

About CSERN.
The California County Superintendents have created this initiative to turn the challenges faced by California’s local educational agencies into valuable assets at every stage of emergency management, strengthening California's Disaster Management framework and highlighting schools as vital community lifelines and key infrastructure.
Objectives.
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To integrate schools into the Emergency Management Framework
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To place a heavy emphasis on preparedness and mitigation.
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To provide trained, qualified, deployable assets during response and recover.
Enhance
Strengthen the readiness of LEAs to manage and respond to disasters effectively through comprehensive planning, training, and resource management.
Streamline
Facilitate swift and coordinated responses during disasters through county offices of education which will foster relationships between schools, community organizations and government agencies
Support
Assist schools in recovering from disasters by providing resources and guidance to ensure continuity of education and the well-being of the school community, as well as navigating recovery grants.
CSERN Leadership Council.
Jake Wolf, California Government Operations Agency
David Hart (Los Angeles, Region 11)
Tammy Bennett Nguyen (Mono, Region 10)
Todd Finnell (Imperial, Region 9)
John Mendiburu (Kern, Region 8)
Jeff Aranguena (Mariposa, Region 7)
Zack Abernathy (Tuolumne, Region 6)
Deneen Guss (Monterey, Region 5)
Josh Shultz (Napa, Region 4)
Rob Gregor (Yuba, Region 3)
Fabio Robles (Trinity, Region 2)
Jeff Harris (Del Norte, Region 1)

Staff Contact.

Kindra Britt
Director
Strategy & Communications


The COE Emergency Recovery Guide seeks to inform county offices of education (COEs) as they help school districts prepare for recovery after a large-scale multiagency, multijurisdictional emergency. This guide is not an emergency response manual; rather, it is a guide for COE leaders to foster districts’ preparation before and recovery after a catastrophic event.


These resources are designed to help K-12 technology departments create and implement a working Cyber Incident Response Plan (CIRP) (new!), a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP), and a Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
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To get started, establish a secure cloud storage solution, such as a Google Shared Drive, Microsoft Team, Private Teams Channel, or Microsoft SharePoint Site, that belongs to your organization (not an individual user), then grant the appropriate access to the members of your disaster recovery team.
Next, copy each of the documents into the shared resource, then begin working with your team to customize each template. Finally, keep your CIRP, DRP, and BCP up-to-date so they are ready when a disaster strikes. Be sure to keep a printed copy of each plan.
Crisis Response Resources.
Updated 1/10/2025
State Resources.
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COE-Specific Resources.
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San Mateo COE Big Five Countywide Response to School Emergencies
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Hazard Response Guidance: Off-Site Fire (pgs 6-7), On-Site Fire (pgs 8-9), Poor Air Quality (pg 14)
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Air Quality Guidance and Activity Recommendations (available in Spanish)
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Partner Resources.
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CDE Guidance on Air Quality for Schools During Wildfire Smoke Days
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CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR SCHOOLS: A Guide for Districts and Sites
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Cal Fire Incidents.
Click the specific incident and you will receive a full report, updated frequently when active.
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FEMA Declarations.
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This is where you can see FEMA declarations for California. If you are in a county that has a “DR” designation with category E work available, you may use FEMA funds to rebuild schools.
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