Disaster Recovery School

Disasters can happen anywhere at any time and schools are no exception here. Although we admit there are really very few Disaster Recovery School plans. Mostly local and state government bodies are responsible for it.

Terrorist attacks create dramatic and traumatic conditions that stretch to the limit all corporate and infrastructure response, backup and recovery plans. Only ten years ago such planning and the associated investment in off-site recovery facilities was rare, but in recent years significant investments have been made to build and train for the use of off-site computing and communications facilities. Following the IRA bombing of the London financial district on 10 April 1992 there was a new awareness of the need to ensure continuity of business communications and computing.

PLANet® is an Internet-based school safety/crisis planning and management tool designed specifically for schools and school districts.  PLANet is an online service where schools and school districts can subscribe via the Internet.  This Disaster Recovery School plan service is based on an annual subscription fee and is designed to give schools the proper tools to be able to effectively build and maintain crisis plans as required by most states.  More importantly, PLANet was developed and endorsed by top trauma, law enforcement, education, mental health, and disaster recovery experts from around the country. PLANet’s development team has integrated cutting-edge tools, developed over the last 10 years that will save you valuable time whether you currently have a plan or are looking to update your plan

“The mission of PLANet-Strohl Systems is to provide an integrated; community based disaster and trauma response service, utilizing state of the art disaster preparedness protocols and trauma specific intervention strategies, targeting the significant decrease of the negative effects caused by natural or man-made disasters, child maltreatment and youth exposure to violence and other critical incidents”[1].

Top trauma, law enforcement, education, and disaster recovery experts endorse and helped develop PLANet’s Disaster Recovery School plans, which is already in use by educators nationwide. With PLANet, A School Crisis Plan Manager, you will:

·       Reduce the time it takes to build your school safety plan by at least 70 percent.

·       Standardize school safety and crisis plans district-wide.

·       Incorporate your existing plans for a seamless synthesis of new and established material.

·       Use expert-developed, best-practice action scripts that are updated real-time enabling you to maintain cutting-edge plans in keeping with the most current law enforcement, educational, and mental health models.

·       Train and certify a safe school coordinator in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).

However, the term Disaster Recovery School can be used in other terms .i.e. Disaster recovery institute, then look at the following paragraphs, you will find enough useful information.

The Disaster Recovery Institute Canada (DRI Canada) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1996 to create a base of common disaster recovery planning knowledge through education, assistance, and the development of a resource base; to certify qualified individuals; and to promote the credibility and professionalism of certified professionals in Canada. Disaster Recovery Institute Canada is the first international affiliate of Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI International) based in Falls Church, Virginia, USA.

The mission of Disaster Recovery Institute Canada is to provide the leadership and best practice that serve as a base of common knowledge for all business continuity and disaster recovery professionals, and organizations in our industry by:

• Advancing the credibility and professionalism of its members
• Providing the premiere certification program serving the industry and supporting the career of all business continuity and disaster recovery planners
• Providing the premiere business continuity and disaster recovery educational programs serving the industry
• Providing a continuing education program and examinations that reflect the evolving industry and the recovery planning professional,
• Providing world-wide availability education courses and certification programs of Disaster Recovery Institute.
• Providing a recertification process that ensures continuing professional development
• Being the leading industry advocate for process and methodology standards for business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Being the informational resource centre for business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Being pro-active and responsive to their industry.

For more info please visit: http://www.dri.ca/

Similarly, Disaster Recover Institute International (DRII) was first formed in 1988 as the Disaster Recovery Institute in St. Louis, MO.  A group of professionals from the industry and from Washington University in St. Louis forecast the need for comprehensive education in business continuity.  Alliances with academia helped shape early research and curriculum development.

The Disaster Recover Institute International also understands that individual certification and establishing a common body of knowledge (standards) could only enhance industry professionalism.  As a result, the new non-profit organization Disaster Recover Institute International established its goals to:

• Promote a base of common knowledge for the business continuity planning/disaster recovery industry through education, assistance, and publication of the standard resource base;
• Certify qualified individuals in the discipline; and
• Promote the credibility and professionalism of certified individuals.

Board of Directors of Disaster Recover Institute International is responsible for the Institute's business direction, and the Certification Commission administers policies and sets guidelines for their certification program.

Other duties and periodic special tasks are carried out by subcommittees of these groups (for example, the business strategy committee and personnel committees).  Revenue supports and improves the certification program.

Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International provides Certifications. This entry-level certification is for individuals who have knowledge of business continuity planning and disaster recovery, but have not yet acquired the necessary experience to become a CBCP. It's also suitable for individuals interested in the profession and has expertise in a related field. Examples are; marketing, emergency response, or a field not directly related to business continuity planning. For more info please visit: http://www.drii.org