1. Purpose and Scope
This Emergency Operations Plan establishes comprehensive protocols for responding to power outages in New York City Public Schools, with the primary goals of ensuring student and staff safety, maintaining critical operations, and minimizing disruptions to learning. The plan covers all phases of outage response from initial incident assessment through recovery, addressing both short-term and extended power loss scenarios. It integrates with existing emergency protocols while providing specific guidance for electrical system failures, including procedures for communication, facility management, and continuity of essential services.
2. Key Objectives
The plan prioritizes core objectives during power outage emergencies. First and foremost is maintaining safe and secure school environments through proper lighting, functional security systems, and clear evacuation routes when necessary. Second is establishing reliable communication channels to keep staff, students, families, and emergency responders informed. Third, we commit to continuing educational programming through alternative delivery methods when possible. Additional objectives include sustaining student support services, ensuring uninterrupted meal service for students, maintaining critical technology infrastructure, and preserving essential administrative functions including payroll and HR operations.
3. Roles and Responsibilities
Decision-making authority rests with the Chancellor or Superintendent, who will determine next steps regarding school closures, early dismissals, building relocations, or transitions to remote learning, particularly for long outages or unsafe conditions. The Incident Command Structure features an Incident Commander overseeing overall response and EOC activation, supported by specialized teams. The Operations Team handles facility assessments, generator deployment, and evacuation coordination. The Logistics Team manages technology support and alternative food service implementation. The Public Information Officer coordinates all external communications and media relations during the emergency.
4. Response Procedures
For short-term outages, schools may activate emergency lighting, assess system impacts, contact utilities for restoration estimates, and implement classroom safety protocols including securing instructional areas and restricting elevator use. Extended outages exceeding several hours can trigger evaluation of early dismissal or relocation needs, transportation adjustments through OPT, satellite meal service implementation, and potential transition to remote learning. Building Response Teams evaluate needs based on real-time conditions, following pre-established protocols for student and staff safety. Multi-day outages can activate full remote learning protocols, deployment of mobile device charging stations, utilization of pre-identified relocation sites, and implementation of comprehensive food service contingency plans.
5. Communication Plan
The communication framework begins with immediate alerts to school administrators and simultaneous coordination with utility providers through the EOC. A tiered notification system ensures timely information reaches staff and families through multiple channels. Primary communication methods include the DOE emergency alert system (robocalls, NYCSA emails and texts), official website and social media updates, 311 information line coordination, and traditional media outreach when necessary. All messaging follows pre-approved templates to ensure consistency and accuracy during emergencies.
6. Relocation and Resources
Educational continuity protocols include alternative location sites, remote learning activation procedures, alternative lesson delivery methods, and device distribution plans for students in need. Essential services continuity focuses on strategic generator deployment prioritizing life safety systems, implementation of cold meal service options when kitchen equipment is inoperable, and maintenance of critical building systems. The plan includes specific procedures for maintaining student support services, special education accommodations, and health services during extended outages.
7. Training and Preparedness
Preparedness activities include annual tabletop exercises for divisional and district EOC designees simulating various outage scenarios, biannual generator testing and maintenance conducted by facilities staff, and regular emergency protocol training for all designated school personnel. Schools must verify and update staff and family contact information quarterly to ensure reliable communication channels. The Division of School Facilities conducts annual audits of emergency lighting and power systems to identify and address any deficiencies.
8. After-Action Review
Following any significant power outage incident, the Office of Emergency Planning and Response will help convene a debrief session within 72 hours involving all response teams to evaluate effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities. The review examines communication timelines, facility system performance, decision-making processes, and community response. Findings inform annual plan updates conducted in collaboration with the Division of Operations, ensuring continuous improvement of outage response capabilities.