Adminstrative s trategies towards disaster awareness and preparedness in secondary schools in homa bay county,

Disasters disrupt education and can cause psychological trauma. This research examined disaster awareness and preparedness of secondary schools in Homa-Bay County, Kenya. The objective was to establish the adminstrative strategies put in place by school managers of secondary schools to enhance disaster awareness and preparedness .Using descriptive survey research design the target population consisted of 52 schools and principals, 420 teachers and 6,000 students Purposive sampling was used for the Principals while simple random sampling was used to select teachers and students The total sample size was 736 respondents comprising 52 principals and schools, 84 teachers and 600 students..Data were collected using questionnaires and observation The research has established that the region is prone to floods , therefore, majority of schools are faced with rain related disasters such as heavy downpours resulting into floods as well as strong windstorms, thunder and lightning. These are basically natural disasters against which essential preparedness planning and mitigation are needed in order to minimize the threat of damage to life and property. On adminstrative strategies taken to promote disaster awareness and preparedness, the research reveals that little effort has been done by school adminstration to this end. Disaster awareness guidelines were not available in a large number of the schools. Moreover, most schools do not even have school safety sub-committees. Thus, casting aspersions on their level of disaster awareness and preparedness.