School districts that wish to create or update their emergency preparedness plans should visit the web site of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for a wide array of helpful tools and links to public health information and other services. The site includes links to regional offices of IEMA and a directory of county and municipal Emergency Services and Disaster Agencies. School planning for disaster response should be carried out in cooperation with local emergency services and law enforcement agencies.

Because the site includes information for families, it also is a good reference for parents who ask the school for advice.

The IEMA web site is www.state.il.us/iema/index.htm.

Also see the American Red Cross publication on Homeland Security Recommendations.

Also see the emergency planning tools available from the U.S. Department of Education.