MSM Emergency Response Plan

The School has a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan to cover emergency situations from weather to fire.  The Plan provides guidelines for activating decision processes, gathering and communicating with decision-makers, and marshaling resources to address limited and School-wide emergencies.  It also includes a Quick Guide about how to respond in different, specific emergencies.

• To report a School emergency, call Campus Safety at 917-493-4444 from any on-campus telephone.
• If you are reporting a serious emergency in which injury to individuals is possible or likely, call 911 directly.

An emergency is an unplanned event that:

• Poses a serious threat to persons or property – or a significant disruption to normal operations
• Cannot be managed by routine response
• Requires a quick and coordinated response across multiple departments or divisions of the School

The School depends on many interconnected services for the success of its day-to-day operations, and it has applied this same concept to managing emergencies – by creating an Emergency Management Team.  The School’s EMT provides a framework within which essential units come together to coordinate a response to an emergency or potential emergency.

Sometimes. It depends upon the kind of incident. There are three types of evacuation that may be ordered, depending upon the scope of a potential concern:

• Evacuation of part of a building, due to conditions making it no longer safe to remain inside that building or part of the building.
• Evacuation of one or more buildings or sector(s) of the campus, due to conditions making it no longer safe to occupy buildings or areas in a certain sector or sectors of the campus.
• Evacuation of the entire campus, in an emergency or disaster situation in which the campus and surrounding area are no longer safe. Go to the Quick Guide for more on evacuations.

No.  Not every emergency situation should be addressed using an evacuation.  In some situations, you will be advised or may need to stay in place within your building, shelter-in-place from severe weather, or distance yourself from campus or others on campus.  The EMT and campus responders, as well as law enforcement, will determine the best strategy and then communicate it to the campus community.  Go to the Quick Guide for more information on different strategies for protecting yourself during an emergency.

As part of its Emergency Communications Strategy, the School is accelerating the long-planned implementation of an electronic emergency notification system/will use electronic notifications to reach members of the community promptly through quicker mechanisms than regular School email and telephones (though email will be used in each case).  This also enables the School to communicate with campus community members when they are not actually on campus about conditions on campus.  In addition, the School has P.A. systems, alarms, and other communication methods activated within campus buildings.

To sign up for electronic notifications using any communications device, such as email, mobile phone, off-campus telephone or pager, go to the Notifications website and complete the appropriate form. If you are already subscribed, log in whenever you need to edit or add contact information.  Periodically, the School will contact all students and employees to remind them to subscribe to electronic notifications or update information.

Go to the Quick Guide for information about how to respond to specific incidents.  Campus Safety, Building Coordinators, Student Engagement, and Resident Assistants also have information and can help you answer questions.

The School is highly committed to protecting individuals with disabilities and those who may have difficulty accessing emergency information or reaching safety during an emergency. Go to Emergency Procedures for Individuals with Disabilities for information about how individuals with disabilities may prepare themselves before an emergency and protect themselves during an emergency – and how the School and campus community will assist them in doing it.

The School will review and update the emergency plan as needed and, at a minimum, annually.

Whether natural or man-made, a disaster can strike at any time and in many ways.  School students should become familiar with the emergency plans for the residence hall and campus buildings.  School employees must become familiar with their own unit’s emergency plans, as well as plans for School buildings.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide electronic notification information, develop personal emergency plans, and review building Fire and Evacuation plans.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to review the Quick Guide, as well as the formal Emergency Response Plan, so that you will have knowledge of how the School and its population should respond in specific emergencies.

To ensure accurate and timely information in communicating with the public, the Vice President for Marketing, Communications, and Alumni Affairs or other designated member of the Emergency Management Team will serve as the spokesperson for the School in communicating with news organizations or in communication on Social Media.  To facilitate immediate notification to law enforcement and prompt coordination of efforts, Campus Safety or members of the EMT will communicate with law enforcement on behalf of the School at the time of incidents or potential emergencies.

Home
Plan Overview
Emergency Numbers
Emergency Notifications
Key Locations
All Hazard Guide
Incident-Specific Emergency Directions
Evacuation Routes
Individuals with Disabilities
Preparedness, Prevention, and Recovery
Precollege Reunification Plan
MSM Summer Reunification Plan
FAQs