The School Safety Initiative was a National Red Cross concept envisioned as a means to help schools to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters by providing access to varied Red Cross curricula, programming, and services. 

*The Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross decided to join with the Mount Baker School District in creating a community-based SSI program because of shared goals around safety.  The Mount Baker School District was also selected based on the district’s geographic isolation and assorted geological hazards which exist within the region (such as the Nooksack floodplain, the status of Mt. Baker as an active volcano, and the earthquake fault line in Deming.)  With the generous financial support of BP Cherry Point Refinery, and through an AmeriCorps VISTA grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the School Safety Initiative started its pilot year in November of 2002, with the Mount Baker School District as the first participant district. 

Now, in 2006, we are wrapping up the fourth year of this successful community collaboration. 

With renewed support from BP Cherry Point Refinery and continued support from the Mt. Baker Red Cross, we are excited to announce that SSI will continue into a fifth year!