Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst: Crisis Planning on College Campuses

NASPA IV EAST Regional ConferenceNovember 2-4, Indianapolis IN

Overview

• The evolution of crises on campus• Types of crises• The crisis cycle• Crisis planning as a national

imperative• Crisis planning at Michigan Tech• Lessons learned

Types of crises

• Environmental• Facilities• Human

The crisis cycle

Crisis Planning

Crisis planning as a national imperative

• In Search of Safer Communities• The IACLEA Blueprint for Safer

Communities• Campus Crisis Management: A

Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Prevention, Response and Recovery

• All situations/ campuses are unique• No single best answer• Cannot prevent every act of violent

behavior• A variety of roles exists• There is confusion about terminology• A link exists between violence and

alcohol• A link exists between guns and violence• Work must start w/ K-12• Vast majority w/ mental health issues

are not violent

In Search of Safer Communities: Emerging Practices, 2008

Recommendations

• NASPA• IACLEA• Others

The Michigan Tech Plan

• Follows National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework

• Defines incident and levels of crisis• Identifies Emergency Operations Center• Establishes communication plan• Defines family & media centers

Incident levels

• Level 1 Incident

• Level 2 Incident

• Level 3 Incident

Level 1 IncidentCRITERIA :  

1. Incident can be resolved by Michigan Tech employees.

2. An outside agency may be involved as a precautionary measure or in accordance with Michigan Tech policy.

3. Incident report submitted to appropriate administrative unit (OSHS, Risk Management, Housing Office, etc.).

4. Duration of the incident is a maximum of one (1) hour.

Level 2 IncidentCRITERIA

1. Resolution of the incident involves both Michigan Tech and outside agency personnel.

2. Evacuation is short term and affects immediate localized area only.  

3. Localized EOC near the incident. 

4. Incident report submitted to appropriate administrative unit (OSHS, Risk Management, Housing Office, etc.).

5. Duration of the incident is a maximum of eight (8) hours.

Level 3 IncidentCRITERIA

1. Serious hazard or severe threat to life, health, or property.

2. Resolution of incident involves multiple community and county agencies as well as multiple levels of university personnel.

3. Major evacuation involving relocation of students and/or university personnel.

4. Duration of the event is unpredictable.

5. Campus-wide Emergency Operations Center post established in predetermined location.

6. Long-term recovery plan established.

Level 3 Incident7. Relocation procedures activated for people displaced by

the incident.

8. Medical needs planned for using university and community resources.

9. Communications center established to coordinate media and university related communications.

10. Comprehensive incident report submitted to university president.

11. Incident critique involving all agencies involved.

CommunicationPrimary• Email• Text messaging• Voice mail/reverse 911• Web• Loudspeaker/sirenSecondary• Phone trees• ALERT flyers• Door to door

Response example

Dept. Staff

Public Safety

BuildingEvacuation

OSHS

EOCEstablished

Media Center Staffed

Facilities

Chemical Spill

•Transition to recovery

• Implement Business Continuity Plan

•Facilities restored and open for business

Progress made towards the plan

• Established University-wide Crisis Response Team

• Distributed Guide to Emergency Procedures and poster

• Developed “Safety First” website• Convened Early Intervention Team – meets

weekly• Refined crisis communications plan

• Initiated Incident Command Team• Obtained NIMS 100/200 level certification• Completed two compressed drills, one

comprehensive tabletop and one full drill scenario activating the EOC

• Hosted discussion group – post Virginia Tech• Purchased, activated, and tested ConnectEd

Next steps

• Continue to refine Crisis Plan• Provide training for all including family

liaison training• Conduct campus-wide mock incident• Practice, practice, practice

Staying safe

• Pay attention• Report suspicious behavior to

Public Safety• Alert the Early Intervention Team• Review Guide to Emergency

Procedures periodically

Lessons learned• Most crises can’t be predicted• Every situation is unique and

different• There is no such thing as being

over-prepared• Communicate as much information

up front as you can• There is flexibility with FERPA• Expect unfunded mandates

Questions