The State of

Emergency Management Planning on College Campuses

Marian E. Mosser, Ph.D.Capella University

Higher Education ConferenceJune 2009

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Agenda

Strategies of prevention, partnership, and collaboration

Cases studies: Best practices Implementing a comprehensive emergency

plan

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“As potential targets of violence, American schools have been forced into an unfamiliar role—providing security, not just education.”

U.S. Department of Justice (2009)

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Disasters and College Campuses

Crime on college and university campuses first captured media attention in the mid-1980s

In the past decade FEMA has awarded billions is disaster assistance to public and private universities

Federal laws, and the programs, policies, and procedures continue to be developed to enhance preparedness, safety, security, and crime victim assistance on many campuses

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Perspective on Disaster Planning

Seldom are colleges and universities part of the total community disaster

management planning. Colleges and universities have a reason to

be involved in disaster preparedness. Understand how college and universities

relate to other community structures. Understand the context of college or

university disaster planning.

FDEM, (2008)

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It Could Happen to Your College

1989- Loma Prieta damaged Stanford Univ 1992- Hurricane Andrew Univ of Miami 1994 - Northridge Earthquake Cal. State Univ 1997 - Red River flood Univ of North Dakota 1997- Flood Colorado State Univ 1998 - Hurricane George Tulane Univ 1999 - Hurricane Floyd East Caroline Univ 2007 - Shooting Virginia Tech 2008 - Hurricane Ike Lone Star College System and

Galveston College

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Some Key Questions?

How will your school respond to these threats? Does your staff know how to properly document

threats? What process do you use to assess the threat and

determine a course of action? Have you trained search and evacuation teams? Do your community's emergency responders know

your response protocol? How do you follow up an incident? Have you done a tactical review of your school and

implemented preventative measures?

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Essential Planning Hazard Analysis

Examining historical records Transportation; rail, highway interstates Engineering projects airports etc., boats Weather patterns Maps and terrain Dangerous materials

MN bridge I-35 Collapse (2007)

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College Planning and Operations

Physical structures People locations Resources ***Survival Activities*****

Tornado Linwood, KS, April 2009

Some disasters provide lead time Protection and warning for people Protective action for property Resources for response and recovery

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College Planning

Determine patterns of evacuation and routes Identification of parts of buildings to use a

shelters Buildings that may increase risk Patterns of behavior that will different from

day to day operations Understand usual routes in and around

college Redundancy in communications

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College Planning

Damage assessment, medical, counseling teams Loss of utilities; power, water, communications Inventory of equipment, records, supplies etc. Campus warning system; cell phones, computers, lights, sirens Public affairs or information officer to handle media Information flow to key stakeholders

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Partnerships and Sharing Information

Role of Private SectorRole of Private Sector

Establish a plan; mission, objectives, goals Case studies with lessons learned Laws, regulations, guidance Obtain expertise in disaster management Conduct all hazard vulnerability & risk assessments Communications and warning

College staff, faculty,College staff, faculty, studentsstudents

AlumniAlumni

Federal, state, localFederal, state, local government agencies government agencies

Non profit agenciesNon profit agencies

CommunityCommunity andand

businessesbusinesses

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Key’s to Success in Any Disaster

The key to effective response is for schools and emergency responders to first understand each other’s perspectives.

Roles and responsibilities of what can be expected in each type of incident (bomb threat,

explosion incident, and suspicious package). Work together to define how each type of incident

will be handled and plan for that incident. Success can be directly attributed to thorough pre-

planning.

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Best Practices in State Law and in Institutional Policies/Programs

FDEM (2009)

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Websites

College Disaster Preparedness, Recovery & Planning Resources at: http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~DREVESKR/cdisasterp.html-ssi#Preparedness

Campus Fire Watch at: http://www.campus-firewatch.com/

Collegefiresafety.org at: http://www.collegefiresafety.org/

International Association of Emergency Managers at: http://www.iaem.com/

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References

Berman, D. & Redlener, I. (2006). National preparedness planning: The historical context

and the current state of the U.S. public’s readiness, 1940-2005. Journal of International Affairs, 59 (2), 87-103.

Department of Education. (2009). Action Guide for Emergency Management at Institutions of Higher education.

Washington, D.C. Department of Homeland Security (2008). National Response

Framework. Washington, D.C. Fields, C. (2005). Higher education in Katrina’s wake.

Washington, D.C: Heldref Publications. Jackson, B. A. (2008). The problem of measuring emergency

preparedness. Santa monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

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Conclusion and Questions

Sustainability is a problem If you develop a plan, that’s great. University leaders must take it off the

shelf and rehearse and practice

“Got to keep it going.”

Shuttershcok (2009)