Congratulations to our executive director of Communications, Lynn Cordes! She was honored by FEMA for her part in organizing and implementing Operation Lawton F.I.R.S.T.—a community-wide active shooter exercise series designed to test the plans of the district in conjunction with local and state emergency response organizations. Cordes was awarded the 2020 Whole Community Awareness Award. Read the full press release below and help us in offering a big "Congrats!"
\r\n
PRESS RELEASE
\r\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2020\r\n
\r\nCordes named FEMA 2020 Whole Community Preparedness Awardee
\r\n\r\n
Lawton, OK: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 6 formally announced the 2020 recipients for their Youth Preparedness Award and Whole Community Preparedness Award. Among the honorees is Lawton Public Schools (LPS) executive director of Communications Lynn Cordes. She was named the FEMA Region 6 and Oklahoma 2020 Whole Community Preparedness Awardee for the organization and implementation of Operation Lawton F.I.R.S.T.\r\n
\r\nLawton F.I.R.S.T., which stands for Field Incident Response & Safety Team, is a community-wide active shooter exercise series that was designed to test the plans and actions of the district in conjunction with local and state emergency response organizations.\r\n
\r\nFEMA community preparedness officer Bill Bischof said this is the third year his agency selected individuals and organizations. Cordes’ nomination as an individual and LPS as an organization went up against applications from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and endured an intricate selection process.\r\n
\r\n“The awards are simply a way to recognize great work going on at the local level by the state and regional emergency preparedness communities,” Bischof said. “Not only does it let us recognize the hard work put in by the award recipients, but that hard work is put on display for others across the state and region to emulate.”\r\n
\r\n“I was shocked because I had no idea Lawton F.I.R.S.T. was even considered for this award,” Cordes said. “It is such an honor because it validates the worthy efforts of our district and community partners.” \r\n
\r\nOver the past five years, district officials worked with Fort Sill’s emergency management team to perform similar exercises with Freedom Elementary, which resulted in a safer, more prepared environment, Cordes said. Lawton F.I.R.S.T. is a continuation of that collaboration that includes over 30 local, county, state and federal agencies. \r\n
\r\nCordes worked closely with Fort Sill emergency manager Steve Gluck to organize these exercises and trainings. Gluck said he is happy he gets the opportunity to help the district grow its crisis response capabilities. \r\n
\r\n“The interest and participation by all of the partner organizations shows the desire to be better prepared and the desire to do what is right by the students, staff and the community,” Gluck said. “It has always been a team effort to make this happen. I like being able to see community agencies, who had not previously worked together, come together and plan something that benefits nearly every aspect of the school district and the community.”
\r\nLPS interim superintendent Dr. Tom Thomas said this award highlighted the district’s ability to take initiative in the community, achieve an exemplary level of coordination between partnering agencies, and strengthen the district’s response to emergency situations.\r\n
\r\n“I can’t help but believe that Lawton F.I.R.S.T. has allowed us to coordinate our response to the COVID-19 pandemic more effectively with Fort Sill, the City of Lawton, Comanche County, local hospitals and all emergency response organizations,” Thomas said. “This is all because vital connections were made through Lawton F.I.R.S.T. planning meetings and trainings.”\r\n
\r\nCity of Lawton community relations director Tiffany Martinez Vrska said she nominated Cordes for the award after Lawton Fire Department deputy fire chief Jared Williams brought the nomination process to her attention.\r\n
\r\n“Her and her team have put forth great effort—on top of many other day-to-day responsibilities—in bringing our community together to better practice and prepare for emergency events,” Vrska said. “This initiative has helped to foster a greater community-team attitude as well, which helps to advance the mission of all of our organizations.”\r\n
\r\nVrska said the nomination was not only from Williams and her, but from an entire base of community leaders in Southwest Oklahoma.\r\n
\r\n“This [award] showcases for everyone, especially the students and parents served through our local school district, that safety is the first priority of LPS leadership,” Vrska said. “This type of award is a milestone for the district and for our entire community because we are all in this together.”\r\n
\r\nPrior to the cessation of school due to COVID-19, representatives from participating agencies met weekly to plan the details of the exercises. The group completed a seminar and a table-top exercise, but they could not complete the functional and full-scale exercises that were planned for April and June.\r\n
\r\n“It is ironic that COVID-19 happened in the middle of all our planning,” Cordes said. “We spent the majority of the school year preparing for a crisis—this is everything we trained for. Our administrators even completed crisis training prior to the pandemic, and it helped us to facilitate better communication with our local and state partners as well as our staff, students and families. We are getting to utilize every aspect of our training.”\r\n
\r\nCordes and Gluck both said Operation Lawton F.I.R.S.T. will resume at a later, unidentified date. \r\n
\r\n“When the time is right,” Gluck said, “we know the interest and desire to complete this project is still there amongst all of the participating agencies. There is still a lot to learn from this particular project and we have more partnerships to grow.”\r\n
\r\nCordes said school districts have endured their fair share of crises in recent years, but she is encouraged to know that there is a committed team within the community that wants to put in the work to keep students, staff and citizens safe. \r\n
\r\n“I am proud of the progress we have made knowing the work we have done has made a positive impact, and there is no looking back for any of us,” Cordes said. “COVID-19 will not stop our progression. We are paused, temporarily, but we will continue the exercises with local agencies once everyone is prepared to do so.”\r\n
\r\n###