Community Emergency Response Exercise

In the Medford School District, safety and security are shared values. In the pursuit of living out those values, MSD hosted a community-wide emergency response exercise on June 22, 2023. This exercise was one of the largest school emergency response exercises in the nation with over 450 participants and more than 30 agencies and organizations participating.

We know that the only thing more tragic that an incident of this nature occurring would be if it was preventable or if we responded poorly.

We believe that community level issues also require community level solutions.

So, we committed to 'bringing to life' safety and security as an MSD value and keystone habit.

Who was the target audience?

- First Responders

- School Leadership

- Community Volunteers

What were the big picture training objectives?

Open lines of communication between agencies, families, and the community
Experiential learning, we learn by doing
Establishing a sense of urgency around safety and security
Building muscle memory for an emergency response
Building quality relationships with local agencies
Multi-agency integration

Two JCFD3 firefighters stand with an MPD officer at the mass casualty drill

The purpose of the exercise was to practice a multi-agency, active shooter response, establish and exercise a reunification site, establish a robust communications network and exercise a community response for large-scale events. Ultimately, we aimed to build an exercise model that could be used both regionally and nationally to increase security in schools.

Was this exercise trauma informed?

Yes, it was. While realism for our first responders was a critical component in the exercise design, we also were careful to make sure no additional trauma occurred.

- We did not reenact a school shooting; we set scenes for first responders to engage in as a scripted sequence of events unfolded

- Law enforcement personnel were the only staff in the incident areas

- Casualties were all volunteers

- We had trauma counselors on site as well as "Hero" the chaplain dog!

What were some of the keys to success?

- We set up multiple tactical scenarios based on real world incidents to stimulate unified command and other resources at the operational level

- We utilized a detailed 180 day planning cycle with dedicated planners from key organizations to bring all of the participating agencies together for a unified effort

- We had a robust team of observer - controllers throughout the site to ensure training objectives were achieved safely and that lessons learned were captured for a series of after action reviews (AAR)

- We created a security bubble

- We conducted multiple rehearsals

- We had a robust community communication plan

- We intentionally maintained the element of surprise for key first responders such as our School Resource Officers, fire, medical, etc.

- We intentionally stressed the system to stimulate critical thinking scenarios for key leaders

- We developed the appropriate level of sponsorship with key community leaders and partners

A significant aspect of the exercise focused on the reunification process, which involves reuniting students with their parents or guardians following an emergency. In a genuine emergency situation, MSD will communicate the designated reunification site to families once the site is prepared. Parents or guardians are kindly requested to bring a valid photo ID to facilitate the safe and secure reunification of students with their families.

MSD appreciates its partners in this exercise, including the Medford Police, Medford Fire, City of Medford, Jackson County Emergency Management, Mercy Flights, Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Providence Hospital, and other agencies. Their collaboration and support were invaluable in the effort to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff moving forward.

It is important to note that the exercise was just one element of a multi-layered approach to safety and security within the Medford School District. MSD’s comprehensive strategy encompasses various preventative measures, including positive school climate/culture, mental health supports and counseling services, proactive threat assessments, connections with crisis support agencies, effective student engagement, dedicated school resource officers and marshals, locked doors and gates, camera systems, regular drills, extensive training for students and staff, etc.

We also encourage the community to utilize the SAFEOREGON Tip Line (844) 472-3367 to report any concerns related to safety or potential threats.