CHAPTER 5 Crisis Management - General
It is the responsibility of the University to protect life and property from the effects of hazardous events within its own jurisdiction. NLU has the primary responsibility for initial emergency management activities on its campuses. Depending on the circumstances, the University’s Presi dent may declare a state of disaster or emergency at one or all of the University’s campuses. The effect of the declaration is to activate the recovery and rehabilitation aspects of the Plan and to authorize furnishing aid and assistance. When the needs for the emergency exceed local capability to respond, outside assistance will be requested from neighboring jurisdictions and/or the state government. The following guidelines summarize the University’s responsibilities in an emergency: 1. NLU has the responsibility for emergency disaster operations within its jurisdiction. 2. Whenever a large-scale emergency occurs within any of the emergency management cooperating jurisdictions and it is determined necessary that all resources in the county area are required, a joint University/cities/county operation will generally be initiated. 3. The University’s President is ultimately responsible for all emergency response and will delegate that responsibility to an EMC designate in his/her absence. Those individuals will direct the CIRT who will help to manage the University’s response under the President’s direction. All parties keep the University’s President or the EMC designate informed throughout the process to ensure coordination and proper response is occurring. Phases of Management These guidelines are predicated on an all-hazard approach and acknowledge that most responsibilities and functions performed during an emergency are not hazard specific. Likewise, these guidelines account for activities before and after, as well as during emergency operations; consequently, all phases of emergency management are addressed as discussed below. • Mitigation – Mitigation activities are those which eliminate or reduce the probability of a disaster occurring. Also included are those long-term activities, which lessen the undesirable effects of unavoidable hazards. • Preparedness – Preparedness activities serve to develop the response capabilities needed in the event an emergency should arise. Planning and training are among the activities conducted under this phase. • Response – Response is the actual provision of emergency services during a crisis. These activities help to reduce casualties and damage, and speed recovery. Response activities include warning, fire, evacuation, rescue, and other similar operations. • Recovery – Recovery is both a short-term and long-term process. Short-term operations seek to restore vital services to the University and provide for the basic needs of employees, students, and visitors. Long-term recovery focuses on restoring the University to its normal pre-disaster, or an improved, state of affairs. The recovery period is also an opportune time to institute future mitigation measures, particularly those related to the recent emergency.
In addition to the CIRT, the Campus Facility Managers have identified and trained floor wardens at each campus that can help to coordinate the appropriate response on each floor.
Aside from the above individuals who are part of the CIRT, all University offices should be available to
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