Case Study: Radford University Overcomes Emergency Management Hurdles

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Because of this, RU is working systematically with local, regional, state, and national emergency response agencies and organizations in the development of a collaborative plan for all-hazard emergency responses. Specifically, RU is working with its community partners to develop and implement policies and protocols, incident command systems, training and exercises that will ensure the campus community is prepared for potential emergencies. Currently, regional partners jointly participate with the president’s cabinet, administration and staff from academic affairs, student affairs, and budget and administration in emergency training and preparedness activities. These activities include:

• Establishing the regional academic emergency response team to include four-year institutions, regional community colleges and K-12 district representatives to collaborate during the entire project. Likewise, the university will appoint an academic representative for the Radford city local emergency planning committee

   

• Developing a comprehensive plan to address emergency notification and communications issues among university, regional and state ER elements, including RU extended education centers and off-campus educational partners

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• Coordinating relationships with the RU clinical simulation center (CSC) in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services and the health sciences programs at Wytheville Community College (WCC), in order to:

  • Identify simulation equipment for use in disaster drills and other preparedness activities

     

  • Identify CSC staff to support RU recovery efforts in an emergency

     

  • Develop training for regional first responders in triage procedures utilizing the CSC

   

• Developing an interactive Web site (accessible by regional partners) that will provide updated information concerning emergency planning and preparedness, including RU pandemic planning efforts and World Health Organization information

   

• Identify off-campus networks and instructional technology systems that can be utilized in an emergency

Emergency Response Is Constantly Evolving
Emergency management personnel throughout the country are familiar with the process of conducting drills and exercises, and the need to build working relationships between first responders and agencies. Most educational institutions do not have actual experience with full scale emergency management exercises.

RU’s participation in the July 10 tabletop exercise and full-scale Oct. 22 drill are not a culmination of preparedness and response efforts for the university, but an evolution of the understanding of how complex interagency relationships can be during an event (see sidebar below). Consequently, RU administration and internal departments are trying to ensure that its emergency and preparation response procedures are accurate. This can be accomplished, not only by understanding the internal roles and responsibilities of the university, but also the procedures institutionalized among city, county, state and national partners.

With the increasing emphasis on campus safety as well as the potential of a homeland security event anywhere in the nation, multi-level emergency preparation and response planning is paramount to all educational intuitions. A large part of that process is having a clear, operational understanding of internal and external roles and responsibilities of all constituencies involved in emergency response services and programs. As part of the city of Radford, the regional educational triangle, surrounding region, and Commonwealth of Virginia, RU will continue to build on lessons learned and partnerships developed through its team building efforts.

Related Articles:

• Radford University Emergency Management: From Practice to Implementation
• Iowa Floods Test Mount Mercy’s Emergency Management Plan
• The Golden State Standard: California Community Colleges Get Prepared
• Putting Your Plans Together
• Creating a Plan: 10 Ways to Tame the Beast
• Why You Should Care About NIMS and NFPA Standards
• On Patrol: It’s Showtime for Emergency Management

Dr. Dennie E. Templeton is the director of distance education and emergency preparedness at Radford University. He can be reached at [email protected]. Contri
buting editors include Dr. Gary Ellerman, Radford University; and Todd Branscome, emergency coordinator, Radford University.