Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

What are the elements of an emergency response plan?

  • By Vivian Marinelli
  • 07/01/19

Disasters can strike at any time, on any given day. For some events, you may have the opportunity for prep time, but others happen without warning. Whether a disaster is natural or man-made, having an emergency response plan in place will help you be prepared.

Working with an organization familiar with campus emergencies is helpful to ensure your plan considers the types of incidents that can occur. Before developing the plan, risk assessment is critical. Conducting a risk assessment helps identify events that could impact your campus.

The minimum critical elements of an effective emergency response program should include a risk assessment specific to the campus and community; develop a robust emergency plan that addresses how to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from hazards and risks; include crisis communication planning and provide training, drills, and updates. Once the plan is complete, practice is key.

An effective emergency response program would not only include an evacuation plan, but also a plan to shelter-in-place when necessary. If the decision is to shelter-in-place additional needs include securing buildings; maintaining sufficient food and water supplies; communication and accounting for students, faculty, and staff.

An emergency response plan should be a living document. It needs to be updated on a regular basis and tested at least annually. The plan should also be developed and written in an operational, user-friendly manner.

Responding to any event will still be a challenge. However, the ability for your team to coordinate the response to protect your community’s safety and welfare and maintain the reputation of the school will be enhanced by your planning and preparation.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management July/August 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Vivian Marinelli, Psy.D., is the senior director of Crisis Management Services for FEI Behavioral Health (www.feinet.com).

Featured

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • California Middle School Breaks Ground on Major Renovation Project

    The Hillsborough City School District (HCSD) in Hillsborough, Calif., recently began construction on new multipurpose and administration facilities for Crocker Middle School, according to a news release.

  • Esports are Growing in Popularity

    Video games and esports are a popular social hobby, and it’s one that’s accessible to a wide variety of physical ability levels. Some esport student-athletes have started to earn scholarship opportunities, and high schools are beginning to form teams equipped with the same degree of resources as their physical sports teams. However, the two have very different needs.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.