Building Emergency Plans: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:16, 22 March 2023

Policy 302.4

Introduction

1.1 Appalachian State University’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides the context and institutional framework for responding to natural and human caused disasters that may affect the campus. It consists of a Basic Plan, which identifies key emergency responders and establishes priorities for decision making; Emergency Support Functions, which detail response steps for specific university functions; and Annexes, which describe response actions that must be taken in specific disasters. Visit emergency.appstate.edu to review an outline of this plan, or contact the Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management.

1.2 In the event of a disaster or major emergency, University officials will alert the community using several methods. Immediate notifications will be made through AppState-ALERT. For additional information, visit www.appstatealert.com.

1.3 When an emergency occurs, University community members can take steps to protect themselves. This policy outlines emergency preparedness measures that will be taken by departments and units within each academic and administrative building on campus.

Scope

2.1 The following policy outlines the measures to be taken by departments located in each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University. The measures outlined below are designed to help building occupants prepare for and react to emergency situations. All occupants should become familiar with the information outlined in this policy.

Definitions

Building Emergency Plan

Means a plan adopted and approved as set forth in Section 4 of this policy.

Building Emergency Team

Means a group of Department Coordinators appointed as set forth in Section 4 of this policy and charged with responsibility for adopting and conducting an annual review of Building Emergency Plans.

Department Coordinators

Means individuals identified as primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members. The appointment method for and responsibilities of Department Coordinators are set forth in Section 4 of this policy.

University

Means Appalachian State University.

Policy and Procedure Statements

Building Emergency Plans

4.1.1 Each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University will have a Building Emergency Plan. A building emergency plan template will be provided by the Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management. The template will be completed and maintained by the individual Building Emergency Teams in coordination with the Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management. Building Emergency Teams shall review and update their plans on at least an annual basis, and shall provide updated copies to the Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management for review and approval.

Building Emergency Team

4.2.1 Each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University will have a designated Building Emergency Team. The team shall be comprised of at least one representative and backup from each department occupying space within the respective building or by an equivalent combination of building representatives as determined by EHS&EM to meet the needs of the facility. Department representatives will be selected by each department head in coordination with Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management. The Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management will provide initial and annual training for the Building Emergency Teams.

Appointment of Building Emergency Team

4.3.1 The Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management shall contact department head(s) within each building on campus to identify primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members (“Department Coordinators”). If the department head(s) within a building do not identify primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members within a reasonable period of time, the next level of management (dean, vice chancellor, etc.) shall appoint the primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members.

Guidelines for choosing Department Coordinators

4.4.1 Faculty and staff may volunteer to serve as their Department Coordinator, and department heads are encouraged to provide faculty and staff the opportunity to volunteer. In the event there are no volunteers, and in any case in the department head’s sole discretion, the department head shall appoint department coordinators. The following criteria should be considered when selecting primary and alternate members. The employee chosen should be:

Responsible and capable of making decisions in a high stress environment.
Knowledgeable about general departmental responsibilities and functions.
Someone who maintains a regular work schedule within the building.
Someone who is able to build relationships and effectively communicate with other departments within the building.
Not already committed to perform other functions during an emergency or disaster.

Role and Responsibilities of the Department Coordinator

4.5.1 Department Coordinators play an important role in campus safety. Department Coordinators coordinate education and planning for occupants in their building. In addition, they serve as the communication liaison between emergency service agencies and building occupants. They also assist during emergencies by directing people to evacuation sites and sharing important information. The following is a general outline of department coordinator roles and responsibilities:

Coordinate the development and annual submission of the Building Emergency Plan.
Carry out assigned roles as trained during certain emergency situations.
Provide building occupants with emergency planning and safety related information.
Attend trainings, workshops, and activities specifically organized for Department Coordinators.

Additional References

North Carolina Fire Code

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 29, CFR 1910.38

Authority

Appalachian State University Emergency Operations Plan

The UNC Policy Manual, The Code, Section 502

Contact Information

Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management 828-262-4008 or [email protected]

Original Effective Date

Revision Dates

April 13, 2017

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Policy 302.4
 == Introduction ==
-Appalachian State University’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides the context and institutional framework for responding to natural and human caused disasters that may affect the campus. It consists of a Base Plan, which identifies key emergency responders and establishes priorities for decision making; Emergency Support Functions, which detail response steps for specific university functions; and Annexes, which describe response actions that must be taken in specific disasters. Contact University Police, Office of Emergency Plans and Operations to obtain copies of this plan (828-262-8081). You may also read the Base Plan online at emergency.appstate.edu.
+.1 Appalachian State University’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides the context and institutional framework for responding to natural and human caused disasters that may affect the campus.  It consists of a Basic Plan, which identifies key emergency responders and establishes priorities for decision making; Emergency Support Functions, which detail response steps for specific university functions; and Annexes, which describe response actions that must be taken in specific disasters.  Visit emergency.appstate.edu to review an outline of this plan, or contact the Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management.
-In the event of a disaster or major emergency, Appalachian State officials will alert the community using several methods. Immediate notifications will be made through AppState-ALERT sirens, voice and text messages, and campus e-mail. Subsequent emergency information will be posted online at emergency.appstate.edu.
+.2 In the event of a disaster or major emergency, University officials will alert the community using several methods.  Immediate notifications will be made through AppState-ALERT.  For additional information, visit www.appstatealert.com.
-When an emergency occurs, Appalachian State University community members can take steps to protect themselves. This plan details emergency procedures that will be taken by the departments and units within each building on campus.
+.3 When an emergency occurs, University community members can take steps to protect themselves.  This policy outlines emergency preparedness measures that will be taken by departments and units within each academic and administrative building on campus.
 == Scope ==
-This plan serves as a life safety and emergency response plan for the departments and units within this building. This plan does not provide for the business continuity and/or disaster recovery processes of individual departments. This plan is applicable during or immediately following an emergency or disaster within the building. All occupants should become familiar with this Plan.
+.1 The following policy outlines the measures to be taken by departments located in each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University.  The measures outlined below are designed to help building occupants prepare for and react to emergency situations.  All occupants should become familiar with the information outlined in this policy.
 == Definitions  ==
-=== All clear ===
+=== Building Emergency Plan ===
-s means the immediate danger is over and that most functions may resume normal operations, occupants may re-enter buildings and/or move about campus without restriction unless specifically directed otherwise. Specific guidance regarding University events will be posted to the emergency webpage.
+:Means a plan adopted and approved as set forth in Section 4 of this policy.
-Evacuation – This is the movement of persons from a dangerous or potentially dangerous place to a safe place. Examples are the evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire. In an extreme situation(e.g., a flood), large portions of and perhaps the entire campus may be required to evacuate.
+=== Building Emergency Team ===
+:Means a group of Department Coordinators appointed as set forth in Section 4 of this policy and charged with responsibility for adopting and conducting an annual review of Building Emergency Plans.
-Evacuation Assembly Area (EAA) – This is the area(s) to which all building occupants should report following a building evacuation. Most EAAs are pre-identified locations, although specific incidents may require the EAA to relocate.
+=== Department Coordinators ===
+:Means individuals identified as primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members.  The appointment method for and responsibilities of Department Coordinators are set forth in Section 4 of this policy.
-Lockdown – A lockdown is designed to prevent people from entering or leaving a building. Additionally, movement inside the building is restricted. If the term “lockdown” is used, University Police will limit it to specific buildings that are in immediate danger. The term “lockdown” will only be used when there is information indicating an imminent threat from an armed or dangerous person(s) on campus. Whenever possible, the specific building(s) affected should be identified in the declaration of a lockdown.
+=== University ===
-Shelter in place – This is a term that may be used in an emergency during which hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere. People should go indoors and find an interior room or hallway with no or few windows and take refuge there until an evacuation can be safely initiated or an all clear is given. This does not mean leaving your building to go to a storm shelter, nor does it mean locking and sealing off your office or room.
+:Means Appalachian State University.
-Seek safe shelter – During an elevated or high risk condition, students, staff and faculty may be directed to seek safe shelter. This is a precautionary measure aimed at keeping you safe while indoors. When possible, exterior doors to buildings should be locked but movement inside the building is not necessarily restricted. During this time people whom you know or do not fit the description of the suspect(s) may be let into your building.
-Building Coordinator – A pre-designated person(s) responsible for acting as a liaison for each building on campus. The duties of building coordinator include both planning and preparedness functions, as well as specific responsibilities during an emergency or disaster.
-Campus condition – The condition that the campus is currently operating under. This condition may change as information is received. Recognized conditions are:
-•	Normal: The University is operating under normal conditions. There is no emergency 	information.
-•	Guarded: There is some credible general threat information that may affect the 	University. (Examples include an FBI alert of a threat directed at a college campus in 	North Carolina, or a hurricane warning for western North Carolina.)
-•	Elevated: There is credible information about a specific threat directed towards the 	University. (Examples may include,  a man-made threat or flash flood warning.)
-•	High Risk (Emergency): There is information of an immediate threat on campus or 	directly involving the University. (Examples may include an active shooter or a 	hazardous materials leak on campus.)
 == Policy and Procedure Statements  ==
-=== Example policy 1 ===
+=== Building Emergency Plans ===
+.1.1 Each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University will have a Building Emergency Plan. A building emergency plan template will be provided by the Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management.  The template will be completed and maintained by the individual Building Emergency Teams in coordination with the Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management.  Building Emergency Teams shall review and update their plans on at least an annual basis, and shall provide updated copies to the Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management for review and approval.
+=== Building Emergency Team ===
+.2.1 Each academic and administrative building owned or under the control of the University will have a designated Building Emergency Team.  The team shall be comprised of at least one representative and backup from each department occupying space within the respective building or by an equivalent combination of building representatives as determined by EHS&EM to meet the needs of the facility.  Department representatives will be selected by each department head in coordination with Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management.  The Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management will provide initial and annual training for the Building Emergency Teams.
-=== Example policy 2 ===
+=== Appointment of Building Emergency Team ===
+.3.1 The Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management shall contact department head(s) within each building on campus to identify primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members (“Department Coordinators”).  If the department head(s) within a building do not identify primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members within a reasonable period of time, the next level of management (dean, vice chancellor, etc.) shall appoint the primary and alternate Building Emergency Team members.
+=== Guidelines for choosing Department Coordinators ===
+.4.1 Faculty and staff may volunteer to serve as their Department Coordinator, and department heads are encouraged to provide faculty and staff the opportunity to volunteer.  In the event there are no volunteers, and in any case in the department head’s sole discretion, the department head shall appoint department coordinators.  The following criteria should be considered when selecting primary and alternate members.  The employee chosen should be:
+#Responsible and capable of making decisions in a high stress environment.
+#Knowledgeable about general departmental responsibilities and functions.
+#Someone who maintains a regular work schedule within the building.
+#Someone who is able to build relationships and effectively communicate with other departments within the building.
+#Not already committed to perform other functions during an emergency or disaster.
+=== Role and Responsibilities of the Department Coordinator ===
+.5.1 Department Coordinators play an important role in campus safety.  Department Coordinators coordinate education and planning for occupants in their building.  In addition, they serve as the communication liaison between emergency service agencies and building occupants.  They also assist during emergencies by directing people to evacuation sites and sharing important information. The following is a general outline of department coordinator roles and responsibilities:
+#Coordinate the development and annual submission of the Building Emergency Plan.
+#Carry out assigned roles as trained during certain emergency situations.
+#Provide building occupants with emergency planning and safety related information.
+#Attend trainings, workshops, and activities specifically organized for Department Coordinators.
 == Additional References ==
+:[https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/NCFC2018 North Carolina Fire Code]
+:[https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3122.pdf Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 29, CFR 1910.38]
 == Authority ==
+:[https://emergencyprep.appstate.edu/emergency-operations-plan-basic-plan Appalachian State University Emergency Operations Plan]
+:[http://www.northcarolina.edu/apps/policy/index.php?pg=dl&id=4428&inline=1&return_url=%252Fpolicy%252Findex.php%253Fpg%253Dvb%2526tag%253Dtoc%257CThe%252BCode The UNC Policy Manual, The Code, Section 502]
 == Contact Information ==
+:Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management 828-262-4008 or [email protected]
+== Original Effective Date ==
-== Effective Date ==
 == Revision Dates ==
+:April 13, 2017
+[[Category:Contents]]
+[[Category:Public_Safety]]
+[[Category:Emergency Management]]