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Building a Disaster-Resistant University
Title: Building a Disaster-Resistant University
Date: Aug. 2003
Author: Staff
Institution: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Bibliographic Entry: Staff. “Building a Disaster-Resistant University.” Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2003. http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1565 (accessed Dec. 4, 2007).
Electronic Link: http://www.fema.gov/institution/dru.shtm
Key Words: hazard identification, risk assessment, pre-disaster planning and mitigation, emergency management, hazard mapping
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
This is a hazard mitigation how-to guide and a collection of the experiences of six universities and colleges, for all higher education institutions (community colleges to research institutions, public and private). This guide provides basic information designed for institutions just getting started, as well as concrete ideas, suggestions, and practical experiences for institutions that have already begun to take steps to becoming more disaster-resistant.
This guide is designed based on the premise that regardless of the institution’s mission or focus, hazard mitigation is a good investment. Differences in small versus large institutions, private versus public, and primarily research based or teaching institutions has been taken into account, and a wide range of ways that the process can be adapted based on the particular characteristics of an institution.
Disaster-related losses in the United States continue to rise. For this reason, all levels of organizations, including higher education institutions and governments are adjusting their behavior and policies to reflect the importance of reducing damage caused by extreme events. Hazard mitigation is accepted as good practice and many government jurisdictions now require it.
Over the past ten years, FEMA and private insurance carriers have awarded millions of dollars in disaster assistance to public and private universities and colleges. Losses include interruptions to instruction and auxiliary services (such as hospitals) and immeasurable losses to research and the generation of knowledge. Moreover, federal, state, local governments and private foundations have a substantial research investment in higher education institutions across the country. For this reason, it is in the best interest of the institution and its sponsors to develop a plan for mitigating potential consequences.
Hazard mitigation planning is a systematic, four-phased process for identifying and implementing actions to reduce or eliminate loss of life, property, and function due to natural and man-made hazards. Each section of this guide focuses on the four different phases in the disaster-resistant university planning and implementation process.
Phase 1 – Organize Resources, addresses the initial step of identifying the available and necessary resources for completing the effort. Phase 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, covers the identification of hazards that pose risks to the campus and the assets that are vulnerable to those hazards. Phase 3 – Developing the Mitigation Plan, examines the development of the hazard mitigation plan document. Lastly, Phase 4 – Adoption and Implementation, follows the mitigation plan through the adoption and implementation stages.
Name of Researcher: Alison Stevens
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: Dec. 12, 2007