Do You Have What It Takes to Be a University Emergency Manager?
Emergency managers on a college campus must have additional competencies for their environments.
These lists can help public safety departments set professional development goals.
It’s also important for emergency managers to be able to demonstrate various skills that they may need with little supervision or time. Examples of essential tasks for IHE emergency managers include:
- Send out emergency alerts, including from home
- Activate sirens (computer and radio)
- Place emergency message on web page and social media
- Operate handheld radio (800MHz)
- Operate ham radios
- Operate satellite phone
- Use social media for critical messages and updates
- Make a phone call using FEMA’s Government Emergency Telephone System/Wireless Priority System (GETS/WPS)
- Set up emergency conference call bridge
- Operate radio in communications center
- Understand the benefits of GIS
- Answer phone in communication center
- Develop/produce an incident action plan
- Develop written and facilitate AAR
- Stand up emergency operation center
- Request assistance: county EMA, state EMA and state regents
- Deploy/set up small generators
- Deploy/set up evacuation signs and barricades
- Determine road temperature
- Monitor severe/inclement weather threat: National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center and vendor specific systems
- HazMat identification and evacuation distance assistance: emergency response guidebook, safety data sheets, schematics, WebWISER and CAMEO
- Deploy assets, including trailers
- Deploy/set up emergency lighting
- AED maintenance (pad and battery replacement)
- Set up mobile command vehicle (MCV)
- Drive MCV
- Use basic MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Understand basic 10 Codes (plain talk is preferable, but police still use them)
Emergency managers should also take advantage of FEMA/ EMI’s training programs, Certified Emergency Management (CEM) program and Continuity of Operation Planning certifications. IHE emergency managers should strive to complete a master’s degree since most faculty and staff have advanced degrees. Most universities offer classes that are often free for the employee.
Developing a list will aid in professional development, goal setting, hands-on training, performance reviews and even recruitment efforts. Such a list will also assist managers to prioritize time commitments, project management and fiscal resources.
University emergency managers must be educated and trained. For every competency mastered, new ones will surface, which will help create a professional and trained staff to meet tomorrow’s threats and hazards that are often unique to the continuously changing university environment.
Andy Altizer is the director of emergency management at Kennesaw State University.
Read Next: 3 Mistakes That Can Derail Your Threat Assessment Process
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
