Guilford College

Executive Summary

Introduction

Guilford College, like any other organization, is vulnerable to a wide range of natural, technological, and human-related disasters. These disasters may cause injuries, loss of life, disruption of services and the possibility of significant property damage. Before, during, and after a disaster, the college requires special procedures to address the needs of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery management. To address such disasters, Guilford College has established an all-hazard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

Purpose

The plan establishes policies, procedures and guidelines that allow Guilford College to save lives, minimize injuries, protect property, preserve a functioning administration, and maintain activities essential to their survival and recovery from disasters. It establishes the guidelines for conducting effective and coordinated emergency operations involving the use of all college owned resources and outside resources available to the college.

Assumptions

Guilford College with its various departments, resources, training, and city/county emergency response organizations is well-equipped to respond to any type of emergency that could potentially affect the operations of the college.

Authority

This plan was developed to meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity (2004 edition) private sector, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Plan (NRP) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Action Planning 29 CFR 1910.38.

Concept of Operations

The president of Guilford College is ultimately responsible for emergency management activities within the boundaries of the college.

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is based on the concept that the emergency support functions assigned to the various individuals and departments involved in this plan will parallel their normal day-to-day functions as closely as possible. The same personnel and material resources will be employed in both non-emergency and emergency functions. Those day-to-day functions that do not contribute directly to the emergency operations may be suspended for the duration of the emergency. The efforts that would normally be required for those functions may be redirected to accomplish the emergency tasks set forth by the Crisis Management Team.

Operational Time Frames of Emergency Management

Guilford College has adopted the four phases of emergency management which is used to assist in the implementation of the EOP.

• Mitigation: time period in which sustained actions are taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property and to minimize the costs of disaster response and recovery.
• Preparedness: time period in which enhances the disaster response operations and prepares departments and individuals to respond.
• Response: time period in which actions taken provide emergency assistance, reduces the probability of additional injuries or damage, and speed the recovery operations.
• Recovery: time period in which actions are taken to return systems to the normal, pre-disaster levels.

Organization

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) utilizes the following functional areas:

• Field Operations: college personnel who have knowledge of specific areas of concern who will operate with emergency personnel under the unified incident command system. For example, maintenance sharing knowledge of the electrical system in a building, faculty sharing knowledge of what chemicals are stored in a building. Field Operations personnel keep the Crisis Management Team (CMT) informed of events occurring at the incident site.
• Crisis Management Team (CMT): administrative leaders of the college sharing command functions and operating in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support business continuity of the college.
• Emergency Support Functions (ESF): emergency operation areas in which each ESF is organized into a Basic Plan and Annexes. Each Annex addresses a specific functional area and outlines in a more detailed manner the responsibilities and operation of that Emergency Support Function.

The Emergency Support Functions with applicable Annexes are:

Emergency Support Function 1 – Transportation
Emergency Support Function 2 – Telecommunications and Information Technology
Emergency Support Function 3 – Facilities/Engineering/Debris Removal
Emergency Support Function 4 – Fire & Life Safety Services
Emergency Support Function 5 – Emergency Management / Resource Support
Emergency Support Function 6 – Housing and Human Care
Emergency Support Function 7 – Health and Medical Services
Emergency Support Function 8 – Search and Rescue
Emergency Support Function 9 – Hazardous Materials
Emergency Support Function 10 – Public Safety and Security
Emergency Support Function 11 – Emergency Public Information
Emergency Support Function 12 – Finance / Administration
Emergency Support Function 13 – Academics
Emergency Support Function 14 – Food and Water

Direction and Control

An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated and staffed when a disaster condition has occurred on campus or, is highly likely to occur. For example, a tornado, major fire, an approaching inland hurricane or a shooting/terrorist incident. Several locations both in and around the college have been identified as potential Emergency Operations Centers.

Other situations, such as impending snow, may not require activation of the EOC but are still handled through the support functions outlined in the all-hazards plan.

As situations arise and are reported to key personnel, the decision to activate the EOC becomes the decision of key administrative personnel such as the president or the vice president and academic dean.

Continuity of Operations

Lines of succession have been created to ensure that the emergency response activities on campus be carried on when college and local resources are stretched to the limits. Through Guilford County Emergency Services and Emergency Management, mutual aid agreements exist with other county and state agencies.

Plan Development and Maintenance

An Emergency Operations Plan is never a completed document. It is an ongoing process utilizing the four phases of emergency management. An annual review of the plan is conducted by the college Risk Management Team.

Frequent drills in the form of a tabletop exercise or a full-functional exercise are conducted throughout the year. These exercises provide practical, hands-on experience to those individuals who have responsibilities in field operations or in the emergency operations center should a real-life emergency occur. In addition, these exercises help facilitate the review of the emergency operation plan.

For more information about the Emergency Operations Plan, contact Ron Stowe, Director of Public Safety, by email at stowerm@guilford.edu or calling 316-2907.

February 2008