DHS Helps Campuses Prepare for Emergencies
December 1, 2014
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking steps to help institutions of higher education strengthen their campus emergency planning efforts. In October, DHS and Boston’s Northeastern University hosted the first in a series of national tabletop exercises designed specifically for colleges and universities. This initiative was a specific recommendation of the DHS Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council.
The event brought together more than 100 campus leaders from 21 institutions from the New England region and included a series of workshop sessions on topics relevant to campus preparedness and resilience in coping with potential emergency scenarios. Discussions included addressing issues unique to international student enrollment.
Attendees also participated in a tabletop exercise involving participant role play in the campus response to a fictitious infectious disease outbreak affecting both domestic and international students spanning across multiple locations. The scenario encouraged participants to consider various issues and provided valuable insights on the necessary decision points in the event of a real disaster.
According to Student and Exchange Visitor Program Director, Lou Farrell, “the event was a great opportunity to not only discuss the challenges U.S. campuses face during an emergency, but also how to address the unique needs of international students during a time of crisis.”
If you have questions about campus preparedness and resilience at your school, talk to your designated school official or access your school’s online version of its Emergency Operations Plan.