LAPWAI, – Lapwai School District #341 announced today it has installed the award-winning Rapid Responder® crisis management system to protect its students and staff during a wide-range of emergencies. The Web-based Rapid Responder from Prepared Response, Inc. provides the district and the Nez Perce Tribal Police, Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office,aho State Police, FBI, and other local, state, and federal first responders with secure and instant access to critical campus information including floor plans, aerial imagery and other important information via a computer. The district received a federal school safety grant in 2007 to install Rapid Responder which will help protect the district’s elementary, middle, high school and administration facilities. Prepared Response also provided emergency preparedness and tactical response consulting services for the district.
“The Lapwai School District is very serious about security and safety in our schools,” said Terry Smith, Superintendent of the Lapwai School District. “By installing a state-of-the-art crisis management system and training the staff in updated security procedures, we feel the district is better prepared to deal with emergencies in our schools. This process has added new dimensions to our partnerships with the various agencies and organizations involved in helping formulate a plan for our students and community that will be sustainable into the future.”
“Lapwai School District joins a growing list of school districts inaho that are using Rapid Responder to protect their campuses,” said Jim Finnell, President and CEO of Prepared Response. “Rapid Responder allows local police and fire agencies to work closely with district administrators so they can respond faster and in a more coordinated manner to better protect both students and staff.”
Rapid Responder has been used during a campus shooting, bomb threats, lock downs and other emergency situations on school campuses throughout the country. Rapid Responder is the only crisis management system certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act as a “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology.” Rapid Responder is being used in 16 states with over 12,000 end users including more than 630 public safety agencies and 400 school districts. This system was recognized in the Harvard/Noblis Innovations Award in Homeland Security that was presented to the State of Washington in September 2007 and is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
About Lapwai School District #341 Lapwai School District is located on the Nez Perce Reservation and serves 531 students and their families. District facilities include an elementary school, a middle/high school, and an administration building that houses pre-school students. Lapwai School District is geographically the second largest school district in the State ofaho.
About Prepared Response, Inc. Prepared Response Inc. is a national leader in emergency preparedness and crisis management. The company develops mission critical technology, as well as consulting and training that enable police, fire, and other emergency responders to save lives and mitigate property damage. The company’s flagship product, Rapid Responder, runs on computers and allows first responders to instantly access more than 300 site-specific data points, including tactical plans, site and floor plans, aerial and geospatial imagery, interior and exterior photos, staging areas, hazardous materials locations, utility shut-offs, and evacuation routes for virtually any facility. Rapid Responder has received Certification status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under The SAFETY Act of 2002 and is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association. The Rapid Responder system protects more than 15,000 facilities and is currently deployed in educational facilities, public buildings, critical infrastructure, and private facilities across the U.S.
The privately held company, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, was formed in September 2000. Additional information can be found at www.preparedresponse.com or by calling 1-800-705-1856.
For more information, contact: Lapwai School District #341 Candace Hoisington, Project Director Phone: 208-843-2622, ext. 203 Email: choisington@lapwai.us
Prepared Response Inc. Gary Sabol, Public Relations Manager Phone: 206-223-5544 Email: gsabol@preparedresponse.com