Emergency Planning
Key representatives of the College’s primary functional areas make up the Campus Emergency Management Team (CEMT). CEMT members and alternates meet regularly to prepare for any conceivable campus emergency, review incident action plans, coordinate with emergency response agencies, provide training, and conduct annual emergency drills. The CEMT is structured in accordance with the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
A disaster is defined as an event that has the potential to:
- Seriously impair or halt the operations of the college; or
- Result in mass casualties or extensive property damage; or
- Significantly impact the campus, community, or geographic region.
Examples of potentially disastrous circumstances could include a major storm, extensive fire or an explosion, a chemical release, prolonged utility failure, an act of violence or terrorism, or an epidemic disease.
This plan conforms with the recommendations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and is coordinated with parallel efforts by local, county, and state emergency response agencies. The key components of the plan include:
- Preventative measures designed to protect the overall safety of the campus community;
- Phased decision-making guidance based upon real-time reporting at the international, national, regional, state, and local levels;
- Recovery and returning to normal operation as soon as is feasible.
The Campus Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is reviewed and updated regularly and exercises are conducted each year to test the College’s emergency preparedness and response measures.