging threats, to ensure it remains a vital resource and tool for enhancing the safety and security of Maryland schools.
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