Risk management will be a focus of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction this year.

Washington’s top school governance office is working on a plan to lessen risks at school facilities in natural disasters.

South Whidbey is one of 35 school districts that are part of the program.

OSPI received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in March to develop a statewide mitigation plan from natural disasters – in this area, earthquakes.

“The FEMA grant will help us identify our needs,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn. “Obviously, no one wants a natural disaster to hit our state, but if one does, we need to be ready.”

Work on the plan includes an online survey. The “Increase life safety before disaster strikes” online survey, which can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Increase-Life-Safety-Before-Disaster-Strikes, is available until April 2013.