UWF
Emergency Management
Are we ready?
Peter Robinson, Director
Environmental Health & Safety
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Environmental Health and Safety
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Occupational Safety
Fire Safety
Indoor Air Quality
Environmental Compliance
• Chemical, Biomedical, Radioactive waste
• Stormwater
• Potable Water
• Training
• Emergency Management
• Hurricanes
• Pandemics
• Building Emergency Coordinators
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What We Try to Prevent
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Emergency Management
• The Keys to Success:
• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery
• Mitigation
• Notification
• Drills & Exercises
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Emergency Communications
• Notification Types:
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The University of West Florida utilizes two different
notification types, to differentiate between the severity of
situations.
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Argo Alert (Imminent Danger) is a message that the University of West
Florida utilizes to inform faculty, staff and students when a situation of
imminent danger arises and requires a call for action. When an Argo Alert is
sent, please take immediate action in obtaining safety & shelter.
Example: Building evacuation due to a fire.
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UWF Notice (Non-Imminent Danger) is a message that the University of
West Florida utilizes to inform faculty, staff and students when a less
severe situation arises on campus. UWF Notice is typically distributed via
email. When a UWF Notice is sent, please be sure to take note of the
campus situation for future safety & precautionary measures.
Example: Announcement of campus closure due to an impending hurricane
that is days away from landfall.
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Emergency Communication
Methods
• Text Messaging capabilities added to
our emergency communications through
Rave Systems Inc.
• Faculty, staff, and students will need to
subscribe to the ArgoAlert service (in
order to provide their mobile numbers).
Emergency Communication
Methods
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UWF Home Page
Email
Twitter
Facebook
WUWF 88.1 FM
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Emergency Communication
Methods
• Public Areas Siren System
- Located near B-36, B-82, HLS and Ball Field
- Sounds Westminster Chimes at Noon
• Internal Building Broadcast System
• Desktop Alert System
Emergency Communication
Methods
• NOAA Weather Radios
• Electronic Outdoor Entrance Sign
• Message Display System in Commons
• Lightning Prediction System
• Sirens and Strobes located at Tennis Courts,
Intramural Field, Baseball Field, Softball Field and
Track
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Emergency Communication
Methods
• Blue Light System
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• UWF has achieved StormReady
Certification from the National Weather
Service
• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency
operations center;
• Have more than one method of receiving severe
weather forecasts and warnings and alerting the
public;
• Create a system that monitors local weather
conditions;
• Promote the significance of public readiness through
community seminars;
• Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which
includes training severe weather spotters and holding
exercises.
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StormReady Ceremony
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Preparation-Response
• All of our Planning and Preparations get us
ready to respond in a crisis.
Emergency Procedures are a big part of the
Planning Process
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Emergency Procedures
• Fire Alarm – What to do
• Immediately evacuate building
• Grab personal belongings only if immediately
accessible
• Close but do not lock your office door
• People with Disabilities
• As you are evacuating, inform others to leave
• If the corridor is filled with smoke stay low or crawl
• Once out of the building go to predetermined meeting
location
• Stay out of the way of emergency personnel and
vehicles
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Emergency Procedures
• Fire Alarm – What not to do
• Do not investigate to see if the alarm is real
or a false alarm. Always evacuate
• Do not take time to shut down your
computer
• Do not return to your office to retrieve
personnel belongings
• Do not attempt to fight the fire unless you
have been trained and the fire is small
• Do not re-enter the building until given the
all clear by emergency responders
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Emergency Procedures
• Bomb Threat
• If you receive a communication that a bomb has
been placed on campus, get as much information as
possible
• Call the Police
• Police will conduct a search
and decide if an evacuation is warranted
• Suspicious Package
• Do not handle the object
• Call the Police
• Police will decide if an evacuation is warranted
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Emergency Procedures
• Hazardous Materials Spills
• Chemical release from local industries
- Shelter-in place
• Chemical release on campus
- Evacuation or Shelter-in-place –
Depends on circumstances
• Utility Failures
• Possible building or campus closure
• Communicable Disease Outbreak
• Possible building or campus closure
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Emergency Procedures
• Tornado or Severe Weather
• Seek shelter immediately in designated areas.
• If you’re inside a building…
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Go to the lowest level of the building, if possible.
Stay away from windows.
Go to an interior hallway.
Use arms to protect head and neck in a “drop and tuck” position.
• If there is no time to get inside…
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Lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
Be aware of potential for flooding and flying debris.
Use arms to protect head and neck in a “drop and tuck” position.
Use jacket, cap, backpack or any similar items, if available, to
protect face and eyes.
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Emergency Procedures
• Speaking of weather…
• Hurricanes
- University & Departmental Plans
- Building Emergency Coordinators
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Emergency Information Resources
• University Police Department Website
• http://uwf.edu/uwfpolice/
• Environmental Health and Safety Website
• http://uwf.edu/ermgt/
• Emergency Procedures Guide
• Building Emergency Coordinators
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Hope for Smooth Sailing
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Questions?
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