EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Info / National Incident Management System (NIMS) 4
Definitions of an Emergency 7
Geographical Emergencies 7
Classifications of Emergencies 7
Early Warning System 7
Types of Emergencies 8
Natural 8
Accidental 8
Societal 8
Implementation of the Emergency/Disaster Operations Plan 8
Emergency Operations Center 8
Disaster Psychology 9
Organization and Responsibilities 14
Other Support Organizations 14
On-scene Command Post 14
Emergency Communications Plan 14
Facility Evacuation 15
Environmental Health and Safety Division (EH&S) 15
Emergency Action Plan Summary 16
Emergency Notification Procedures 17
Outdoor Warning Siren System 18
Workplace Violence 18
Identifying High Risk Students and Intervention Guidelines 20
Critical Event Response Guide Overview 22
Biological Spill 23
Blood and Body Fluid Spill 26
Code Black – Active Shooter 27
Code Green – Severe Weather 28
Earthquake 31
Code Blue – Medical Emergency 32
Code Grey – Bomb Threat 33
Bomb Threat Checklist 34
Explosion 35
Nuclear Attack 35
Chemical Spill 36
Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities from
Multi-story Buildings 37
Code Orange – Decontamination 41
Code Triage – Disaster/Disaster Drill 42
Code Pink – Infant/Child Abductions 42
Code Red – Fire 43 Death, Suicide Attempt or Suicide 46
Shelter in Place 46
Missing Person 46
Code Gold – Elopement Response Plan 47
Personal Injury 49
Personal Injury Matrix 50
Radioactive Materials Spill 51
Unauthorized Weapons 51
Hostage Situation 52
Suspicious Package or Substance 52
Transportation Emergencies 53
Plan Maintenance 54
Important Telephone Numbers 54
GENERAL
Emergencies or disasters may occur at any time on or near Augusta University locations. (Henceforth AU for this document) Types of emergencies or disasters range from technological or natural disasters to civil disturbances. Regardless of the type of emergency or disaster, the initial activation and implementation of the AU Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) should always be the same. Because stress and confusion are to be expected at the emergency scene, quick, efficient implementation of the plan will provide clear directions, responsibility, and continuity of control for key offices.
It must be emphasized that the EOP will only be implemented when there is actual or imminent danger to a large number of people. Routine management for isolated incidents will not require activation of the EOP unless the incident becomes out of control, for example, a dumpster fire that spreads to an adjacent building, or a train derailment that is later followed by emission of toxic vapors due to a leak or explosion.
NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
AU is committed to developing and administering a comprehensive emergency management program. This program works in conjunction with the emergency programs of federal, state and local jurisdictions to endeavor to protect lives and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors; safeguard critical infrastructure, facilities, environment, essential records, and research; and resume operations as soon as practicable.
Primary emergency management guidance is contained in the Emergency Operations Plan Augusta University Medical Center; which covers events in the medical center and clinics and for the University which covers events and activities on the Augusta campus locations. This plan is designed to provide guidance on how to mitigate, plan for, respond to, and recover from major emergency situations affecting the university and hospital. All AU departments are to prepare Emergency Response Plans specific to their needs. Emergency planning and preparedness for AU has developed over many years and is an ongoing process.
AU is committed to the use of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in the management of all significant emergency incidents. NIMS is to be incorporated into all emergency planning, preparedness, response, and recovery documents and guidelines. Use of NIMS also provides for a smooth integration of university emergency operations with those of county, state, and federal emergency operations as needed. Appropriate personnel within the university are required to train, exercise, and utilize the emergency management principles as outlined in NIMS.
I.PURPOSE
The purpose of this plan is to set forth the broad requirements for the development, implementation, and on-going maintenance of the Emergency Operations Plan.(EOP) The EOP is meant to outline the decision-making framework that would guide the awareness, mitigation, preparatory, response, and recovery actions aimed at ensuring an effective, safe, and orderly continuation of educational and research programs, and community services, and administrative and other activities whenever the normal continuation of these operations is threatened by a variety of emergency/catastrophic events.
II.ACCOUNTABILITY
Under the direction of the Vice President for Facilities Services, The Office of Critical Events Preparedness and Response (CEPaR) shall ensure implementation of this plan.
III.APPLICABILITY
This plan applies to all AU departments and AU owned or operated facilities in Augusta.
IV.DEFINITIONS
A. Emergency/Catastrophic Events - An emergency or catastrophic event may be defined as any event that overwhelms the ability of the institution to operate effectively, safely, and normally in pursuit of its mission-critical programs and activities. An emergency may be attributable to natural, technological, and/or man-made events.
B. Internal Disaster - An event that impacts AU’S physical plant or mission-critical facilities, or the ability to adequately staff a facility or carry out mission-critical activities, and may require student, employee, contractor, or patient relocation or evacuation (examples include, but are not limited to, the following: bomb threats, fires, explosions, nuclear/biological/chemical contaminants or spills, building damage, massive failure of a utility system, severe staff shortages, etc.). These events may or may not include response from external (non- AU) organizations.
C. External Disaster - An event that involves a disaster outside AU facilities, in the community at large, state, or region, that would require AU to mobilize its resources to provide support and/or services to external organizations and/or disaster victims, either at AU facilities or at the site of the disaster.
D. Internal and External Disaster - An event that includes elements of both an internal and external disaster (e.g. massive chemical leak or flood that threatens a facility or the entire campus).
E. AU State of Emergency (referenced hereinafter as State of Emergency) - An official declaration to fully enact appropriate Emergency Operations Plans, emergency support functions, and other emergency facilities, personnel and resources.
F. Emergency Operations Plan(EOP) - The Emergency Operations Plan includes how AU will establish and maintain a program to ensure an effective program of awareness, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery from disasters or emergencies affecting its mission critical operations. The plan is intended to serve as a guide for all AU personnel involved with any aspect of a disaster, internal or external. The EOP may be partially or fully implemented with or without a formal declaration of an AU State of Emergency.
G. Incident Command System (ICS) - Principles, concepts, and structures used in managing any size or type of disaster to control response personnel, facilities, communications, and equipment. ICS principles include use of common terminology, modular organization, integrated communications, unified command structure, action planning, manageable span-of-control, pre-designated facilities, and comprehensive resource management. The basic functional modules of ICS (e.g., operations, logistics) can be expanded or contracted to meet requirements as an event progresses. The term “Incident Command System” in the context of this policy and the EOP shall be construed to mean the nationally accepted model, based on accepted National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards and curricula.
H. Unified Command - ICS Management process that allows all agencies (a department or service officially acting for others) that have jurisdictional or functional responsibility for the incident to assist the incident commander to jointly develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies. This is accomplished without losing or giving up individual authority, responsibility, or accountability.
I. Incident Commander - The person in charge of the incident who will control all operations and support directly related to the response to the crisis/emergency, including assembling a team, assigning responsibilities, and providing direction and leadership, starting with the onset of the crisis/emergency and continuing through the response and recovery phases. The IC has the ultimate overall responsibility for all AU emergency activities related to the disaster; the unified command approach allows the IC to solicit assistance and ideas from other leaders with functional/technical expertise in given areas. The IC may also delegate certain responsibilities through the Command Staff (Information Officer, Liaison Officer, and Safety Officer) and/or through the General Staff (Section Chiefs - Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration). The use of additional personnel to occupy these various ICS positions will depend on the size, scope, and nature of the disaster, as well as the resources present and requested. If additional personnel do not populate these positions, all responsibilities for that ICS position fall back on the incident commander.
J. Information Officer - Central point for information dissemination; part of the Command Staff.
K. Liaison Officer - Designated by the Incident Commander to serve as an official AU contact with the various internal AU departments, as well as the Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, Augusta Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Public Health, GA Hospital Association and/or other external emergency responders during a partial or full activation of the AU EOP; part of the Command Staff.
L. Safety Officer - Detects and has emergency authority to stop and correct unsafe situations; part of the Command Staff.
M. Incident Command Post - Serves as the area for incident management and will be headed by the Incident Commander and may be staffed by representatives from agencies with operational roles in the incident. In the event of an internal emergency, the University Police Department will, in most cases, serve as the Incident Commander, secure the scene, and establish an Incident Command Post at a safe distance from the incident site. In incidents where the University Police Department is not the Primary Agency, the Primary Agency (PA) will establish the Incident Command Post.
N. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) - Depending on the nature, scope, and magnitude of the emergency, a designated site will be set up to serve as an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Various personnel, including the IC supported by the Planning/Logistic Sections, and/or Unified Command agencies, can be present at the EOC. The EOC is the area where planning to support the incident will occur.
DEFINITIONS OF AN EMERGENCY
The following definitions of an emergency are provided as guidelines to assist managers and employees and other area coordinators in determining the appropriate response.
Geographical Emergencies.
This plan recognizes four basic types of geographical emergency situations:
1. Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) Event – an internal or external event which requires the EOC to be placed into operation.
2. Augusta University Event - An emergency event that endangers the overall safety and wellbeing of students, employees, visitors, and structures within the confines of the university.
3. Community Event - An emergency event in the immediate vicinity of AU which could create a large number of injuries/casualties or have an impact upon the vicinity.
4. State or National Event - These events will normally be managed by the local County Office of Emergency Management or the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Early Warning System.
Notification by the University Police Department, AUMC Security Dispatch or CEPaR of Enterprise key personnel will be made for all potential or actual emergency situations. Warning of the actual or impending danger may come from such sources as radio and/or television, activation of sirens (Health Science Campus only) or the Jaguar Alert system.
TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
The following is a list of many of the types of emergencies that can be experienced.
1. Natural Causes
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Lightning
Ice storms
Severe winter storms
Building emergency (structural damage caused by an emergency)
2. Accidental Causes
Fires (chemical, natural gas, electrical or ordinary structural)
Hazardous chemical accidents or spills (vapor or liquid)
Transportation accidents (airplane, railroad car, automobile/truck)
Explosions (compressed gas, containerized liquid or manmade)
Prolonged utility outages (gas, electricity, cooling system, water)
3. Societal Causes
Civil disturbance
Hostage situation
Bomb-threats or explosions
Terrorist action
Active Shooter
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EMERGENCY/DISASTER RESPONSE PLAN
The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is brought into action by declaration of an emergency by the President or, in his absence, the administrator in charge or by the highest-ranking executive-level senior administrator that is currently available. Once an emergency has been declared, the members of the Emergency Operations Center and other support personnel are, to the extent possible, relieved of routine duties, to more fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. The President will notify the Board of Regents of the pending emergency.
The President through the administrator in charge maintains executive control of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). AU personnel and equipment will be utilized to provide priority protection of life, preservation of property, and restoration services in the hospital. The members of the EOC will determine the manner in which personnel and equipment are utilized.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be headed by the President or, in his absence, the administrator in charge or by the highest-ranking executive-level senior administrator that is currently available during a potential or actual emergency situation. The EOC will serve as the single point for monitoring and coordinating all response activities during the emergency.
DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction and Overview:
AU employees should prepare themselves for their role during and following a disaster by learning about the possible impact of disaster on them and others, emotionally and physically. This knowledge will help members understand and manage their reactions to the event and to work better with others.
This section will address techniques for managing one’s personal situation so that the needs of the victims and those of our team members can be met.
TEAM WELL-BEING
During a disaster, you may see and hear things that will be extremely unpleasant.
Vicarious trauma: the process of change in the rescuer resulting from empathic engagement with survivors. It is an “occupational hazard” for helpers.