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

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.