Wayne,
Flood is relatively easy. There will be 10- and 100-year flood plain maps available from various resources for your area. If nothing else, ask whoever handles your campus insurance. Some quotes are based on these. Be above the 100-year altitude if at all possible; have an emergency generator available, and have it checked regularly to make sure it works and has enough stored fuel with appropriate containment in case of earthquake to see you through at least the first 12-24 hours.. When all else fails, have runners for communications. Make sure all radios, etc. are on the right frequencies with those of community and college responders. Just as in a HAZMAT respose, you always want to be uphill and upwind. Prevailing wind datafor your area are readily availble fron NOAA. In So. Cal., basedon much attendence at WADEM and other meetings, there are all kinds of engineering ways to make buildings "earthquake survivable". Be sure your EOC is located in one of these. A supply of even flashlights, emergency water and food rations, and some provision for where rescuers can rest and sleep can be appropriate. Make advanced contact with your local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) (American Red Cross might be able to facilitate and if you don't have one, offer to organize and train one).
Active shooter: Geez, I was in Austin just after that bad scenario and in northern VA when that stuff went done. Some kind of campusalert is appropriate (and others have noted that the blue light/kiosk approach may or may not be very useful). Looks good to parents when they bring thier prospective frosh around, though. Guess the best thing is to screen students and visitors in advance, but unlikely to keep out the nuts and kooks and unworkable. Some kind of notification to get away from the area and call in whoevere you have for a SWAT team? Prior coordination with campus and local law enforcement would be crucial.
Fire: You probably have already complied with all the codes for fire suppression and hopefully have a good relationship with the local FD. In your EOC, there should be the means to contact them no matter what the emergency. Co-ordination in advance is the key. Just like when I was in San Fran after the last earthquake, it was a little late to be co-ordinating with anybody then and I was kind of on my own.
HAZMAT/Lab Safety: The discussion on here has been excellent and I'd hope Russ and others will get back to you.
For an EOC, in my opinion, the first requirement is
survivablity, the second is
access for/communication with critical personnel, and the third is
communications with all who will respond. Then you can deal with the media (in the French sense, the plural of medium who is someone who attempts to communicate with the dead, so you see why the French think we are nuts about some things): they can either hurt you or help you in emergencies, but it is up to youto manage this aspect. A call-down list for newspapers, radio,TV can be invaluable and I have used them in many, many public health emergencies to the advantage of public health if managed judiciously.
If you address these things, then I don't think you can go too far wrong.
Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:50:41 -0700
From: Wayne.Phan**At_Symbol_Here**POMONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Emergency Operation center
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Good morning Alan,
Pomona college is located in Southern California. It is a private liberal art college with about 500 employees (staff and faculty) and 1600 students. We are currently changing the location of our EOC. The major emergency disaster that we will likelyto have is Earthquake, fire, active shooter, and rarely flood. We do have Hazmat and Restoration and Remediation services from the vendor. The college has its own campus safety. The fire department and police department is 3 miles away from the college. Let me know ifyou need additional information.
Many thanks for the help.
Wayne
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Alan Hall
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 12:12 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Re: [DCHAS-L] Emergency Operation center
Wayne,
It would be very helpful to the group to understand in what type of organization/facility this EOC will be located, what the potential chemical, physical, natural disaster, etc. hazards exist in your particular organization/facility, and in what part of the world this EOC will be located. What are the availabilities of outside assistance (fire/EMS/HAZMAT/law enforcement, etc.) and what internal resources will you have at your disposal.
Such information might generate responses more specific to your needs.
Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
Medical Toxicologist
ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 201111:51:32 -0700
From: Wayne.Phan**At_Symbol_Here**POMONA.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Emergency Operation center
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Hello all,
We are in the process of changing the location of our Emergency Operation Center. I would like to knowwhat types of equipments, IT capabilities, furniture etc.. that we need to have in our EOC.
Many thanks for the help.
Wayne Phan
Chemical Hygiene Officer & Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
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