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| University updates crisis
response plan |
Carrie Baker
Senior Staff Writer
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Appalachian
State University’s over one-year-old Emergency Response Plan
may be getting an update in concurrence with President George W.
Bush’s Homeland Security Act.
The plan now includes instructions for such disasters as severe
weather, medical and personal injury, utility problems, bomb threats,
criminal behavior, crisis intervention, fires and hazardous materials.
Director of University Police and member of the bio-terrorism task
force with the Watauga County Health Department Gunther E. Doerr
said a broad-based committee will finalize this portion of the plan
today and pass it on to Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane
P. Helm and Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski.
“I think it’s very important for a university organization
to have an emergency response plan,” Doerr said. “What’s
going on in the world with heightened terrorist threats makes it
extra important to be prepared.”
Doerr said the plan was exercised near the Broyhill Inn & Conference
Center in December 2001 by simulating an explosion in a dormitory.
Helm said the committee in charge of handling the Emergency Response
Plan was organized over two years ago.
This committee consists of a representative from the Department
of Housing and Residence Life, Health Services, the Physical Plant,
Public Affairs, Food Services, University Police, Parking and Traffic
and the Dean of Students.
“I feel like this committee is prepared,” Doerr said.
Doerr said in addition to the committee an Operations Group was
also formed for specific areas of campus.
“Basically we had started the process of writing an emergency
disaster plan before 9-11,” Helm said.
Helm said the plan was created to handle bomb threats, natural disasters
and “anything that could harm the university.”
Helm said the original plan is integrated into the Boone community
through the police department, fire department and Watauga County
Medics.
“There is no way to separate [the university] from the town,”
Helm said.
Even with all of the preparedness being carried out, Doerr said
he is not concerned about any imminent threats to Appalachian State.
“We’re not in any specific threat for this area or the
university,” Doerr said.
According to the Emergency Response Plan, each department, the Operation
Group comprised of senior administrators and directors and the Executive
Group made up of the vice chancellors, the university attorney and
“key directors” will assess emergencies and organize short
and long-term action.
Representative to the committee from Health Services Susan L. Tumbleston
said Health Services will serve as a secondary health provider in
the new portion of the plan and will now be able to handle the threat
of bio-terrorism.
“I don’t think you’re ever really prepared for such
emergencies,” Tumbleston said. “But I’d as soon be
here as anywhere.”
Helm said it is important for students to create contact systems
with their own families.
“Many students will think this would never happen,” Helm
said.
Doerr said more information regarding emergency preparedness can
be found on the Homeland Security Web site, http://www.ready.gov.
“I think we’re as prepared as we can be,” Doerr said.
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