Emergency Management Program

Policy 302.1

Introduction

1.1 Appalachian State University is committed to the safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors. One component of safety is a comprehensive emergency management program. This policy provides authority for the emergency management program at Appalachian State University and outlines requirements for emergency management plans, policies, and procedures.

Scope

2.1 This policy applies to the university-wide Emergency Management Program to include all faculty, staff, and students, and university property within the territorial limits of the university.

Definitions

Business Unit

Any academic or administrative department, unit, center, institute, division, or college.

Continuity of Operations

Capability to continue essential program functions and to preserve essential processes and functions, positions, lines of succession, applications and records, communications, and facilities across a broad range of potential emergencies/disasters.

Critical Functions

Functions or services offered that if interrupted or unavailable for several business days would significantly jeopardize the university's ability to serve its students and the campus community.

Disaster

A severe or prolonged emergency that threatens life, property, environment and/or critical infrastructure, systems or processes.

Emergency

An incident, human-caused, natural, or technological, that requires responsive action to protect life, property, and/or the environment.

Incident

Any occurrence, natural or human-caused, that requires action by the Emergency Management Program.

Policy and Procedure Statements

General Policy

4.1.1 The Chancellor has appointed an Emergency Management Task Force to direct emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This group, under the leadership of the University Emergency Management Coordinator, is responsible for developing the campus Emergency Operations Plan, which includes detailed descriptions of actions to be taken in the event of an emergency.

4.1.2 It is campus policy to maintain a state of readiness for emergencies of any size. Emergency response and support departments are expected to maintain a state of readiness to deal with all types of emergencies and to prepare accordingly.

4.1.3 The Chancellor, Provost, or designee will be immediately notified of any emergency or significant threat to Appalachian State University.

4.1.4 When an emergency grows in size and complexity, coordination of resources becomes increasingly important. Appalachian State University will use the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage resources in major emergencies.

4.1.5 Each department shall develop a business continuity plan and/or a disaster recovery plan. Additionally, each building on campus shall have an emergency response plan. Copies of these plans shall be submitted electronically to the Emergency Management Task Force.

4.1.6 The University Emergency Management Coordinator and the Emergency Management Task Force shall assist departments and buildings with the development of emergency response plans, building evacuation plans, business continuity plans, and disaster recovery plans. The Emergency Management Task Force shall maintain a current database of all such plans. The Emergency Management Task Force may also review these plans and make recommendations for changes or modifications.

University Emergency Management Plans

4.2.1 Those plans that include an institutional scope shall be reviewed and recommended for approval by the Emergency Management Task Force. The Emergency Management Task Force shall recommend plans to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies and disasters.

4.2.2 Plans recommended for action and approval by the Emergency Management Task Force shall be forwarded to the University Safety and Security Council and the Chancellor's Cabinet. Plans approved by the Chancellor shall be authorized for implementation by this policy. Examples of these plans may include the Emergency Operations Plan or Pandemic Response Plan. All approved plans, such as the Emergency Operations Plan, shall be published on the University's emergency webpage unless they include sensitive information.

4.2.3 Once plans are approved by the Chancellor, a letter of promulgation shall be attached to the front of the plan. See Attachment 1, Sample Promulgation Letter for University Emergency Management and Business Continuity Plans.

Building Emergency Response Plans

4.3.1 Each business unit shall assist with the development and maintenance of a building emergency response plan. Building emergency response plans will provide clear instructions that describe employee responsibilities during and/or following an emergency. Each building response plan will include at a minimum:

1. a list of operating departments within the building;
2. identification of a primary and alternate building coordinator who shall be responsible for coordinating the emergency response actions for the building and its occupants; and
3. procedures for lockdowns, sheltering in place, and evacuating the building, including directions for building exit routes, designation of assembly areas outside the building, and attendance taking.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans

4.4.1 Each business unit should develop a business continuity and recovery plan if not already developed pursuant to law or mandate. Business Continuity Plans should plan for temporary relocation, power outage, data loss, pandemic, and the designation of essential staff, and other items necessary for the unit?s continued operation and/or recovery The Business Continuity Plan will consist of advance arrangements and procedures for maintaining/continuing the unit's identified critical business functions in the event of an interruption.

4.4.2 The Disaster Recovery Plan will define the resources, actions, tasks and data required to assist in the recovery of the unit's identified critical business functions. Business impact analyses and risk assessments may be required in addition to the continuity and recovery plan. The Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans must be approved by the Department Head/Director and the appropriate Dean or Vice Chancellor (or designated vice provost or associate vice chancellor).Vice chancellors and deans will develop and maintain plans for areas within their responsibility that are not under a department head.

Declaration of a State of Emergency

4.5.1 The Chancellor may, if necessary, declare a state of emergency to exist on the campus when:

1. conditions on or within the vicinity of the campus resulting from natural or man-made disasters, a civil disorder that poses a threat of serious injury to persons or damage to property, or other seriously disruptive events; and
2. extraordinary measures are required immediately to avert, alleviate, or repair damage to University property, to protect the health or safety of persons on University property, or to maintain the orderly operation of the campus.

4.5.2 The authority to declare a campus state of emergency rests with the Chancellor, or in his/her absence, the Provost, or the Chancellor?s designee.

4.5.3 During a state of emergency, the University shall place into immediate effect the appropriate procedures designed to meet the emergency and safeguard persons and property.

4.5.4 When the declaration is made, only residential students, members of the administration, faculty, staff, and emergency personnel are authorized to be on campus. Those who cannot provide proper identification proving their legitimate business on campus will be directed to leave.

4.5.5 During some emergencies or disasters, the state of emergency may only permit critical and/or essential employees on campus.

4.5.6 The Chancellor will terminate the campus state of emergency when the situation has stabilized and the conditions outlined above are no longer applicable. See Attachment 2, Sample Campus State of Emergency Declaration.

Emergency Operations Center

4.6.1 The University Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the physical location where the Emergency Management Task Force convenes to coordinate and manage resources in response to a major emergency or disaster.

4.6.2 The Emergency Operations Center shall provide resource coordination and communication regularly with the administration.

Responsibility of Administrators

4.7.1 The Chancellor has ultimate responsibility for all emergency actions taken on the Appalachian State University campus. During an extreme situation the Chancellor has the authority to declare a formal state of emergency and take appropriate actions to deal with the incident.

4.7.2 The Executive Group, consisting of the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Advancement, Chief of Staff, Associate VC for University Communications and Cultural Affairs, General Counsel, Athletics Director, Director of Human Resources, and Director of University Police, or their designees, will establish campus policy during an emergency.

4.7.3 Vice Chancellors, deans, and department heads/chairs may be called on to provide appropriate logistical support and exercise authority within their areas of responsibility. Vice Chancellors, deans, and department heads have overall responsibility for maintaining assigned facilities as safe workplaces. They are responsible for directing periodic training so that all employees are prepared to take proper action during an emergency.

Original Effective Date

June 18, 2003