Benedictine University’s Emergency Response and Recovery Team (ERRT) has put together a comprehensive operations plan outlining the procedures in which detailed information would be shared with the campus community.
Statement of Purpose
Benedictine University is committed to the safety of all faculty, staff, students and visitors to our campus. The Emergency Response and Recovery Team (ERRT) have developed the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (ERRP) with the sole purpose of preparing the University community in the event of an emergency or a disaster. Adherence to these guidelines by the University community will result in the saving of lives, reduction of additional injury and property damage, ability to meet human needs, restoration of essential operations and priority services, and the capability of the University to communicate in a timely manner in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Identification of Hazards
The University is exposed to many hazards (emergency of disaster situations), any of which have the potential to disrupt the campus and/or local community operations: cause physical environmental damage; cause deaths or significant injuries to employees, students or the public; shut down a business; or threaten a facility’s financial standing or public image. Potential hazards for the University are:
HAZARD |
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT |
METHOD OF WARNING |
NATURAL: |
|
|
Severe Weather |
Campus Safety |
Municipal siren; University lightning detection horn; University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Fire |
Campus Safety; Facilities Management |
Fire alarm; University Notification and Warning protocol |
Earthquake |
Campus Safety |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
MAN-MADE: |
|
|
Structural failure or loss of utility |
Facilities Management; Campus Safety; Local utility company. |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Steam tunnels |
Facilities Management |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Public health |
University Health Services; Student Life; Local County or Municipal Health Department; Campus Safety. |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Emergency |
Campus Safety |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Assault |
Campus Safety |
Clery Act, timely notification, Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Use of weapons/hostage situation/active shooter |
Campus Safety; Local law enforcement agencies |
Clery Act, timely notification, University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Mass casualty event |
Campus Safety; Local EMS and fire department |
Clery Act, timely notification, University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
TECHNOLOGICAL: |
|
|
Bomb threats or the discovery of suspicious items |
Campus Safety; Local Law enforcement agencies |
Clery Act, timely notification, University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Release of hazardous materials (indoor/ outdoor) |
Campus Safety; University Health Services; Local EMS and fire department. |
University Mass Notification and Warning protocol |
Notification and Warning Process
There is no one communication vehicle that will reach everyone. Therefore, ERRT, through the coordination of the Marketing and Communications Department, will notify the campus population and the general public of major emergencies through a combination of the following University-wide notification systems:
- AlertWave™ Emergency Notification System: wireless public address/emergency communication/mass notification system located in common areas of all campus buildings that includes speakers, horns, strobe lights and all University phones equipped with speaker phone capability.
- BenAlert Emergency Notification System.
- Fire alarms in all campus buildings operated by the University’s on-duty police supervisor. The University adheres to all fire code regulations as established by state law.
- Broadcast email to @All main campus faculty; @All main campus staff; @All main campus students; @All adjunct faculty with details sent by the public information officer.
- Broadcast voicemail: delivers a broadcast voicemail with the “Urgent Deliver” option to all users who have a voicemail account. This includes all faculty and staff with an assigned private telephone number and all main office phones.
- Lightning detection horn: This is manually activated by University Police dispatch after being notified of severe weather conditions by the AccuWeather Skyguard system.
- The University website notice (https://www.ben.edu) and Emergency Information Web page.
- Emergency Information Line at (630) 829-6622.
- The University’s Emergency Notification Phone Tree.
- Residence Life staff will personally contact each resident student through a variety of means including letters, posters and resident assistants under the supervision of the Office of Residence Life.
- University Police vehicles equipped with a public address system and emergency lights.
- Posters and notices on campus buildings.
- The Benedictine University president issues an email to the internal community and a letter to current and prospective Benedictine parents, alumni and friends of the University that can also be emailed in coordination with the public information officer.
- ERRT members and their designees assume roles and responsibilities.
- The electronic sign and campus TV network operated by the Marketing and Communications Department.
- The Kindlon Hall carillon operated by the chief engineer or, in his absence, his designee can be turned into a public address system, if needed.
- Student campus leaders: SGA, Candor and other student groups.
- Via the Emergency Operations Center, ERRT members prepare and distribute fact sheets with definitions, a plan and steps to be taken, including identifying isolation or quarantine areas (health-related incidents).
- Marketing and Communications will contact the Emergency Closing Center (ECC). (Information is then automatically broadcast to all Chicago area radio and TV stations, the ECC website and email notification system.
- Cancellations.com, similar to the ECC, above.
- Statement or press release emailed and faxed to Chicago area media outlets, such as television and radio stations.
- Press conference for Chicago media outlets.
- Marketing and Communications will personally speak with all media inquiries via phone or on camera/in person.
- Marketing and Communications will respond to internal and external comments and questions.
- Updates will be posted to Facebook and Twitter by Marketing and Communications.
- Office of Health Services will monitor the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health care websites and stay up to date on information to assist in distribution of medical information (infection control, signs and symptoms, personal protection and numbers to call for assistance) and provide resources to obtain updated information: www.cdc.gov or www.pandemicflu.gov (health-related incidents).
- Marketing and Communications will communicate educational information and attempt to ease the anxiety of the community (health-related incidents).
- Marketing and Communications Department will coordinate the release of information with hospitals (health-related incidents).
The above may be updated hourly/daily as needed as additional details develop. Details may include general information; warnings/awareness; status of classes/campus/buildings; and specifics related to health-related incidents such as signs/symptoms/protection/prevention, suspected/confirmed cases, isolation/quarantine, etc.
Roles of Students, Faculty and Staff in an Emergency
Every Benedictine University employee and student can potentially play a role in the Campus Emergency Management Plan (EMP). Perhaps the most critical aspect of the EMP is communication; accurate reports from the scene of an incident are essential to providing adequate emergency services. Similarly, the campus community must receive up-to-date instructions concerning disaster response procedures and news of evolving incidents.
ROLE OF THE STUDENTS
Every student should familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures and evacuation routes in buildings they live in or use frequently. Students should be prepared to assess situations quickly but thoroughly, and use common sense in determining a course of action. They should evacuate to assembly areas in an orderly manner when an alarm sounds or when emergency personnel direct them to do so.
ROLE OF FACULTY AND STAFF
Every member of the faculty and staff should read and understand the Emergency Response and Recovery Plan, localized department emergency plans, and familiarize themselves with campus emergency procedures and building evacuation routes. Employees should be prepared to assess situations quickly and thoroughly, and use common sense in determining a course of action. They should follow emergency procedures to report fire or other emergencies that require immediate attention, and evacuate to the evacuation assembly areas in an orderly manner. Students see faculty members as leaders, so faculty should be prepared to direct students to assembly areas in the event of an emergency.