This July, as flood waters wreaked havoc on Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy College had an opportunity to implement its own disaster preparedness plans, which included contingency plans for natural disasters like flooding and tornadoes.
Many college and university officials are breathing a little easier now that the reauthorized Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEA) does not include the 30-minute notice provision. Still, no one should get too comfortable.
Every campus needs to be prepared to help affected people recover from the emotional trauma of mass casualty events. A well-prepared crisis recovery plan will lay the groundwork for these efforts.