University at Buffalo Crest.

Policy Information

Date Established: 8/10/2017
Date Last Updated:
Category:
Administration and Governance
Responsible Office:
UB Emergency Management
Responsible Executive:
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Policy Contents

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Emergency Management Program Policy

Summary

The UB Emergency Management Program effectively coordinates university, community, and other external resources to protect life and property before, during, and after emergencies.

Policy Statement

The University at Buffalo (UB, university) is committed to:

  • Protecting people, research animals and plants, intellectual property, equipment, and facilities
  • Minimizing the impact of emergencies
  • Maximizing the effectiveness of the campus community in responding to and recovering from emergencies

The UB Emergency Management Program defines the authority, organization, and plan required to protect life and critical facilities and restore campus operations.

Emergency Management Program
Authority The President has the overall authority to commit necessary university resources before, during, and after emergencies.
Organization The Emergency Management Program is organized as follows:

•  Emergency Planning Policy Group reviews the overall organization of resources and content of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to assure continuity of university operations
•  Emergency Planning Oversight Committee serves as a clearing house for all matters related to emergency management
•  Departments, units, schools, and other entities develop plans for preventing, responding to, and recovering from emergencies within their organizations and facilities
Plan

The university maintains a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to:

•  Safeguard the welfare of the campus community
•  Articulate the coordination of effective planning for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of emergencies
•  Organize and direct available resources toward an effective response to, and recovery from,  emergencies
•  Include a chain of command establishing the authority and responsibilities of campus officials and staff members that requires individual departments to develop consistent, detailed emergency plans and to commit resources for emergency preparedness

Background

This policy meets the requirements of State University of New York (SUNY) Procedure 5606 – Emergency Response Plan Requirements. All plans and procedures meet the requirements for consistency with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Applicability

This policy applies to all members of the university community.  

Definitions

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)

Establishes and outlines the university response to protect life and property during and after an emergency and sets minimum standards for the creation of department emergency plans.

Department Emergency Plan

Outlines the unit-specific response to an emergency; must be designed to promulgate strategies for protecting people and programs and for coordinating recovery efforts to continue operations.    

Emergency

An event or set of circumstances which:

(1) requires responsive action to protect life and/or property, or to provide relief to any part of the university or community overtaken by such occurrences; or
(2) reaches such a dimension or degree of disruptiveness or destructiveness to warrant a comprehensive organizational response.

Emergency Planning Oversight Committee

Serves as a clearing house for all matters related to emergency management. The Emergency Planning Oversight Committee members include, but are not limited to, representatives from:

  • Office of the President
  • Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications
  • Issues Management and Stakeholder Communications
  • Division of Student Life
  • Provost
  • Finance and Administration
  • Human Resources
  • Research and Economic Development
  • Network and Classroom Services
  • University Facilities
  • Information Security
  • University Police
  • Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S)
  • Athletics
  • Internal Audit
  • Emergency Planning
  • Special Events
  • Center for the Arts

Emergency Planning Policy Group

Reviews the overall organization of resources and content of the CEMP to assure continuity of university operations. The Emergency Planning Policy Group includes the president, provost, and vice presidents.

Responsibility

President

  • Commit necessary university resources before, during, and after emergencies.

Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA)

  • Ensure the coordination of efforts between essential university departments and community partners as described in the CEMP, laws and regulations, and any related memoranda of understanding.
  • Delegate the lead coordination for emergency planning to the Senior Emergency Planning Coordinator.

Emergency Planning Policy Group

  • Consider budget requests for institutional resources to allow the university to effectively prepare for and respond to emergencies.
  • Take necessary action to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency in a timely manner using the CEMP as a guideline.
  • Require the Emergency Planning Oversight Committee, in their respective areas, to participate in regular internal plan reviews, training and exercises, strategic and operational coordination of actual emergencies, and committing recommended resources to the extent practical.
  • Ensure the university’s response is designed to be consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
    • Coordinate and plan responses and integrate with external stakeholders. (These processes are detailed in the CEMP.)

Emergency Planning Oversight Committee

  • Review and revise the CEMP.    
  • Facilitate development of departmental emergency response and plans.
  • Ensure campus personnel are appropriately trained and participate in regular emergency training and exercises.

Departments, Units, Schools, and Other Entities

  • Develop plans for preventing, responding to, and recovering from emergencies within their organizations and facilities. Periodically, review the plans with UB Emergency Management to ensure consistency with the CEMP.

Staff and Faculty

  • Be familiar with the resources and recommendations outlined in departmental emergency plans as related to employee emergency preparedness and response guidelines.
  • Participate in university training and exercises, as appropriate to individual situations and contingent upon supervisor approval.

All University Community Members

  • Subscribe to UB Alert, monitor other methods of official university emergency communications, and follow instructions issued during emergencies, as recommended by UB Emergency Management.
  • Be informed about the importance of emergency preparedness. Take steps to prepare for an emergency and minimize risks.
  • Ensure family members are kept informed and notified when safe during emergencies.
  • Be aware of applicable emergency plans and information.

Contact Information

Contact An Expert
Contact Phone Email
UB Emergency Management -
Jessica Alaimo
716-645-3134 jlalaimo@buffalo.edu

Related Information

University Links

Related Links

Presidential Approval

Signed by President Satish K. Tripathi

Satish K. Tripathi, President

8/10/2017

Date