Emergency Business Continuity Plan

Section V – Incident Response

5.1 Incident Commander Action Steps

General Disaster Action Steps

Pre-Disaster

• Conduct an emergency meeting of the EMT for all serious threats. This meeting may be conducted via conference call using the Century Link Conference Line.
  • Dial the toll-free Reservationless Conferencing access number: 1.877.820.7831
  • Dial the Passcode: 530803#
    Note: the pound key must be pressed after your passcode is entered
  • Wait to be added to the conference
  • If the designated Chair or their delegate does not connect to the conference within 5 minutes, disconnect from the call
• The CIC will determine if the event or the threat is of sufficient magnitude to warrant the opening of the EOC and the overall activation of this EMBCP.
• The CIC will have Security contact the EMT and IRT as necessary.
• Conduct meetings as frequently as necessary. (Meetings may be conducted by telephone.)
• In the event of any pending threat, post observers and/or alert civil authorities as necessary.
• Be prepared to open the Century Link Conference Line.
• Be prepared to update the College Emergency Website at 6:00 AM and at 6:00 PM or more frequently as necessary.
• Consult with legal counsel.
• Keep all personnel informed of any danger and provide any special instructions.
• Secure the campus grounds and building envelopes.
• Secure building contents.
• Discontinue normal College operations and release or close classes before the situation becomes dangerous.
• Identify essential personnel who will remain on campus during the disaster event.
• If appropriate, implement evacuation and safety plans.

Disaster Impact

• All normal academic and research activities are discontinued.
• If appropriate, implement evacuation, emergency lockdown and other safety plans.
• Focus on life safety issues first. In a crisis situation where life safety is a concern: turn authority over to the proper civil authorities as soon as possible.

Post-Disaster Activities

• Have security contact needed IRT resources, EMT members, and IRT members.
• Have security contact all EMT members.
• Have security contact all IRT members.
• Establish the EOC or ECP.
• Establish lines of communication.
• Secure the Campus.
• Address all life threatening and dangerous situations.
• Assess the status of the following:
  • Campus damage
  • Building damage
  • Building content damage
  • Workforce capabilities
• Develop a recovery strategy, consider the following:
  • Basic services and backup alternatives
  • Available resources
  • Regulatory requirements
• Send updates via BlackboardConnect as needed.
• Continue to take steps to mitigate future damages.
• Consult with legal counsel to investigate legal matters.
• Hold a debriefing meeting, review the actions taken and make appropriate updates to the EMBCP.

General Crisis Management Procedures

For our purposes a “crisis situation” represents an extraordinary and unpredictable disastrous event such as a dangerous (possibly armed) intruder, death of an individual, criminal activity, fire, etc.

Initial Response

• Contact police, fire, or rescue agencies. Turn decisions over to the appropriate government agency as soon as possible.
• Address life safety issues first.
• Determine if an evacuation or an emergency lockdown is advisable.
• Conduct an emergency meeting of the EMT and IRT.
• Assign a liaison person to gather information and interface with government agencies.
• Keep the organization’s spokesperson advised of the situation.

During the Crisis

• Disseminate information to the EMT and IRT preferably by meeting rather than by memo.
• Supply management team with written material to assist with the dissemination of information to all employees.
• Supply telephone operators with a brief statement to handle incoming telephone calls. Be sure that only one person is authorized to speak with the media and that all other employees are instructed not to speak with the media. Consider establishing a voice-mail information box to provide consistent information to all callers.
• Maintain close contact with government agencies.
• Have the spokesperson handle all media contact.

Debriefing

• Meet with members of the EMT & IRT and allow each individual time to express themselves. This is useful for fact-finding and physiological healing.
• Reconstruct the College’s response process and reevaluate the steps taken.

5.2 Incident Response Action Plans

Purpose

The purpose of this Incident Response Plan is to provide important information in the event an emergency or natural disaster occurs within the Lamar State College Orange campus or the general area that impacts academic and other operations. This plan will assist in anticipating emergencies and help initiate the appropriate response to greatly lessen the extent of injuries and limit equipment, material, and property damage.

This Incident Response Plan is designed for use by faculty, staff, and other early responders.