Idaho State University holds emergency response training at University Place in Idaho Falls

An emergency response training session was conducted by Idaho State University Public Safety at University Place in Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 16.

Participating organizations included ISU Public Safety, the Idaho Falls Police Department and Emergency Medical Service, the University Place ISU/University of Idaho Incident Command/Emergency Operations Center Team and the ISU-Idaho Falls Counseling Services.

“These types of training exercises are required under the Clery Act for institutions of higher education and they serve the purpose of testing our emergency response plan and helping us to better prepare for emergencies,” said Lewis Eakins, ISU director of Public Safety.

The training session consisted of a tabletop emergency exercise centered on an active shooter scenario.

The emergency exercise objectives were:

• to discuss the roles, responsibilities and capabilities of the agencies involved;

• to enhance coordination between law enforcement officials and the ISU/UI University Place Incident Command/Emergency Operations Team and administrators;

• to test the methods and evaluate the effectiveness of internal and external communications, alert notifications and public information during an emergency;

• to discuss the roles and processes for providing social services for the campus community, such as counseling, after an incident.

Similar exercises will also be held on the ISU-Meridian and Pocatello campuses this summer. ISU has also conducted “live” emergency response drills at University Place in Idaho Falls, ISU-Meridian and the Pocatello campus in recent years.