Disaster Preparedness in America’s Schools: 2007 District

Collaboration and Emergency Planning Survey

Codebook [v4.0] February 2, 2010

Written by: Scott E. Robinson and Joseph Reed.

In the Spring of 2007, the Disaster Preparedness for America’s Schools project conducted a
survey of Texas school districts (all K-12 public and charter school districts in Texas) to assess
their activities related to emergency preparedness with special attention to the collaborative
partnerships between school districts and other organizations. Following three waves of mail
surveys (of a sampling frame of 1228 organizations), we received 595 surveys for a response rate
of 48% (AAOPR RR2). There was modest item non-response that makes the response rate on
individual questions lower in some cases.

We have released the final data as “DPAS 2007 Final Release.dta” in STATA 11 format.

The variable “survnum” represents the physical survey recorded for a specific district. The
variable “distid” represents the TEA district identifier for the each respondent.

The surveys were addressed to school superintendents but the instructions allowed the
superintendent to delegate filling out the form to another party. The variable “proxy” indicates
whether a respondent recorded that they were a proxy delegated to fill out the form and what
their job title is. “Super2” indicates the secondary name provided – if any.

The question order reported here represents the order of the questions in the survey. The variable
name is listed in brackets [] before the descriptive statistics for each survey question.

Any other questions should be addressed to Scott Robinson at srobinson@bushschool.tamu.edu.

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 4. [ovrdeleg] Which of the following best describes the overall delegation of responsibility in
your district?*

10.32% Entirely District Based

21.66% Mostly District Based
54.82% Shared Evenly
10.66% Mostly Campus Based
2.54% Entirely Campus Based

Which of the following best describes the

overall delegation of responsibility in your
district?

2%

10%
11%
Entirely District Based

Mostly District Based

22%
Shared Evenly

Mostly Campus Based

Entirely Campus Based

55%

2
 5. [curdeleg] Which of the following best describes the delegation of responsibility for
curriculum planning in your district?**

8.47% Entirely District Based

25.42% Mostly District Based
46.61% Shared Evenly
16.61% Mostly Campus Based
2.88% Entirely Campus Based

Which of the following best describes the

delegation of responsibility for curriculum
planning in your district?

3%

8%
17%

Entirely District Based

25% Mostly District Based
Shared Evenly
Mostly Campus Based
Entirely Campus Based

47%

3
6. In preparing for emergencies or disasters, with whom have you collaborated?

[colpff2] 97.31% police, fire, and first responders

[colnpr2] 53.87% non-profit/relief organizations (e.g. Red Cross)
[colosd2] 69.87% other school districts
[colgvw2] 65.32% government relief/welfare organizations
[colbus2] 28.96% business organizations
[collcr2] 65.32% local/community/religious organizations

In preparing for emergencies or disasters, with

whom have you collaborated?
120.00%

97.31%
100.00%

69.87%
80.00%
65.32% 65.32%
53.87%
60.00%

40.00%
28.96%

20.00%

0.00%
First Non-profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

4
7. With which of these groups do you hold regularly scheduled meetings for purposes of
preparing for emergencies or disasters?

[rsmpff2] 65.15% police, fire, and first responders

[rsmnpr2] 14.81% non-profit/relief organizations (e.g. Red Cross)
[rsmosd2] 29.12% other school districts
[rsmgvw2] 13.30% government relief/welfare organizations
[rsmbus2] 7.07% business organizations
[rsmlcr2] 23.74% local/community/religious organizations

With which of these groups do you hold

regularly scheduled meetings for purposes of
preparing for emergencies or disasters?
70.00%
65.15%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

29.12%
30.00%
23.74%
20.00%
14.81% 13.30%
7.07%
10.00%

0.00%
First Responders Non-profit Other School Government Business Local
Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

5
8. In regards to emergency and disaster preparedness, what do you share with these groups?

[For each variable, combine a partner type (e.g. pff) with a resource (e.g. mon) to get the
variable name for the percentage of respondents that shared the specific resource with the
partner type. For example, nprprl is “Personnel” shared with “Nonprofit/Relief
Organizations.”]

[mon] [prl] [gds] [nfo]

Money Personnel Goods Information
----------------------------------------------------------
[pff]Police, Fire, and First Responders 4.21% 48.99% 25.93% 94.44%
[npr]Non-Profit/Relief Organizations 3.70% 18.86% 20.20% 55.39%
[osd]Other School Districts 2.02% 19.36% 13.47% 76.94%
[gvw]Govern. Relief/Welfare Organizations 1.85% 12.29% 13.97% 44.11%
[bus]Business Organizations 2.53% 8.42% 7.91% 37.54%
[lcr]Local/Comm./Religious Organizations 3.70% 26.43% 24.92% 69.36%

In regards to emergency and disaster

prepardness, what group do you share money
with?
4.50%
4.21%
4.00%
3.70% 3.70%
3.50%

3.00%
2.53%
2.50%
2.02% 1.85%
2.00%

1.50%

1.00%

0.50%

0.00%
First Responders Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

6
 In regards to emergency and disaster
preparedness, what groups do you share
personnel with?
60.00%
48.99%
50.00%

40.00%
26.43%
30.00%
18.86% 19.36%
20.00%
12.29%
8.42%
10.00%

0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

In regards to emergency and disaster

prepardness, what groups do you share goods
with?
30.00%
25.93%
24.92%
25.00%
20.20%
20.00%
13.47% 13.97%
15.00%
7.91%
10.00%

5.00%

0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

7
 In regards to emergency and disaster
prepardness, what groups do you share
information with?
100.00% 94.44%
90.00%
76.94%
80.00%
69.36%
70.00%
55.39%
60.00%
44.11%
50.00%
37.54%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

8
9. With which of these groups, if any, do you intend on sustaining regular contact for the purpose
of emergency preparation?

[regppf] 96.17% police, fire, and first responders

[regnpr] 46.05% non-profit/relief organizations (e.g. Red Cross)
[regosd] 60.33% other school districts
[reggvw] 29.41% government relief/welfare organizations
[regbus] 22.35% business organizations
[reglcr] 60.84% local/community/religious organizations

With which of these groups, if any, do you

intend on sustaining regular contact for the
purpose of emergency
preparation?
120.00%

96.17%
100.00%

80.00%

60.33% 60.84%
60.00%
46.05%
40.00%
29.41%
22.35%
20.00%

0.00%
First Non-profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

9
10. For any groups with whom you have had sustained collaborations in regards to emergency
planning, please rate the success of these collaborations:

[for the variable name, combine “suc” with the partner type listed in 8 above. e.g. sucpff for
success rating with Police, Fire, and First Responders]

Poor Fair Good Excellent

-----------------------------------------------------
Police, Fire, and First Responders*** 1.22% 5.90% 42.88% 50.00%
Non-Profit/Relief Organizations 3.98% 18.96% 54.13% 22.94%
Other School Districts 1.41% 6.81% 52.11% 39.67%
Government Relief/Welfare Organizations 6.45% 21.77% 54.03% 17.74%
Business Organizations 6.05% 21.40% 46.51% 26.05%
Local/Community/Religious Organizations 0.99% 8.40% 49.63% 40.99%

Groups that Texas schools sustained poor

collaborations with in regards to emergency
planning.
7.00%
6.45%
6.05%
6.00%

5.00%
3.98%
4.00%

3.00%

2.00%
1.22% 1.41%
0.99%
1.00%

0.00%
First Responders Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

10
 Groups that Texas schools sustained fair
collaborations with in regards to emergency
planning.
25.00%
21.77% 21.40%
18.96%
20.00%

15.00%

8.40%
10.00%
5.90% 6.81%
5.00%

0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

Groups that Texas schools sustained good

collaborations with in regards to emergency
planning.
60.00%
54.13% 54.03%
52.11% 49.63%
50.00% 46.51%
42.88%
40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

11
 Groups that Texas schools sustained excellent
collaborations with in regards to emergency
planning.
60.00%
50.00%
50.00%
39.67% 40.99%
40.00%

26.05%
30.00%
22.94%
17.74%
20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
First Non-Profit Other School Government Business Local
Responders Organizations Districts Relief Organizations Organizations
Organizations

12
11. [qualplan] How would you evaluate the quality of your district’s existing disaster/emergency
plans?****

Poor: 1.34%
Fair: 16.89%
Good: 63.88%
Excellent: 17.89%

How would you evaluate the quality of your

district’s existing disaster/emergency plans?
1%

18% 17%

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

64%

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12. [disdeleg] In your district, which of the following best describes the delegation of
responsibility for disaster/emergency preparedness?*****

12.84% Entirely district based

33.95% Mostly district based
45.10% Shared evenly mostly
5.74% Mostly campus based
2.36% Entirely campus based

In your district, which of the following best

describes the delegation of responsibility for
disaster/emergency
preparedness?
2%

6% 13%
Entirely District Based

Mostly District Based

Shared Evenly

34% Mostly Campus Based

45%

Entirely Campus Based

14
13. [dislik] How would you describe the likelihood of your district experiencing a
disaster/emergency in the next year?

3.57% Highly likely

31.75% Somewhat likely
44.99% Somewhat unlikely
19.69% Highly unlikely

How would you describe the likelihood of your

district experiencing a disaster/emergency in
the next year?

3%
20%
Highly Likely
32%
Somewhat Likely

Somewhat Unlikely

Highly Unlikely

45%

15
14. [disexp] Has your district faced an emergency that called for the activation of your district
disaster/emergency plan in:******

11.02% past 6 months

14.07% past year
16.27% past two years
58.64% not in the past 2 years

Has your district faced an emergency that

called for the activation of your district
disaster/emergency plan in:

11%

Past 6 Months
14%
Past Year

Past Two Years

59%
16% Not In The Past 2 Years

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15. [planaval] If you have a written emergency plan for the district, is it available online for
parents and stakeholders?

Yes: 17.44%
No: 82.56%

If you have a written emergency plan for the

district, is it available online for parents and
stakeholders?

17%

Yes

No

83%

17
16. [planrev] Is there a regular review of the plan?

Yes: 93.60%
No: 6.40%

Is there a regular review of the plan?

6%

Yes

No

94%

18
16b. [revfreq] If there is regular review of the plan, how frequent is the review of the emergency
plan?

15.26% more than once a year

70.20% yearly
12.03% bi-annually
2.51% less frequently than bi-annually

If there is regular review of the plan, how

frequent is the review of the emergency plan?

3% More Than Once A Year

12% 15%
Yearly

Bi-annually

Less Frequently Than Bi-

annually
70%

19
17. Which groups do you anticipate will be involved in the review of your disaster/emergency
plan? (check all that apply)

[partpff] 81.51% police, fire, first responders

[partdist] 92.77% district officials
[partcamp] 92.10% campus officials
[partgov] 31.26% government officials
[partpar] 54.45% parents
[partspec] 44.71% emergency planning specialists/consultants
[parttch] 74.12% teachers
[partoth] 6.89% Other

Which groups do you anticipate will be

involved in the review of your
disaster/emergency plan?
100.00%
92.77% 92.10%
90.00%
81.55% 74.12%
80.00%

70.00%
54.45%
60.00%

50.00% 44.71%

40.00%
31.26%
30.00%

20.00%
6.89%
10.00%

0.00%
First District Campus Government Parents Emergency Teachers Other
Responders Officials Officials Officials Planning
Consultants

20
18. Which group, if any, has played the most important role in the development of your current
disaster/emergency plan?

[Many respondents recorded more than one “most important” group. We have coded these
respondents for each group they identified as “most important.” We recommend extreme caution
in interpreting the results of this question given the different strategies that respondents used in
responding.]

[dismip] Lists the code for each partner type indicated.

[mippff] 50.25% police, fire, first responders

[mipdis] 74.45% district officials
[mipcam] 60.00% campus officials
[mipgov] 16.13% government officials
[mippar] 14.29% parents
[mipspc] 28.74% emergency planning specialists/consultants
[miptch] 26.22% teachers
[mipoth] 5.71% other

Which group, if any, has played the most

important role in the development of your
current disaster/emergency plan?
80.00%
74.45%
70.00%
60.00%
60.00% 50.25%

50.00%

40.00%
28.74% 26.22%
30.00%
16.13% 14.29%
20.00%
5.71%
10.00%

0.00%
First District Campus Government Parents Emergency Teachers Other
Responders Officials Officials Officials Planning
Consultants

21
Change Log:

In some cases, coders changed responses to ensure consistency with the qualitative nature
of the survey response options. For example, if a respondent wrote in a response of 1.5
when 1 and 2 were response categories the response was changed to whichever of the two
contiguous options was the more common option in the sample. Where such changes were
made, the specific changes are listed below. Match the asterisk set to the following
comment to see what specific changes were made to responses for specific variables. If
there is no asterisk then no changes were made to responses for that variable.

*Districts 67908 and 249905’s response to question #4 was changed from 1.5 to 2 to better fit the
non-continuous model. The responses were increased to 2, because of its higher response rate
than 1.

District 88902’s response to question #4 was changed from 2.5 to 2 to better fit the non-
continuous model. The response was decreased to 2, because of its higher response rate than 3.

** Districts 67908 and 249905’s response to question #5 was changed from 1.5 to 2 to better fit
the non-continuous model. The responses were increased to 2, because of its higher response rate
than 1.

*** District 20908’s response to question #10 was changed from 2.5 to 3 when grading Police,
Fire and First Responders to better fit the non-continuous model. The response was increased to
3, because of its higher response rate than 2.

****District 128901’s response to question #11 was changed from .5 to 1 to better fit the non-
continuous model. The response was increased to 1, because of its higher response rate than 0.

District 161920’s response to question #11 was changed from 1.5 to 2 to better fit the non-
continuous model. The response was increased to 2, because of its higher response rate than 1.

*****Districts 81906 and 101856’s response to question #12 was changed from 5 to missing,
because they both failed to check a box.

District 174901’s response to question #12 was changed from 2.5 to 2 to better fit the non-
continuous model. The response was decreased to 2, because of its higher response rate than 3.

District 185903’s response to question #12 was changed from 1.5 to 2 to better fit the non-
continuous model. The response was decreased to 2, because of its higher response rate than 1.

******District 204901’s response to question #14 was changed from 1.5 to 1 to better fit the
non-continuous model. The response was decreased to 1, because of its higher response rate than
2.

22