Planning

Why have emergency plans?
 
Planning is an fundamental principle in emergency management.   Since emergencies will occur, preplanning is necessary to prevent possible disaster.  An urgent need for rapid decisions, shortage of time, and lack of resources and trained personnel can lead to chaos during an emergency.  Time and circumstances in an emergency often mean that normal channels of authority and communication cannot be relied upon to function routinely.  The stress of the situation can lead to poor judgement resulting in severe losses.   
 
Besides writing, training and testing a university level plan, the Office of Emergency Management also assists appointed Emergency Coordinators to design collegiate and departmental emergency action plans.  The critical goals of each plan are:
  • to synchronize efforts
  • to prevent fatalities and injuries
  • reduce damage to buildings, documentation, stock, and equipment
  • accelerate the resumption of normal operations.
  
Each plan, regardless of hazard or threat,  will address common duties, responsibilities, authority, and resources for emergency response.  A plan template is provided for each Emergency Coordinator (please contact us if you need the template).  Among the responsibilities that will be addressed and assigned in each emergency plan are:
  • reporting the emergency
  • activating the emergency plan
  • assuming overall command
  • establishing communication
  • alerting staff
  • ordering evacuation
  • alerting external agencies
  • confirming evacuation complete
  • alerting outside population of possible risk
  • requesting external aid
  • coordinating activities of various groups
  • advising relatives of casualties
  • providing medical aid
  • ensuring emergency shut offs are closed
  • sounding the all-clear
  • advising media
Completing a comprehensive plan for handling emergencies is a major step toward preventing disasters. However, it is difficult to predict all of the problems that could occur unless the plan is tested.  the OEM will assist in coordinating and conducting exercises and drills to practice all or critical portions of the plan (see Training section) with the goal to obtain a high level of proficiency and preparedness.