Those who spent time in the classroom recognize the need to formulate well-designed lesson plans before they can provide a first-rate education. A lesson plan provides guidance on what they will be teaching, the tools they will need to teach a lesson, and their expectations for the outcomes of the lesson--what kids will learn. The same is true for emergency management; it is important to create a team that includes key staff members and even parents or students. The more diverse the membership, the more perspectives will be available. This article discusses the four parts of emergency preparedness: (1) planning; (2) mitigation; (3) response; and (4) recovery. Although each step will be looked as a separate entity, emergency preparedness is fluid and ongoing, and the steps are interwoven.