Planning For Emergencies

Office of Security & Emergency Preparedness

University of Georgia

Course Objectives

• Provide an overview of campus challenges pertaining to emergency planning/response

• Discuss campus emergency notification methods• Review common building emergency responses• Highlight measures you can take a manager to be

more prepared for an emergency

What we have to overcome

Why is Emergency Planning Important?

• Actions taken to increase safety can be worthwhile on a daily basis and not just in an emergency

• Your staff and students can learn from your planning efforts

• A rapid response to an emergency can prevent injuries, save lives and allow for a more rapid return to normal operations

• Emergency responders may not be immediately available so parking operators need to self reliant until emergency responders can get on scene

What is OSEP’s Mission?

• Develop, test, revise the overall UGA Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Pandemic Response Plan and other campus plans

• Manage the UGAAlert program and the Campus CERT program

• Conduct risk assessments and manage the Building Safety and Security Representatives (BSSR) program

• Manage UGA’s AED program• Organize and facilitate exercises and drills• Conduct training classes and information

campaigns for faculty, staff and students

UGA Response

Start with 706-542-2200 or 911

UGA Hazards, Risks and Vulnerabilities

• Severe weather (tornados, flooding)

• Utilities disruption

• Winter storms

• Information security issues

• Mass casualties incidents

• Major structure fires

• Hazardous materials incidents

• Workplace violence/Active shooters

• Terrorism-CBRNE

“All Hazards” Approach

Emergency Planning at UGA

Campus-wide Planning &

Preparedness

Departmental & Building Level Planning & Preparedness

Individual Planning &Preparedness

Building Safety and Security Representatives (BSSRs)

Deans, Directors and Department Heads designate primary and back-up BSSRs for each building to handle emergency planning (UGA policy)

BSSRs will organize Building Safety Teams comprised of representatives from each department in the building to create a Building Emergency Action Plan

To find out who the BSSR is for your building, log on to https://emer.uosp.uga.edu/osepforms/building_list.html

UGA Campus Emergency Response Team (UGA CERT)

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

• Basic emergency training

• Grant funded federal program

• Currently 126 volunteers from nine classes

• Training Disaster Preparedness Light Search & Rescue Basic First Aid Disaster Psychology Terrorism Fire Safety

• Participated in the Stadion Golf Classic, UGA Emergency Preparedness Fair, and volunteered for the Active Shooter Training

Emergency Guidebook• Smaller version of the Emergency Response Plan• Includes information on:

Emergency Contacts Emergency Notification System Preparing for Emergencies Evacuating People with Disabilities Students in Distress – BARC Fire information Tornado/ Severe Weather Medical Emergency Winter Storm Suspicious Package Bomb Threat Active Shooter Chemical Spill Utility Failure Earthquake Civil Disturbance/ Demonstration

• Provided to BSSRs• Currently creating a wallet version for UGA Students

Emergency Notification at UGA

• UGAAlert System• Tornado Sirens• UGA Home Page• NOAA Weather Radios• UGA Cablevision

Emergency Screen Capture System

• ArchNews email• Social Networks • Desktop Alerting (soon!)

UGAAlert Myths

• UGAAlert will be used for all campus emergencies

• UGAAlert is activated by breaking glass and pressing a “red button”

• UGAAlert will call everyone at the same time

• There is no need to update my emergency contact information at www.ugaalert.uga.edu

• UGA Police Dispatch (542-2200 or 911) should be called to confirm a UGAAlert message

• UGAAlert is the only method that the campus should depend on for emergency notification

UGAAlert Facts

• UGAAlert will be used for campus-wide emergencies that require immediate action

• UGAAlert is tested twice a year• UGA Police Communications personnel

and others receive training several times a year

• OSEP develops an after action report after each activation and test to capture strengths and improvement areas

• UGAAlert activation procedures and training are in place on the Gwinnett and Griffin campuses

• Based on the April 2011 activation: -67,365 phone calls -62,441 e-mails -26,226 SMS text messages

Tornado Watches and Warnings• When a Watch is issued for your area,

conditions are favorable for that type of severe weather.

• When a Warning is issued for your area, immediate action is required.

3 Tornado Sirens on campus:

Chemistry Building

Family Housing

Botanical Gardens

One located downtown

Tornado Safety Tips

When a Tornado Watch is issued:

• Make sure you have several methods to receive emergency instructions

• Think of where your building shelter area is located

• Remember vehicles and parking decks are not safe areas

• Prepare for a warning to be issued• Watch for approaching weather• Check NOAA Radio/AM/FM Radio/T.V.• Inform patrons who enter parking decks

Tornado Safety Tips

When a Tornado Warning is issued:

• Alert students/staff in the immediate area• Find a safe shelter area in a permanent structures• Inform other staff in vehicles, etc.• Move to the lowest level immediately• Avoid exit doors, windows, and skylights• Wait for “All Clear” from the NWS or emergency

responders• Check for injuries/structure damage (if it is safe to

do so)• Call the University Police if there are injuries, trees

down, building damage, etc.

Union University (2-5-08)

Fire Evacuation

• Evacuate quickly and calmly

• Do not use elevators

• If there is a significant amount of smoke, get low to the ground

• Feel a door/doorknob before opening

• Know where your final evacuation areas are located

• Assist persons with special needs or mobility issues

• Public Safety officials will give the “all clear” to re-enter the building

Bomb Threat Responses

• If you receive the threat call find out when, where, location, kind of bomb, why and who

• Look for anything out of the ordinary

• Don’t touch suspicious objects

• Limit use of cell phones/radios near suspicious package or device

• Take your belongings with you if you are instructed to evacuate the building

Suspicious items could be a letter or package from an unknown sender or an item in your building or classroom that is odd or out of place

Call the UGA Police

Do not touch, open, taste or move suspicious items!

Suspicious Packages and Letters

Overpressure Devices or “Bottle Bombs”

Ingredients for Disaster:

-1 Soda Bottle

-Toilet Bowl Cleaner

-Aluminum Foil (strips)

Warning: Devices should not be made unless Law Enforcement or Fire Training Event!!!

“Bottle Bombs” have been used across the nation with more frequency. There are many Internet sites that provide information on

how to construct these devices. Do not take them lightly as they have the potential to cause serious injuries.

“Bottle Bombs”

Medical Emergencies• Immediately call 542-2200 or 911• Provide as much information to the dispatcher as possible• Stay on the phone as long as you are instructed to do so• Have a staff member or student meet EMS outside and

escort them to the victim• Render assistance based on your level of training

AED – Automated External Defibrillator

• Created a campus-wide AED oversight committee that developed program guidelines to ensure consistency in purchasing, placement, training, maintenance and departmental oversight of AEDs on UGA properties.

• Currently there are 53 AEDs on UGA properties including the Main Campus, Griffin Campus, Skidaway Island, and the Tifton Campus

Definition of an Active Shooter

• An active shooter is a person actively engaged in killing and wounding people in a populated area using a firearm as a weapon

• Threat is not contained and there is immediate risk of injury and death

• Shooter may be suicidal• Examples

Columbine Virginia Tech Northern Illinois University University of Texas (1966) Fort Hood, Texas

Your Options in an Active Shooter Incident

• Escape• Hide/Barricade• Fight Back

Earthquake!

Earthquake Risk Map

Seismic Activity in Georgia

Earthquake Response• Damage from earthquake comes from:

Structure falling, parts of room falling, items in room• Store heavier items closer to the ground• Drop, cover and hold

Drop to the ground Take cover under sturdy piece of furniture Hold on to it and be prepared to move with it

• If you are in a high rise building and not near a desk or table, move against an interior wall, protect your head with your arms

• Prepare for aftershocks

Staff and Students with Disabilities

• You may have students with special needs Mobility issues Sight issues Hearing impairment Breathing

• Consider what you would do with those students in an emergency You may want to discuss this

with the student

“Spread the Word, Not the Flu”

What You Should Do

• Get Flu Shot (seasonal and H1N1 when available)• Practice Healthy Habits

Wash hands, cover cough, stay home if you are sick, don’t touch eyes/mouth

Get plenty of sleep, exercise, drink fluids, eat healthy, manage stress

• If you get sick Stay home and avoid contact with other people Seek medical attention within first two days Sleep, drink liquids, avoid alcohol & tobacco Use OTC medications to lessen symptoms

How You Can Be More Prepared for Building Emergencies

• Include emergency response discussions in your meetings• Advise staff and students of the location of evacuation

routes and tornado shelter areas in the building• Heed all warnings, fire alarms and emergency notifications

all the time• Participate in any drills or exercises in your building• Consider taking a CPR/First Aid course and fire

extinguisher training

Additional Classes Offered by OSEP

• Emergency Preparedness Class  • Building Safety and Security Representatives (BSSR)

Orientation • Campus Emergencies: Responses to Violence  • DawgWatch: Preventing Acts of Terrorism on the UGA

Campus • Incident Command System (ICS)100 • National Incident Management System (NIMS) IS 700 • Pandemic Flu Preparedness • Travel Safety and Security• Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options

Contact Information

Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness

Hodgson Oil Building

286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 S

Athens, Ga. 30602

706-542-5845

osep@uga.edu

www.osep.uga.edu