Emergency Operations Plan in an Emergency Situation in the Campus - Essay Example

Emergency Operations Plan in an Emergency Situation in the Campus 1.1 General Information Emergency situations poses threat to the survival and normal continuation of affairs of individuals, organizations and governments. These situations can be natural disasters or man-made like tornado or terrorism respectively. In education institutions, emergency situations means a threat not only to the infrastructure or reputation of the institute but to the students, teachers and staff that are present in the campus. In some cases, the emergency situations can impact those who are off the campus. Like, in case of a hostage situation in the campus, the parents and families of the people inside the campus are also adversely affected. Therefore, there requires an emergency plan that will respond to all the necessary issues that arise at the time of an emergency situation. Weber State University has developed a similar plan to address emergency situations effectively. 1.2 Objective and Scope The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) aims to address the potential hazards that can give rise to an emergency situation in the campus and to provide a comprehensive implementation plan to cater to these issues. The EOPs scope is wide as it covers the natural disasters, technological hazards and extraordinary situations like criminal events. Therefore, earthquake, mudslide, flood, tornado, weather extremes and fire breakout in the wild land are all possible emergency situations in which EOP will be effective. Likewise, transportation accidents, utility failure, incidents with hazardous materials or chemicals and structural fire are covered under EOP as technological hazards. Similarly, civil disturbances, sabotage between student and staff member, bomb threat and criminal or violent behavior are covered under the extraordinary emergency situations. 1.3 Policy Statement The Weber State University EOPs will cover the potential emergency situations, provide an effective plan for implementation, develop institutional responsibilities and highlight the mechanism for monitoring and control in emergency situations. The EOPs will be adhered by all the employees and the students of the University, alike. 2. Situations and Assumptions In order to activate the EOPs, the University has assumed several situations and circumstances that will make it easier for all the stakeholders to effectively implement and execute the plan in their best interests. In this regard, it is assumed that the University is under the constant threat of the emergencies outlined in the EOPs and all the buildings and operations of the University will ensure that they have the emergency response plan documents and their personnel are fully trained to implement the same in case emergency is declared. The warning time is subject to the type and intensity of the hazard. It is also assumed that in case of emergency, there will be ready help available from all possible corners. In case of emergencies that arrive after warning will allow the University to take actions in order to avoid the maximum damage estimated from such hazard. Furthermore, it is assumed that the staff of the University will be in a position to undertake their usual tasks in consideration of the fact that they are able to successfully forecast the full impact of the hazard as well as implement the contingency plan. The University will resume its normal operations as soon as the hazard has occurred and gone. Likewise, University will extend its cooperation in the shape of refugee camps and medical aids to the local community in the wake of natural or man-made disaster. The University’s top priority are and will always remain its students and their welfare. 3. Concept and Operations The University's EOP’s full or partial activation is in the hands of the President or the Chief of Police depending upon the need of the situation. The emergency is categorised as three levels. Level one is for an emergency that is minor in nature, level two for a major emergency and level three for a disaster. Each emergency will be identified through its level and subsequent measures will be taken to resolve the situation as laid down in the EOP. 3.1 Institutional Responsibility The University’s President will be the responsible person to direct the operations at the University. The established operating procedures of EOPs will be executed and to manage the happening, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) will be brought into operation. When the emergency is declared by the University, an Emergency Operations Center or EOC will come into life that will initiate its damage control operations. The EOPs highlight the timings, procedure, action and reactions of EOC in detail. 3.2 Phases of Emergency Management In order to manage the emergency situations, the University will follow the sequence of activities, namely: (1) to observe and notify the relevant people about the happening of the emergency event, (2) to identify the level and intensity of the event, (3) to determine the nature and its area of coverage, (4) to analyze the seriousness and criticality of the event, (5) to ensure the timings of the emergency event and (6) to determine the level of operation required to undertake the task. 3.3 Plan Implementation According to the EOP, the implementation of the plan will include the necessary steps that the EOC shall take care of once the emergency event has occurred or it is about to occur. For instance, the level one emergency will be resolved through calling the Fire and Police Deparment and Ambulance to provide security to the people and property in case fire has broke out in the campus. Likewise, in the case of level two emergency, the threat will not be restricted to a small part of the institution but to a larger area. As a result, it will require the intervention of the EOC unless the situation worsens to reach level three and requires external assistance to control the situation. In case, the level three emergency has been declared, it will become mandatory that the entire institution and exernal assistance should contribute collectively to mitigate the disaster. 3.4 Coordination, Command and Control The emergency management of all types of emergencies are subject to strict coordination, command and control. The command is in the hands of the President who will declare the emergency and may terminate it when the emergency has dissappeared. To control the situation, EOC will be in command and proper coordination will be done with the local community, city and government to ensure smooth flow of the events and safety of the people is guaranteed. The EOC comprises of three groups, namely: (1) Policy group, (2) Coordination group and (3) Outside authorities. The policy group comprises of president and all the vice presidents who develop and approve the policies for the effective implementation of the EOP. The coordination group is responsible for the coordination actvities required to execute the EOP effectively and to ensure that proper steps are taken to mitigate the losses and safety of the personnel. Outside authorities include Red Cross and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and others to assist in the emergency situation. 3.5 Organization Responsibilities The University’s EOP outlines the functional responsibilities of the EOC in detail. It provides the primary and then the secondary responsibilities of the personnel in accordance with the emergency event that shall take place. For instance, the University Communications and Development Department has the primary responsibility to provide effective communication in the happening of the emergency event and the ARES has the secondary responsibility to further disseminate the information to the public. Likewise, the information technology has the primary responsibility to provide computer support whereas the outside community agencies have the secondary responsibility to provide it to the University in case of emergency. 4. Warnings and Announcements In case the emergency is of the nature that it will take place after showing some warning, then the President has to declare the warning and announce emergency in order to ensure that the EOP is implemented and the problem is resolved. In case, the emergency has arisen without notification, the President will follow the similar path and announce emergency. 4.1 RAVE Emergency Alert System Rave emergency alert system is one of its kind alert service that allows the moble users to notify about the emergency through mobile immediately. EOP permits the users to use Rave in order to notify others about the event. 4.2 Telephone and Mobiles The EOP also requires that telephone and mobile are used to notify about the emegency. 4.3 Fire Alarms In case of fire, the fire alarm should be set to indicate others about the fire. 4.4 Mass Media In case of level 2 and 3 emergency, mass media should be notified about the event through RAVE, telephone and fire alarms. 4.5 In Person Contact with Emergency Response Personnel The persons can also contact the EOC to take information about the emergency. 5. Primary Risks and Threats 5.1 Fire EOP’s scope includes incidents of fire in smaller and larger area of the institute as well as a disaster. 5.2. Hostage Situation / Active Shooter The EOP is active where the emergency is of the criminal type where students or staff members have become hostage. Furthermore, in case there is any active shooter in the vicinity of the University, EOP will become operative. 5.3 Severe Weather In case of severity in the weather in the shape of heavy rains or thunderstorms, the EOP will become operative. 5.4 Hazardous Spills In case of spills that are severe and life threatening, the EOP will become operative. 5.5 Tornado In case of disaster like tornado has hit the city, the EOP will become operative to save the lives of all. 6. Protective Actions 6.1 Evacuation In case the emergency of level 2 or 3, immediate evacuation will be required under the EOP. 6.2 Evacuation plans for those in dreadful situations Those who are in the dreadful conditions due to the emergency, the EOC with the help of outside authorities will evacuate them. 6.3 Sheltering EOC and outside authorities will provide shelter to those who needed it. 7. Training and Exercise The EOC and the Police are given proper training and exercises around the year to remain prepared to undertake the tasks effectively when they arise. 8. Damage Assessment After the event has occured, the EOC will assess the damage done to life and property. 9. Plan Maintenance 9.1 Annual Review The Weber State University Emergency Manager is reponsible to write as well as revise the EOP. The manager is required to conduct an annual review of the EOP to ensure that it is in alliance with the necessary requirements and nature of the emergencies that might threaten the University. 9.2 Frequent Exercise Conducted The EOP requires that the planning and development of the EOPs should be done on a frequent basis to ensure Reference Emergency Operation Outline (Weber State University). Link: http://www.wsupolice.com/files/EOP_Outline.pdf Read More