Emergency Management

Wright State University is committed to a continuous process of preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating natural and technological hazards that may negatively impact its students, faculty, staff, visitors, intellectual property, and facilities.  To that end, the Emergency Management Program is created to:

1. Establish the foundation for emergency management, utilizing industry best practices;
2. Align achievable program goals and objectives with the vision, mission, and purpose of Wright State University;
3. Develop procedures pertinent to the execution of the program;
4. Identify staff and/or functions necessary to the successful implementation of the program; and
5. Strengthen program continuity and viability by identifying source funding, recommending normal budget levels, and establishing expected benchmarks or milestones.

1. A program coordinator shall be identified with assigned duties and the expressed authority to prepare, implement, evaluate, and revise the program on behalf of Administration.  Authority includes administering the day-to-day activities of the program.
2. The title and duties of the coordinator shall reside with the Chief Operating Officer.

1. A standing committee is created to assist in the coordination of program preparation, implementation, evaluation, and revision.
2. The committee charge shall adhere to all federal and state laws and regulations; and implement best practices and national standards.
3. Core membership of the committee shall include:
   1. Computing and Telecommunication Services - Focus on all forms of communication technologies before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   2. Crisis Communications - Focusing on the crisis communication/media relations before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   3. Emergency Management (Chair) - Focus on all phases of emergency management.
   4. Environmental Health and Safety - Focus on hazmat and safety issues before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   5. Facilities and Planning - Focus on integrating emergency management/safety issues in existing and new facilities.
   6. Lab Animal Research - Focus on research implications before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   7. Physical Plant - Focusing on infrastructure (facilities and utilities) and fire safety issues before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   8. Residence Life and Housing - Focus on needs of resident students before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   9. University Police - Focus on law enforcement and security implications before/during/after an emergency/incident.
   10. Lake Campus - Ensure interests of the Lake Campus are represented in the broader emergency management approach.
4. Members shall possess a level of decision-making authority for their respective department that will facilitate actions taken by the Committee.
5. The program coordinator shall serve as Chair of the committee.  A vice-chair shall be appointed by the committee chair.
6. The Chair of the committee is empowered to accommodate special program tasks by expanding committee membership on an ad hoc basis.

The program shall incorporate elements relative and applicable to emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities at Wright State University.  The following should be considered minimum elements:

1. Program Management - establishes the foundation and the framework for a successful program by identifying emergency management as a comprehensive, strategic goal at Wright State University with a vision, mission statement, and objectives.
2. Laws and Authorities - reinforces the Emergency Management Program by addressing compliance with applicable federal regulations, Ohio Revised and Administrative Codes, rules established by local jurisdictions, Wright State University policies and directives, and industry codes of practice.
3. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment - identifies hazards, assesses relative risks, and analyzes expected impacts.  This element is used to help determine the effectiveness of the Wright State University response and recovery capabilities while providing action items for program improvement.
4. Hazard Mitigation - addresses a strategy that eliminates or lessens the effects of hazards identified.
5. Resource Management - provides for efficient acquisition and distribution of personnel, equipment, and material needed during an emergency by determining the resources necessary for emergency response and recovery efforts, assessing those resources, and maintaining an inventory of currently available internal and external resources.  Volunteers and donations during an emergency will also be considered.
6. Mutual Aid - determines and establishes agreements for mutual aid, contracted services, memoranda of understanding, drop shipments, information technology backup sites, and other agreements will provide for additional equipment, supplies, and personnel during emergency response and recovery operations.  Established agreements will be consolidated in the Emergency Management program office.
7. Planning - consists of focused Emergency Management Program plans.  Involves strategic program planning, operational plans, and requires coordination with all interested/impacted departments.
8. Direction, Control and Coordination - identifies the capabilities needed to direct, control, and coordinate response and recovery operations.  Wright State University will be a NIMS compliant organization.
9. Communications and Warning - supports the establishment of reliable communication systems. Those systems are expected to 1) function day-to-day under normal circumstances and during emergency response operations and 2) notify and/or alert officials, responders, and the general population that may be affected in an emergency.  Effective communications and warning systems are imperative for preserving life, property, the environment and for increasing the efficiency of response and recovery efforts.
10. Operations and Procedures - establishes a method of initiation, coordination, and execution of plans, processes, and activities through the development and implementation of standard procedures (SOPs) relative to the emergency management.
11. Logistics and Facilities - manages resources used during an emergency.  The processes for obtaining and transporting resources will allow for their timely acquisition and use when needed.
12. Training - provides the means to inform and prepare administration and affected personnel for responding to and recovering from hazards or business interruptions with the development and implementation of a training and education program relative to emergency management.  Also to inform the Wright State University community on how to be prepared for an emergency.
13. Exercises, Evaluations and Corrective Action - conducts of periodic drills and exercises of plans and procedures, conduct an evaluation of each drill, exercise, and real world event, and identifies corrective actions to be implemented.
14. Crisis Communications, Public Education and Information - serves to educate the WSU community about hazards and reduce risk to life and property through the establishment of a public information plan.  That plan will include procedures for communicating with the general population and the media before, during, and after an emergency.
15. Finance and Administration - supports preparedness, response, and recovery operations by establishing fiscal and administrative procedures to support emergency management.  A financial program that applies to emergency management plans will allow for flexible and expeditious acquisitions including mitigation and preparedness actions and activities.