Idaho State University - Emergency Response and Recovery Plan


    Chapter 1:   Introduction -
                Emergency Incident Command Plan

This Plan is established as a supplement to the administrative policies, procedures and practices followed during normal university operations.  When implemented, it serves as the Idaho State University emergency operations component of the Emergency Response Plan, setting forth the authorities and policies for activation, personnel emergency assignments and operational procedures.  This plan is in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order 2006-10 "Mitigation, Response and Recovery Functions."

1.1     Plan Goals and Objectives

The major goals of the Plan are the preservation of life, the protection of property and continuity of academic and business operations.

In the event of a disaster, Idaho State University would like to be self-sustaining for at least 72 hours to meet our responsibility for the safety and welfare of our 12,000+ students and hundreds of teachers, staff, and employees. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Response Organization Checklists).

The overall objective is to ensure the effective management of emergency efforts involved in preparing for and responding to situations associated with emergencies. Specifically this will include:
1.2    Plan Format

The format is intended to require minimal time to find guidelines, procedures and supplemental information, once the reader is familiar with the document.  This allows for immediate use when required during an emergency.

The format is also intended to be “response ready.” Users are to utilize the checklists contained in this document when participating in drills, exercises, or in actual events.  The completed forms are then kept on file, as official records of the emergency response

Users are encouraged to supplement the Plan with additional materials in order to have complete information for an emergency.

This format utilizes the Incident Command System required by the  Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security.

1.3    Plan Maintenance and Update

The ISU Emergency Response Plan is designed for efficient update and additions. It is assigned to the Director of Public Safety for ongoing updates and maintenance. The Director of Public Safety will review the plan on a yearly basis and suggest revisions when necessary. Revisions are implemented by the Director of Public Safety on an as-needed basis.  In addition, the Director of Public Safety will conduct a thorough annual review of the following items:

    •    ISU Emergency Response Assignments
    •    Personnel Directory

These sections are to be updated and posted to the Emergency Web Page when there are significant changes.

This plan is a management plan and it supports and is integrated with site operations. The sections of the plan addressing site procedures can be easily updated with minor modifications when there are changes to the ISU organization, systems and/or new functional positions are added. It does not need to be updated each time site procedures change.

Individuals with emergency assignments are to review their procedures and related information after every activation of the plan, whether simulated drill or actual response.  Individual checklists are then to be revised as needed. If additional pages are added, they will only affect the "Part" they are in. The Parts are separate sections and can easily be updated and reprinted as changes occur. Additionally, individual users are encouraged to add supplemental materials to their checklists to create complete "response ready" documents.

The checklists are designed to be used as worksheets. New and revised checklists can be reprinted after each activation.

1.4    Level of Emergency Determines Response

The University’s partial or total response to an emergency situation will be dictated by the type and magnitude of the emergency.  Generally, response to a major emergency will progress from local, to regional, to state, to federal involvement.

For planning purposes, the University has established three levels of response to emergencies, which are based on the severity of the situation and the availability of campus resources:

•    Level 1
A minor to moderate incident wherein campus resources are adequate and available.

•    Level 2
A moderate to severe emergency wherein campus resources may not be adequate and mutual aid may be required on a larger basis. An emergency will be proclaimed and a State of Emergency might be proclaimed.

•    Level 3
A major disaster wherein resources in or near the impacted area are overwhelmed and extensive city, county, stated and/or federal resources are required.

The University President will proclaim the level of the emergency.

The Plan provides for a full emergency response by the University for an incident.  However, only sections of the response organization that are required to address the situation at the time are activated. For example, a Level One disaster occurring on campus would require minimal activation of the plan, where more serious situations would require increased activation.

1.5    Emergency Plan Activation

When an emergency situation arises, the University President or his designee should activate the Plan.   The Incident Commander will implement the Incident Command Plan. University personnel and equipment will be utilized to provide priority protection for:

          Life safety
          Preservation of property
          Restoration of academic and business operations

The manner in which university personnel and equipment will be used will be determined by the Plan under the direction of the University President or Incident Commander.


The University President or Incident Commander will immediately appoint available individuals, with appropriate skills, to fill each of the Emergency Operations Center positions: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance.

The president or acting president of the university (or his designee) will be responsible for notifying the Incident Commander to deactivate the emergency operations response when s/he deems it appropriate.

    1.5.1    Activation During Business Hours
   
When an emergency situation such as those envisioned by the Plan occurs during university business hours, the following should take place:

If Telephone Services ARE Operational:

          The Public Safety Dispatcher will:

    •    Immediately call the Public Safety Director, captain, or operations lieutenant and advise of the emergency situation.
    •    Then notify the President and advise of the emergency situation.
    •    Then notify EOC representatives, and advise them where to report.

If Telephone Services ARE NOT Operational:

Public Safety personnel will make personal contact with EOC members or their office, where possible.

As they become aware of a major emergency situation at Idaho State University, EOC representatives and members of the President's Executive Group will immediately report to the EOC.

    1.5.2    Activation During Non-working Hours

There is a significant chance that an emergency situation such as those envisioned by the Plan may occur before or after regular university business hours, or on a holiday or weekend when the university is closed.

While the structure of this plan remains precisely the same, its implementation may vary depending upon available resources and staff until officials can be notified. Until that time, however, the individuals assuming the most responsibility will be members of the Public Safety Department. Officers will follow guidelines and checklists in the Plan, while simultaneously notifying members of the EOC and President's Executive Group of the situation, by those reasonable means available.

      The EOC Representatives and President's Executive Group should report to the EOC.