Virginia South Hampton Roads - Essay Example

Virginia South Hampton Roads Affiliation Different organizations have varying ways of managing risks they come across depending on their area of specialization. Therefore, having a well laid out risk management approach is a very essential aspect in all organizations, which enables them to have the right measures, depending on the potential risk, of managing a possible risk. The following essay will focus on two organizations, Stony Brook University and Suffolk County council and their ways of countering potential risks. In Stony Brook University, the essay will majorly look into the general security and safety measurement the institution has during winter for the general safety of students, faculty and stuff. Considering that it is a large institution that hosts over 10 000 students on campus, it is, therefore, fundamental that the safety of everyone is ensured at all times. On the other hand, Suffolk County council is responsible for a larger crowd as it takes care of the occupants of all residents living within the county. The essay will look into the measurements the council has towards managing flooding risk possibilities. In addition, it will reveal the set out precautions the council has for its residents as well as the procedures involved, help and the advice it has for the entire community, towards ensuring their safety as well as preventive measures for potential destructions. Discussion While Suffolk County Council, in reference to the 2010 Act about Flood and Water Management, is a Lead Local Flood Authority, Stony Brook University is one of the major private universities in Suffolk City. The two have their own share of risks and it is usually up to them to determine how to handle or prevent potential risks. Heavy downpours normally put the county at risk of flooding, therefore, posing a potential threat to its residents. Same case applies in the university, in which, during winter, the same threaten the campus resident’s safety. As a result, both the county council and the university have come up with ways in which the safety of their respective residents is ensured. As a lead flood authority, Suffolk City Council is responsible for synchronizing an affiliation approach to coastal and flood risk management with every risk management organizations within the county. In addition, the council is responsible for dealing with flooding from ground water, surface water, flooding from seas, rivers as well as the usual watercourses (Pye & Blott, 2009). In order to equip the community with necessary information, the council has developed a way in which people can be notified about flooding through flood warnings and alerts throughout the year, by the use of media such as local radio and TV stations. Moreover, in attempts to keep the general public informed on the same, it has formed a platform in which, the locals, if registered with the Environment Agency, can receive free floods alerts by text, phone or e-mails. Also, in efforts to being in contact with the public easily, the council has a website known as Environment Agency Website, where one can view information regarding floods or contact a helpline directly through issued contacts (Pye & Blott, 2009). On the other hand, at Stony Brook, the university has appointed a body known as Residential Risk Management team. The team is responsible for discovering all risks within the institution’s housing surroundings as well as reducing or entirely doing away with the identified risks. The process of reducing or eliminating risks is facilitated through evaluation, education, policies, controls as well as training. The institution’s Residence Risk Management is responsible for the management and harmonization of various activities that directly or indirectly affect the safety and wellbeing of everyone residing within the campus (Aerts, 2012). In addition to being responsible for the general institution’s safety, it manages emergency, access control, disability services, parking as well as student advocacy. Just as the Suffolk County Council has set up emergency contacts, the campus has several means by which its residents can report any sort of threat through campus direct lines or through the university’s safety page on their website. While the county council is responsible for the safety of the entire community dwelling within the county, the Resident Risk Management unit only focuses on the wellbeing of the university’s residents only. Therefore, the university’s safety measures are only applicable by the students, faculty and stuff of the campus. However, all safety measures provided by the county council are applicable or can be used by anyone, provided they encounter a said risk within the jurisdiction of the said county. As a precaution measure, the council allows one to use the emergency line 999 when contacting Fire and Rescue Services specifically during instances where risk to life is evident and immediate. However, fire equipment are normally left out during operations in flooded locations save for instances where the risk to the occupants of particular properties is significant. During circumstances where properties are flooded or are at risk of being flooded, the council offers safety precautions that can minimize, if not eliminate, massive damage. For instance, the public is advised to always segregate all electrics when safe to do so and if possible, to move their belongings upstairs, which would prevent electric shock when in contact with water and further damage for valuables respectively. In addition, the council advices the locals to get in touch with susceptible or elderly neighbors so as to ensure their safety as well as cater for them in case affected by the floods (Pye & Blott, 2009). The council also warns the public of the dangers involved in driving through still water as well as relocation plans for individuals who anticipate the flooding to reach unsafe levels and avoidance of unimportant long journey trips due to unsafe roads. Nonetheless, in circumstances where the floods damage is massive, the council has an Emergency Planning Unit set aside for such cases that provides temporary evacuation of houses and accommodation. In addition, the unit aids companies and individuals in recovering from such tragedies (Pye & Blott, 2009). Similarly, to the county council, in the Stony Brook’s safety guidelines, every individual residing within the campus is given the responsibility of ensuring that the place is safe for everyone. For individual safety, the campus offers safety precautions to all occupants such as ensuring to use access cards when entering respective residence halls. Also, in efforts to barring unwanted persons from accessing residence halls, students are advised not to prop the exterior doors. Another safety precaution measure is that all students are advised to have their suites or rooms door locked at all times as well as the ground floor windows. Moreover, they are advised to never walk alone at nights and instead have an escort provided by the Residential Safety Program or always walk in groups (Aerts, 2012). In addition, in case of any unusualness, students or stuff and faculty are urged to report such cases to the campus police through the provided contacts or the institution’s safety page on its website (Ross & Swezey, 2012). Moreover, in order to facilitate safety, the institution has formed a Residential Safety Program that educates the residents as well as the campus community on safety precautions and how everyone can participate in ensuring the same. The program provides security monitors at various locations within the campus who check IDs and provide escort services. Other security risk measures include blue-light phone that enable students to request help from any location within the institution and crime stoppers which is a program focused on stopping crime. While the university uses the Residential Safety Program as a platform for keeping its residents informed, the county uses Suffolk Flood and Coast newsletters, which are developed 2-3 times a year. The newsletter provides information to the public on the broad variety of policy, legislation and county activities in coastal erosion and flood risk management (Pye & Blott, 2009). As part of risk management responsibility, the county council inspects and publishes reports on notable floods within the county. This helps in coming up with suitable safety measures for the community as well as keeps the locals in the know of what to expect during such cases. Other measurements include formation of drainage systems that pose no threat to other locations and alteration of watercourses into a less risk form (Pye & Blott, 2009). On the other hand at the university, during winter seasons, the campus encounters icy conditions and, therefore, offers safety precautions to its residents in order to avoid falls or accidents of all sorts. Therefore, all residents are advised to watch out for things above them such as trees, building roofs and any elevated structures whenever walking outside. Moreover, they advise the residents on using appropriate clothing such as heavy coats for warmth and shoes or boots that are not susceptible to slipping on icy surfaces. In addition, they are recommended to wear reflective clothing to that it is easy to be identified by drivers (Ross & Swezey, 2012). Other risk management precautions include careful walk over ice at all times by using the right walkways, planting feet firmly on ground and slightly stretching out the arms to facilitate balance. When near traffic, residents are advised to ensure that there lacks incoming vehicles before stepping out of their cars or a cab. The reason for that is due to the fact that vehicles tend to slip even when on brake which can result into an unforeseen accident. In addition, the unfavorable weather conditions, drivers may not be able to slowdown or stop for pedestrians, therefore, students are advised to be careful. Moreover, all motorists are advised to have snow on their vehicles removed by use of snow removal apparatus available in most parking lots or streets (Ross & Swezey, 2012). The campus also provides additional information on safety during such periods on its website such as precautions when indoors or how to deal with the problem in cases where the risk has occurred. As a result, all the residents are well aware of what is expected of them what to do in case of any possible risk. Conclusion In conclusion, both the university and the county council seem to have come up with suitable means of ensuring risks are managed appropriately as well as efficiently. Although the issues either of them is dealing with are different, their approaches seem to match in that, their major focus is on the safety of the persons living under their watch. In addition, both seem to have a platform that enables communication between the residents and the organizations, which is an essential feature in facilitating safety for either of their respective community. Therefore, although the county council deals with a larger group and responsibility as compared to the Stone Brook University, it has managed to come up with a working plan that see to it that the locals remain safe during flooding conditions. Further, as much the residents within the institution are expected to participate in facilitating risk management, local residents are also expected by the county council to contribute towards ensuring the same. The only difference noted within these two groups is the number of people being served and the amount of geographical area each is responsible for, otherwise, their responsibilities match and so does their competence. The fact that these two bodies have direct emergency lines indicates the effectiveness of their services such that it is easy for one to report any potential risk and have a response before it is too late. In addition, having websites where anyone can access information, whether a visitor or permanent resident, enable individuals to be aware of any fundamental details of potential risks, at any given time.   References Aerts, J. C. J. H. (2012). Climate adaptation and flood risk in coastal cities. Abingdon, Oxon: Earthscan. Ross, B. & Swezey, D. (2012). Stony Brook University 2012. College Prowler, USA. Pye, K., & Blott, S. J. (2009). Progressive Breakdown of a Gravel-Dominated Coastal Barrier, Dunwich--Walberswick, Suffolk, U.K.: Processes and Implications. Journal Of Coastal Research, 25(3), 589-602. Read More