Education Dept. emergency coordinators meet on hurricane season readiness

By THE STAR STAFF

The island Education Department (DE), through its Office of the Commissioner of Safety, held a strategic meeting on Thursday with coordinators and alternate coordinators of emergency management from all educational regions, as part of the preparations for the start of the hurricane season.

The working session, held at the DE’s Office of Security and Emergency Management, brought together about 20 key officials responsible for activating the educational system’s response protocols to natural events such as storms, hurricanes or earthquakes.

During the meeting, operational plans were updated, essential data was reviewed, and communication mechanisms were strengthened to enable a rapid, coordinated and effective response in emergency situations. The coordinators are part of the team that activates and convenes the DE’s Emergency Operations Center to ensure the safety of school communities during critical moments. As part of interagency planning, nearly 300 schools have been identified that could be used as shelters in case of emergencies.

The meeting also included the participation of meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez, who provided an updated analysis of the hurricane season forecast, as well as technical recommendations to strengthen preparedness and informed decision-making in the face of potential weather events. His presentation helped align the DE’s plans with realistic scenarios and reinforce the education system’s capacity to anticipate future events.

The meeting complemented Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés’ participation earlier in the week alongside the heads of Puerto Rico government agencies in a working session led by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón to review and update each government agency’s operational and emergency response plans. The meeting facilitated the coordination of efforts and ensured that the agencies are prepared to respond effectively to any weather-related event.

“Preparedness is our best tool,” said César González Cordero, the DE safety commissioner. “Having a trained, organized, and committed team in each educational region allows us to respond quickly and protect what matters most: the lives and safety of our students and school staff.”