In early May 2021, a sixth-grader opened fire at Rigby Middle School in Rigby, Idaho. Luckily, there were no casualties from the attack, and all victims physically recovered. As mandated by the Idaho School Safety and Security program, an after-action review was conducted in which both the attack and response from school staff were analyzed.
The review determined that the school’s prompt action during the attack was mainly due to a well-planned emergency response protocol. While there is room for improvement, Rigby staff were previously trained on the district’s coordinated emergency response plan, and the preparedness is responsible for saving many lives.
The report from the after-action review outlines seven key lessons learned and 29 sub-recommendations to improve future emergency responses. The lessons and recommendations can be used as a tool for any district looking to evaluate its emergency preparedness.
The seven main lessons learned are summarized below.
One of the main themes of the report is that preparedness is the key to minimizing risk and reducing loss in emergency situations. Vector Solutions (formerly SafeSchools) offers both staff and student resources to help you train and prepare everyone for emergencies.
We offer Emergency Management courses in the Vector Training Staff Safety and Compliance Library. Topics Include:
Vector LiveSafe is a tip reporting and safety communications platform that gives staff and students the ability to submit anonymous tips, access emergency resources, and contact first responders via a silent panic alarm. Vector LiveSafe also features two-way communication, emergency broadcasting, and robust analytics reporting.
