Reed College Emergency Response Plan

The Reed College Emergency Response Plan (ERP) provides direction in the event of an emergency. It is the goal and purpose of this plan to protect the safety and security of those associated with Reed College should an emergency occur. The effective use of this plan will help:

• Protect life and safety.
• Reduce property and environmental damage.
• Minimize disruption and economic losses.
• Shorten the recovery period.

To ensure effective implementation of this plan, all personnel designated to carry out specific responsibilities are expected to know and understand the policies and procedures outlined in this document and other associated supporting documents.

The College's response to a major crisis will be conducted within the framework of this plan except when directed otherwise by the President or the President’s appointed representative. The plan includes a chain of command that establishes decision-making authority during an emergency.

Scope and Definition

An emergency is defined as a sudden state of danger that occurs unexpectedly and that demands immediate action to protect the health and safety of individuals within the institution. The following are examples of emergency situations:

• Bomb threat
• Earthquake
• Explosion
• Fire
• Hazardous materials spill/release
• Hostage situation
• Campus shooting
• Terrorist incident

Other emergency procedures can be found here.

Crisis Management Response Structure

In the event of an emergency, the Director of Community Safety or designee will contact the Executive Team, consisting of the President, Vice Presidents and Deans of the college, to report the emergency.

The Executive Team will convene (via conference call if necessary) and decide whether to declare a state of emergency, start the process of notifying the community and media if necessary, and review and discharge responsibilities as detailed in the plan (below). The president will convene the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) if necessary to participate in the execution of the plan. The ERT consists of representatives from Community Safety, computer and information services, environmental health and safety, facilities services, public affairs, student life, residence life, health and counseling, human resources, conference and events planning, and food services.

Update and Drill

The ERT and designees will review and update this plan each June or more frequently, as needed. ERT members will practice emergency procedures on a regular basis and will obtain training or re-training as needed.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

The manner in which college personnel and equipment are utilized during an emergency will be determined by the ERT under the direction of the Director of Community Safety or their designee. The ERP will remain in effect until the president or their designee deems the college ready to return to normal operation.

EMERGENCY LEVEL DEFINITIONS AND RESPONSES

In all types of emergencies, once outside agencies arrive on the scene (i.e., Police Department, Fire Bureau, Emergency Management Agency personnel, etc.) these agencies will assume control of the operations. The Reed ERT and EOC will act as resources to these responders.

The following definitions of emergency levels determine the type of response:

Level 1 Emergency 

(least serious)

Characteristics

• May involve threat of incident rather than actual incident
• May be addressed with college personnel and resources
• Outside assistance may be called upon
• May be limited to small area of campus
• Potential impact on health, safety, or property
• May interrupt classes and college operations for limited time (up to half a day)

Examples

• Unplanned power outage
• Approaching blizzard, tornado, or other natural event
• Water pipe break
• Unidentified odor
• Injured, missing, or deceased individual
• Mild pandemic outbreak

Response Profile

• Dispatcher notifies Director of Community Safety & Chief Technology Officer
• Director of Community Safety notifies Executive Team
• Executive Team & Director of Community Safety decides whether or not to activate ERT & EOC
• Assess extent of incident impact on health, safety, property
• Decide whether evacuation is required; initiate as needed
• Decide whether medical or other outside assistance is required; contact as needed
• Decide on notification to Reed community; send message(s); update web site as needed
• Account for students, personnel, and visitors involved in incident
• Decide on continuity of classes and college operations; notify community
• Update community on progress and final resolution of incident
• Determine incident follow-up plan

Level 2 Emergency

Characteristics

• Requires outside assistance, primarily from local services
• May involve large portions or all of campus
• Potential loss of life
• Potential serious impact on health, safety, or property
• Will interrupt classes and college operations for more than half a day
• Pandemic outbreak

Examples

• Ice storm, blizzard, or other weather event 
• Earthquake (minimal structural damage)
• Bomb threat
• Hazardous materials release/spill
• Widespread/prolonged power outage
• Violence or civil disturbance

Response Profile

• Dispatcher notifies Director of Community Safety & Chief Technology Officer
• Director of Community Safety notifies Executive Team
• Director of Community Safety Activates ERT & EOC
• Assess extent of incident impact on life, health, safety, property
• Decide whether evacuation is required; initiate as needed
• Decide whether medical or other outside assistance is required; contact as needed
• Notification to Reed community; send message(s); update web site
• Account for all students, personnel, and visitors
• If no evacuation needed, ensure adequate food, water, heat, medical supplies, waste disposal, etc. for campus residents
• Decide on continuity of classes and college operations; notify community
• Establish media center; establish communication channels with relatives, government agencies, vendors, the public, etc.
• Update community on progress and final resolution of incident
• Determine incident follow-up plan

Level 3 Emergency

(most serious)

Characteristics

• Requires outside assistance from local, possibly state & federal services
• Involves all of campus
• Potential loss of life
• Severe impact on health, safety, or property
• Classes and college operations suspended for an extended period
• Long-term effects on the college

Examples

• Shooting
• Uncontained fire
• Tornado impact, other severe weather event
• Major earthquake (serious structural damage)
• Explosion
• Uncontained bio-, chemical-, or nuclear hazard
• Terrorist incident
• Pandemic outbreak

Response Profile

• Contact emergency responders and assist them as needed
• Dispatcher notifies Director of Community Safety & Chief Technology Officer
• Director of Community Safety notifies Executive Team
• Director of Community Safety Activates ERT & EOC
• Assess extent of incident impact on life, health, safety, property
• Decide whether evacuation is required; initiate as needed
• Decide whether medical or other outside assistance is required; contact as needed
• Notification to Reed community; send message(s); update web site
• Activate emergency web site and other emergency communications channels as needed
• Account for all students, personnel, and visitors
• If no evacuation needed or possible, ensure adequate food, water, heat, medical supplies, waste disposal, etc. for campus residents
• Decide on resumption of classes and college operations; notify community
• Establish media center; establish communication channels with relatives, government agencies, vendors, the public, etc.
• Update community on progress and final resolution of incident
• Determine incident follow-up plan

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/INFORMATION