Purpose
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is committed to providing a safe environment
for its students, faculty, staff and guests, while ensuring that we are a responsible
member of the local community, and is taking measures to enhance and ensure the protection
of life and property.
The mission of UAHuntsville’s emergency management program is to save lives, protect
property, promote continuity of operations, mitigate risks and reduce the potential impact
of local emergencies and large-scale disasters.
Scope
The UAHuntsville Emergency Management Plan (EMP) guides preparedness, response, recovery,
and mitigation operations for the university community. The university's emergency management
planning efforts have two primary focuses: Emergency Response and Continuity of Operations (COOP)
planning. The
EMP applies to a broad range of all-hazards emergencies and may be activated because of fire, flood,
hazardous material spills, severe storms, pandemic, terrorist attack, criminal act or other situations
requiring mitigating action.
The EMP and its planning requirements apply to all UAHuntsville personnel and to all
buildings and grounds owned, operated or under the supervision and control of the University.
Policy
The University will implement the National Incident Management System (NIMS) (see
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/) and Incident
Command Structure. All planning shall conform to guidelines associated with these systems. NIMS/ICS
training will be required for personnel in key positions as defined in
Appendix A of the University level EMP. Administrators, Deans, Department Chairs and
Center Directors at UAHuntsville shall each designate a planner to prepare and coordinate
emergency response and COOP plans in accordance with the EMP. The UAHuntsville Emergency
Management Coordinator (see below) shall coordinate and maintain the EMP, and shall provide
resources and guidance to all University organizations in the development and maintenance of
their EMPs.
UAHuntsville Emergency Management Structure
Many different people at the university are involved in planning for and handling
emergency management actions. Administrators, Deans, Department Chairs,
and Center Directors appoint emergency planners and oversee preparation of Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans for all University organizations.
Each organization's overall Emergency Management Plan will include Emergency Action
Plans (EAP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plans. EAPs formulate effective methods
for emergency response
actions such as building evacuation or sheltering in place. COOP plans address
how an organization will recover its business and/or academic operations following a crisis
or disaster.
To manage emergency incidents, UAHuntsville uses a Policy Group and
an Emergency Management Operations Group (EMOG). The Policy Group serves in an
advisory capacity to the President and provides strategic guidance during incidents. The
Emergency Management Operations Group oversees operational emergency response and crisis
event management, and the subsequent recovery efforts following an incident.
The Policy Group consists of the following:
- President
- Provost and Executive Vice President
- Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Vice President for Diversity and Student Support Services
- Vice President for Advancement
- Vice President for Research
- University Counsel
The Emergency Management Operations Group (EMOG) is a scalable group drawn
from organizations that would be directly involved in managing emergencies or large-scale
events. It includes management level representatives from the following areas:
- Athletics
- Academic Deans
- Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Business Services
- Emergency Management Coordinator
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Facilities & Operations
- Finance & Budgets
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Payroll Services
- Public Safety
- Student Affairs
- Student Financial Services
- Student Housing
- Telecommunications
- University Center
- University Relations
Incident Command System
During an emergency or large scale event, the University will set up an Incident
Command System (ICS) to control and manage operations. The university's Incident Command System
will conform to the standards of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). It
creates an integrated, flexible, scalable organizational structure designed to
meet the complexity of any crisis or event.
Key personnel, as identified in the Emergency Management Plan, will be required to
undergo training in basic ICS and NIMS concepts. Some critical and leadership personnel may be
required to complete more advanced training in addition to the basic courses.
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