Emergency Response Plan

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) at Daemen College is comprised of administrators responsible for various aspects of the health and well-being of the campus community.  The purpose of the ERT is to meet regularly, review and be familiar with the plan, conduct training exercises for the community, and ensure that the plan is continually updated and revised.  The ERT consists of the Team Members outlined below.
 

INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

It is not feasible or practical to develop an emergency plan based on every incident that may occur.  Each situation and crisis is different.  Even two situations of the same nature are different in circumstance.  Therefore, the Daemen College Emergency Response Plan is based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) as used by federal, state, and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.  The purpose behind ICS is to allow for integrated command of multiple response agencies- to allow for ease of communication, sharing of resources, and greater flexibility in response based on the personnel at the scene at that time.

There are five major management functions that are the foundation upon which the ICS is built. These functions apply whether the team is responding to a routine emergency, organizing for a major non-emergency event, or managing a response to a major disaster. The five major management functions are:

• Incident Command: Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities and has overall responsibility at the incident or event.
• Operations: Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan. Develops the tactical objectives and organization, and directs all tactical resources.
• Planning: Prepares and documents the Incident Action Plan to accomplish the objectives, collects and evaluates information, maintains resource status, and maintains documentation for incident records.
• Logistics: Provides support, resources, and all other services needed to meet the operational objectives.
• Finance/Administration: Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analyses.

ICS follows these five major management functions for any situation, regardless of the size of the incident,.  When the ICS is deployed, the staff member with the most experience to handle the situation at that time, regardless of title, rank, etc, is deemed the Incident Commander.  In most cases, this will be the Campus Safety Supervisor for that evening. When it is appropriate to switch command, the Incident Commander will brief the next person and transition command.

As incidents expand or contract, change in jurisdiction or discipline, or become more or less complex, command may change to meet the needs of the incident.   Rank, grade, and seniority are not the factors used to select the Incident Commander. The Incident Commander is always a highly qualified individual trained to lead the incident response.  The Incident Commander is also the only position that is always filled for any situation.  All other team members become supporting cast and work together to resolve the crisis.

Depending on the nature of the emergency, local law enforcement and response agencies may become involved.  In those instances, Daemen College staff will transition authority of the situation to the authorities.  However, the Incident Commander and Daemen ERT members are still responsible for working directly with law enforcement and emergency response team members, handling media relations, and providing the necessary report for resolving a situation amicably.  After law enforcement and emergency response members leave, College staff will be left to handle the aftermath.  So this very much needs to be a team effort and everyone needs to know the proper way to handle a crisis situation.

A crisis or emergency is defined as ANY event that affects one or more people in a significant way and/or involves local, state, and/or federal authorities.  This is an intentionally broad definition used purposely so as to ensure that all incidents are responded to in a consistent manner.

Daemen College is located in a community that has been ranked (over the years) among the top 5 "safest communities of its size" in the nation.

US Department of Education web site for crime statistics as filed by colleges and universities.

Alert Notification

A Text Alert/Email Notification System will be used to notify the entire campus community of any incident or emergency condition that could endanger the campus community or disrupt daily activity.  (ie, Power outage, dangerous situation, hazardous conditions, emergency)

Tornado warnings

• Stay away from windows.  
• Seek shelter indoors.
• Turn to local tv or weather.com for more information.  

 Campus Alerts

• Always travel with another person and in well-lit areas upon which you are familiar.
• Always lock and secure your valuables, including those in your car.
• Report suspicious activity immediately by calling Campus Safety at 716-839-8246 or 9-1-1.

Shelter in Place Emergencies

• Secure yourself in your room, classroom or current location.
• Lock door, secure blinds.
• Stay away from windows.
• Turn off the volume on all stereos, TVs and computers.
• Put cell phone on vibrate or silent.
• Stay where you are until you receive additional information from the College. Announcements and additional information will be sent out via Daemen College email and text message to those enrolled in the Daemen College Alert System.