2012 THE UNIVERSITY

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THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
2011-2012
ANNUAL REPORT
2012
Report issued: March 2013
University of Houston Emergency Management
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUREAU
1
Contents
FROM THE DIRECTOR ..............................................................................................................................................3
2011- 2012 IN REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................4
KEY UH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ..................................................4
PROGRAM GOALS ......................................................................................................................................................6
PRODUCT SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................7
OBJECTIVE 1: PROVIDE OVERSIGHT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COORDINATION OF A BROAD
AND DIVERSE GROUP OF CAMPUS PARTNERS ..........................................................................................7
OBJECTIVE 2: DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED ALL-HAZARD RISK BASED APPROACH FOR
MITIGATION, RESPONSE, BUSINESS CONTINUITY, RECOVERY; AND PREPAREDENESS
PLANNING ........................................................................................................................................................10
OBJECTIVE 3: BUILD LOCAL, HIGHER EDUCATION, STATE, AND NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
AND COALITIONS ...........................................................................................................................................11
OBJECTIVE 4: SUPPORT CAMPUS UNDERSTANDING AND UTILIZATION OF THE INCIDENT
COMMAND SYSTEM/NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES ........................................13
OBJECTIVE 5: ENHANCE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CAPABILITES THROUGH PREPARING,
TRAINING, AND EXERCISING ......................................................................................................................15
OBJECTIVE 6: STRIVE FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS .............................................19
OBJECTIVE 7: ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN ALL ENDEAVORS AND ENSURE
THAT STRATEGIES ARE MEASURABLE ......................................................................................................22
University of Houston Emergency Management
2
FROM THE DIRECTOR
The FY 2011-2012 was a productive year for the Emergency Management Program. The Emergency
Management Bureau (EMB) was created in February 2011, with the hiring of a Director. In July 2012, an
Emergency Management Specialist was hired, with primary responsibilities of training and hazard mitigation,
and the second Emergency Management Specialist was hired in November 2012, with primary responsibilities
in Planning and Business Continuity.
The EMB is also very excited about the physical move from the Department of Public Safety in January 2013,
to the Center for Public Broadcasting opening a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center. The
Emergency Management Bureau’s primary focus for 2011-2012, was to improve emergency operations
communication processes, develop the Emergency Management Plans, provide awareness on emergency
management protocols, and establish an emergency operations center with identified technologies for longterm planning initiatives.
In the past year, Emergency Management Program actively worked to improve and expand its campus-wide
approach to increase the university’s overall disaster resilience. Efforts in the Emergency Management
Program include forward completion and progress on the Pandemic Plan, Emergency Response Guide, and
building training capacity for the campus community and continued development of the business continuity
planning (BCP).
Our staff moved forward with a number of projects aimed at the advancement of emergency management for
the University and to meet the 2009 Texas Education Code audit requirements, TEC 51.217. This UHS
partnership developed the audit tools and established a system wide peer review team. Also, the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was implemented at UH with our own CERT Facilitators.
Overall the CERT program continues to be well integrated into the campus operational programs training
staff, faculty, students and community.
This year also brought the streamlining of the PIER Alert
Notification Systems, to include the integration of social media into the campus wide web pages. The
partnerships develop the integrated PIER Alerts into the main campus website and finally to strengthen the
campus-wide outreach and preparedness programs.
Joe S. Méndez, M.P.A., M.S.
Emergency Management Director
University of Houston
University of Houston Emergency Management
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2011- 2012 IN REVIEW
This annual report provides an overview of the University of Houston’s Emergency Management Bureau
program and activities completed during the 2011-2012 academic year. The program established objectives
that provide a comprehensive, cost-effective, and integrated approach to enhance disaster preparedness and
establish long-term and loss reduction approaches.
KEY UH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Program/Activity
MAPP Emergency Management Policy and Review
-
Emergency Management Plan
-
Business Continuity Plan
Emergency Management Plans/Guides
-
Emergency Management Plan (EMP)
-
Pandemic Plan
-
Large Venue Response Guide
-
Hurricane Severe Weather Guide
-
Animal Care Response Plan
Exercises/Drills
-
Inclement Weather Table top
-
Special Events Heat Plan
EM Preparedness Outreach Presentations
-
EM Key Elements
-
Ride Out Team Orientation
-
Building Coordinator Training
UH Emergency Operations Center Orientations
-
Notifications: General
-
Notification/Advisory/Alerts
Incident Action Plans & After Action Reports
-
Football Games
-
Special events, Commencements, Frontier Fiesta
UH Emergency Operations Activation
-
Hurricane Warning
-
Siren Activations
Personnel Professional Development & Training
University of Houston Emergency Management
No
Programs
2
()Fully Completed
(IP) In Progress

5

20

35

4

21
39

6

58

4

Partner Coordination
-
Internal
-
External Partners

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
The UH Emergency Management Program goes beyond conventional emergency planning by taking an
integrated systems approach. An integrated systems approach means that emergency management practices
involve the four phases of the disaster cycle and are integrated into current and future campus plans and
policies, as well as the decision-making processes of the University. This approach can also be thought of as a
simple equation. The more risk or vulnerability the University mitigates today through plans or policies, the
less overall exposure that the University will have to be dealt with during emergencies, decreasing the load on
the response side and lowering recovery costs from future events.
An integrated and coordinated emergency management program provides the campus with a number of
benefits including:

Reduced vulnerability and exposure to future crisis and disaster incidents

Protection of life, property, research enterprise, essential services, and critical facilities

Reduced short-term and long-term recovery and reconstruction costs

Quicker resumption of university functions, including education, research, and business systems

Increased cooperation and communication within the campus and emergency management
community through the planning process, training, and exercising
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING PYRAMIND
Reslience
Recovery Planning
Short-term Long- term
Busienss Contiunity Plan
Conitunity of Operations - Busienss Resumption
Emergency Management Plan (EMP)
Appendices
Mitigation Planning
Post diaster - Pre-diaster
Three Year Strategic & Busienss Conitunty
Plan
University of Houston Emergency Management
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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
PROGRAM GOALS
Objective 1: Provide oversight, communication, and coordination of a broad and diverse group of campus
partners.
Objective 2: Employ an integrated all-hazard risk based approach for mitigation, response, business
continuity, recovery, and preparedness planning for campus.
Objective 3: Build local, higher education, state, and national partnerships and coalitions.
Objective 4: Support campus understanding and utilization of the Incident Command System/National
Management System principles.
Objective 5: Enhance disaster preparedness capabilities through preparing, training, and exercising.
Objective 6: Strive for multi-dimensional communications (e.g. redundancy to ensure multiple modes for
communications and enhance education, awareness, and understanding of what to do before, during, and
after crisis and disaster events among students, staff, and faculty.
Objective 7: Address sustainability considerations in all endeavors and ensure that strategies are measurable
University of Houston Emergency Management
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FOUR PHASES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Emergency Management Program is an integrated design that addresses the
four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery and
mitigation. The University of Houston conducts emergency response operations
using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident
Command System (ICS) models. NIMS and ICS provide a consistent
nationwide mechanism designed to assist all government, private sector, and
nongovernmental organizations in working together during incidents when necessary.
Another defining feature of the UH Emergency Management Program is that it is based on the Principles of
Emergency Management. These standardized principles allows the EMB to standardize emergency
management protocols and together with the integrated approach, will increase the university’s capacity to
prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against future disasters.
PRODUCT SUMMARY
The University of Houston conducts emergency response operations using the National Incident
Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) models. NIMS and ICS provide a
consistent nationwide mechanism designed to assist all government, private sector, and nongovernmental
organizations in working together during incidents when necessary.
To facilitate emergency management on the UH campus, the Emergency Management Program operates
under an oversight advisory structure. Any oversight model must involve not only the emergency
management staff, but must also actively engage partners throughout the campus and the surrounding
community. Through active partnership, the university will be able to enhance disaster resilience and improve
campus safety.
OBJECTIVE 1: PROVIDE OVERSIGHT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COORDINATION
OF A BROAD AND DIVERSE GROUP OF CAMPUS PARTNERS
UH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT MODEL
1. Created First Emergency Management Annual Report: this annual report provides an overview of
emergency management activities, programs, completed during the 2011-2012 academic year.
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2. Emergency Management Advisory Committee Meetings (EMT): General responsibility for the advisory
of the Emergency Management Program is the Emergency Management Team, which provides executive
leadership on all high level emergency management information and program direction. This group
represents executive leaders and auxiliary departments that provide general information on all emergency
management plans, policies, procedures, trainings, and exercising. The EMT reports directly to the
Director of Emergency Management and is co-chaired by the Assistant Vice President for Public Safety
and Security. In the event the campus UH Emergency Operations Center (UHEOC) is activated, this
group may be called upon for support, assistance and for coordination efforts to the incident. The EMT
meets once a month during the academic year and discuss a number of topics including:

Emergency Management Strategic Plan

Business Continuity Planning (Update)

Presentation: Key Components of UH Emergency Management

Ride Out Team Rosters

Tabletop Exercise – June 9th, Department of Public Safety Building

Inclement Tabletop Wrap Up

Introduction / Emergency Management Specialist – Kelly Boysen

Senior Officials Workshop – All Hazards Preparedness

Emergency Management Plan (EMP) (Update)

CERT Training Program

Social Media for Emergencies Integration with PIER

UH Pandemic Influenza Plan (Update)

Emergency Calling Card GETS Program for EMT

Assessment Check List for Mass Notification Systems

Emergency Alert Notification System Process

Assessment of Notification Process - Current actions and Recommendations

Emergency Notification Call List Updates

Business Impact Analysis (Update)

Siren Campaign

City of Houston Emergency Operations Center Tour, 9/6/12

CERT Class (Update)

Emergency Management Town Hall (Update)

Recovery Purposes PIER tool: PIER Check-in site Demonstration
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
Emergency Operations Committee (Update)

Mass Evacuation (Update)

Bomb threats and procedures

Active Shooter and procedures

National Preparedness Month (September)

Program Activity: Teamwork for Integrating Emergency Management

EMT Names of Support Staff to assist at UHEOC

Update Incidents: Gas Link Response Entrance 14

Joint Information Center Link Harris County Texas

Emergency Management Portal Project

PIER Availability During Emergencies (Life Threatening and Non – Life Threatening)

Emergency Management Bureau Organizational Structure

Emergency Management PEER Audit State of Texas Education Code – TEC 21.150

Emergency Operations Committee Update: Subcommittees Introduced
3. UH Emergency Operations Center (UHEOC): The UHEOC was established through partnership with
the Center for Public Broadcasting. The UHEOC went from virtual website to a physical monitoring
operations center, the center was developed to provide the command and control infrastructure that is
required to manage the logistical, planning, operational, safety and campus incident issues related to any
and all incidents/emergencies. The UHEOC is sustained by the professionally trained, and educated
EMB staff, and will be supported by UH qualified staff capable of performing assigned duties at the
UHEOC to achieve the following outcomes:

Ability to provide appropriate response to the campus.

Ability to support emergency responders through use of the incident command system.

Ability to coordinate with local, state and federal, agencies and all UH departments to provide
resource information, assist in establishing operations, recovery and business continuity teams and to
provide support through emergency response operations at the University of Houston.
4. UH Emergency Operations Committee: was established by the EMB as a subcommittee to the
Emergency Management Team (EMT). The purpose of this committee is to improve campus-wide
emergency operations through campus-wide collaboration, coordination and the development of specific
emergency procedures and processes. The Emergency Operations committee is responsible for:
identifying areas within the university’s emergency operations that may need improvement and/or lack
coordination. In addition, the committee collaborates and participates in campus-wide emergency
response/recovery planning in order to facilitate effective emergency operations. The committee includes
University of Houston Emergency Management
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representatives from various departments/divisions and units that are responsible for providing support
and giving direction within their area of expertise.
a.
Communications Planning Subgroup: The purpose of this subgroup is to improve overall
communication strategies during an emergency by developing/suggesting needed educational areas
campus-wide as well as communication resources for use between and within departments.
b. Physical Recovery Emergency Planning Subgroup: The purpose of this subgroup is to improve the
physical response and recovery of university facilities and infrastructure during an emergency through
the utilization of an aligned and integrated Facilities Physical Response Model.
c. Evacuation Subgroup: The purpose of this subgroup is to develop a campus-wide mass evacuation
plan that outlines the roles and expectations all of all stakeholders involved.
OBJECTIVE 2: DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED ALL-HAZARD RISK BASED APPROACH
FOR MITIGATION, RESPONSE, BUSINESS CONTINUITY, RECOVERY; AND
PREPAREDENESS PLANNING
1. UH Emergency Management Plan (EMP): Staff completed the EMP for the university; this is an allhazard plan that details how the university would manage any emergency or disaster.
2. UH Health Center Emergency Plan: Staff coordinated with the UH Health Center to help them develop
their emergency plan.
3. UH Health Center Pandemic Influenza Plan: UH Health Center (HC) Emergency Planning, Pandemic
Influenza Planning: Staff assisted with the development of the Health Center Emergency Plan, as well as
the Health Center Flu Plan, and their role in response to campus-wide flu outbreak. Staff submitted the
pandemic plan to the AVP for final adaption to the EMP appendices.
4. UH Hurricane Planning Guide: Staff developed a Hurricane Planning Guide to assist UH departments in
their hurricane planning, this includes a checklist and hurricane preparedness guidelines.
5. UH Emergency Response Guide for Large Venues and Sporting Events: Staff developed a response
guide for athletics, and large special events to include: Hofheinz Pavilion, Robertson Stadium and
Baseball Stadium.
6. NWS/NOAA Storm Ready Campus: Staff applied for the University of Houston certification to become
one of four Universities in Texas with the distinction of being a Strom Ready Campus. Under
certification review.
7. Departmental Business Continuity Plan Guide: Staff created a BCP template and a guide for University
of Houston departments, colleges, divisions and programs to use for continuity planning.
University of Houston Emergency Management
10
POLICY/MOU/REGULATIONS
1. UH MAPP Emergency Management Policy: Staff developed updated the 2008, Emergency Management
Policy, to include revisions and final submittal.
2. Institutional Annual Compliance Report: prepared institutional compliance for emergency management
to meet Federal, State and local authorities, in coordination with EH&S Director.
3. UH System Audit Action Plan: EMB developed the action plan for UH System emergency management
compliance, to include the assessment form, action plan and developed the mechanisms and guidelines.
The teams were composed of expert emergency management, safety, fire and law enforcement members
from the Houston region. Members included:

Texas Medical Center representative

Harris County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security representative

Lone Star College representative

UHDPS representatives

UH Downtown Law Enforcement representative

UH Clearlake Law Enforcement representative
OBJECTIVE 3: BUILD LOCAL, HIGHER EDUCATION, STATE, AND NATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS
INTERNAL PARNTERS
1. UH Victoria (UHV) Coordination: Staff discussed coordination during emergencies providing technical
assistance on developing their emergency response and business continuity plans.
2. UH Communications/Relations: Staff established emergency notifications process and how UH
communications and EMB will coordinate.
3. City of Houston CERT/Preparedness Coordination and Outreach: Staff coordinated future CERT
programs and classes as well as other preparedness programs that can be facilitated at UH. Resulting in
establishing a UH CERT facilitator and instructors.
4. Texas Hurricane Center: Staff discussed EMB and Texas Hurricane Center collaboration; how the
research can lie up with UH emergency planning.
5. UH Residence Life and Housing: Staff discussion of preparedness program for the residence halls; to
incorporate disaster preparedness training into RA training.
6. UH EH&S Staff Meeting: Staff collaborated with EH&S staff; to establish more coordination with EMB.
University of Houston Emergency Management
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7. UH Communications – Social Media: Staff coordinated planning to integrate social media into the UH
Mass Notification Plan by using the UH Social Media Alliance.
8. UH Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Staff discussion of developing a UH application that
included emergency alerts.
9. UH IT Security and Emergency Management: Staff coordinated with IT Security Chief and discuss role
in emergency management.
10. UH Sugarland and Cinco Ranch Campuses: Staff discussion on emergency management planning for
campuses.
11. UH Residence Life and Housing Pandemic Flu Planning: Staff discussion RL&H role in pandemic flu
planning.
12. UH Participation in Flu Surveillance: Staff discuss UH Health Center participation in City of Houston flu
surveillance
13. UH Environmental Health and Safety Pandemic Flu Planning: Staff discuss EH&S role in pandemic flu
planning and response.
14. Matrix of Emergency Mass Notification Devices: Staff discussion where notification equipment should
be located on campus. Police, Police IT Manager, and Fire Marshal.
15. UH College of Technology Research and Emergency Management: Staff discussion with College of
Technology research EM portal project and implementation benefiting the campus.
16. UH Finals Mania: staff participated in the UH student Finals Mania at MD Anderson Library.
17. Emergency Management Town Hall: Staff conducted the first ever Emergency Management Town Hall
Meeting for members of the campus and surrounding community to come out and learn about
emergency preparedness. This was done in conjunction with National Emergency Preparedness Month.
The campus community including the Police Department, Environmental Health and Safety, Fire
Marshal’s Office, Staff Council, CERT members and many more participated in the success of the event.
18. National Night Out: Staff participated in the annual University of Houston National Night Out. Sharing
information with the community about emergency preparedness and participation opportunities.
19. Building Coordinator Program: Staff assisted the Campus Building Coordinators with presentations on
emergency preparedness and siren education for building coordinators or each building on the campus.
EXTERNAL PARTNERS
The primary role of EMB with UH external partners is to establish an open line of communication to protect
the University of Houston in emergencies. Planning, implementing and managing programs that include
training and exercise to enhance the efforts of UH staff to prevent to responding in times of need.
University of Houston Emergency Management
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1. State of Texas Operations Center (SOC): Coordination to receive state incident situation reports on
Influences Preparedness, fire flags, and statewide special event calendars.
2. Texas Medical Center (TMC) Pandemic Planning: Coordination and meetings to develop pandemic plan
Multiple meetings in developing TMC’s pandemic influenza plan; promoted coordination between UH
and TMC as well as assisting in developing the UH Pandemic Flu Plan
3. TMC – Emergency Management Directors: quarterly meetings trainings, workshops and Emergency
management reviews of regional Hospital stakeholders and EM managers.
4. Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Coordination with county
planning; WebEOC discussion.
5. Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Coordination with the PIO
network, and CTCAC and the use of PIER Systems websites as a virtual JICs and training.
6. Peer Audit Review Workshop: UH Staff: and partners attended 2.5-hour training on how the peer
review/audit compliance requirements for the UH System were to be conducted.
7. City of Houston, Department of Health and Human Services: Staff presentation to the EMT on the UH
Closed Point of Distribution (POD) for an Anthrax attack on Houston.
8. TMC Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group: Staff review of completed, current and future mitigation
projects; opportunity to suggest new mitigation needs.
9. METRO Long Range Planning Workshop: Staff continues to attend METRO discussions on the UH
campus as they make plans for the long-term goals.
10. City of Houston Mayor’s Office OEM - Kick-Off Awareness for Preparedness: Staff participated in the
annual City of Houston-in-CERT kick-off, to include the community in a City wide walk event.
OBJECTIVE 4: SUPPORT CAMPUS UNDERSTANDING AND UTILIZATION OF THE
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM/NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPLES
INCIDENT ACTION PLANNING (IAP) & AFTER ACTION REPORTS (AAR)
1. Special and sporting events: Staff supported DPS and UH departments by developing IAP, AAR and
staffing the Incident Command Post.

UH Football vs. UCLA

UH Football vs. Georgia State

UH Football vs. East Carolina University

UH Football vs. Marshall (Homecoming)

UH Football vs. Rice
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
UH Football vs. SMU

UH Football vs. Southern Miss (C-USA Championship Game)

Frontier Fiesta (3/22/12-3/24/12)

Spring 2012 Commencement Planning

UH Football vs. Texas State (9/1/12)

UH Football vs. Louisiana Tech (9/8/12)

UH Football vs. North Texas (10/6/12)

UH Football vs. UAB (10/13/12)

UH Football vs. UTEP (10/27/12)

UH Football vs. Tulsa (Homecoming) (11/10/12)

UH Football vs. Tulane (11/24/12)
2. Tornado Watch (11/8) Released an AAR to show the strengths and weaknesses of incident response,
stabilization, and notification, Staffed the Command Post/EOC.
3. Tornado Warning and Campus Flooding (1/9/12) AAR released to show the strengths and weaknesses
of the UHEOC, mass notification, and the coordination/management of the incident; staffed the EOC
4. Fire at Cemo Hall (3/2/12) Released an AAR to show the strengths and weaknesses of incident
response, stabilization, and notification; Staffed the Command Post/EOC.
5. Fire at Bates Hall (12/4/12) Support the response with a partial activation of the UHEOC; Released an
After-Action meeting with police, fire marshals and university communications; compiled the comments
into an AAR.
UH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ACTIVATION
1. Tornado Warning and Campus Flooding (1/9/12). Stood up UHEOC to monitor severe weather and
campus street/facility flooding (5.5 hours); Send updates to campus community via PIER.
2. Severe Weather and Tornado Warning (1/25/12). Stood up UHEOC to monitor severe weather and
heavy rainfall (5.75 hours); Send emergency alert for tornado warning to campus community via PIER;
developed IAP briefing.
3. Fire at Bates Hall (12/4/12). Partially activated the UHEOC in response to smoke/fire reported at Bates
Residence Hall; coordinated information with University Communications and monitored the event.
University of Houston Emergency Management
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UH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ORIENTATION
The EMB presented the Emergency Operations Center basic orientations and operation functions to (53)
UH staff and community members, to include UHDPS command staff, Campus Safety and Security
Committee, and EMT. Developed an AAR to show the strengths/weaknesses of the UHEOC

UHDPS Command Staff (06/09/2011)

UH Emergency Management Team and Staff

Safety and Security Committee
OBJECTIVE 5: ENHANCE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CAPABILITES THROUGH
PREPARING, TRAINING, AND EXERCISING
EXERCISES AND TABLETOP TRAINING
1. Inclement Weather – Tornado Tabletop Exercise: The staff presented a table top exercise to simulate
inclement weather in the UH campus. The exercises strengthen the partnership and communication
process with the UH Emergency Management Team members, executive members and critical staff. It
also provided an opportunity to test alternate stakeholders needed to support the UHEOC. An
orientation of the UHEOC was presented.
2. Large Venue Evacuation and Points of Designation: The staff presented to (6) UH police, EH&S, Five
Star, Fire Marshal, and Athletics on large venue evacuation and points of designation.
3. Bomb Threat Mass Evacuation Planning Workshop: Staff presented and moderated the workshop
bringing together UH departments to ensure that key UH stakeholders can apply standard level of
adequate and timely life safety and security procedures within a bomb threat environment. The teams got
a basic understanding of bomb threat response standards, how to develop a bomb threat plan to cover
vulnerability assessments, evacuation procedures, and provided basic training for personnel to handle and
campus cope with bomb threats. Members attending:
4.

Facilities Management

Student Housing and Residential Life

Parking and Transportation

Police

Fire Marshal’s Office
Bomb Threats Drills for Police Dispatchers: Staff conducted bomb threat drills to police dispatchers, to
include day and night shift personnel, to evaluate the dispatcher ability to utilize the bomb threat
University of Houston Emergency Management
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checklist and the department procedures regarding handling a bomb threat.

5.
Police dispatchers
Athletics Large Venue/Special Events & Heat Wave Preparedness Workshop: Staff presented a
workshop to the Athletics special events/operations department, to include response guide, heat related
illnesses and preparedness, bomb threat, and evacuation of Robertson Stadium. A heat plan was
developed by athletics for the UH UCLA sold out game.
PREPAREDNESS AND OUTREACH TRAINING
1. UH 1st Town Hall Emergency Preparedness: Staff coordinated and moderated an open forum that
included several emergency management and preparedness agencies to present and exhibit outreach
materials. The UH Town Hall offered an opportunity for networking and a question and answer session.
It included students, faculty and staff as well as members of the UH Emergency Management Bureau,
City of Houston OEM, National Weather Service, UH Fire Marshal’s Office, UH Police Department,
Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and UH CERT members.
2. EM Key Components: Staff presented the key components for emergency management and response to
78 Animal Care and Research Staff and UH Building Coordinators to include support presentations by
fire with evacuation planning. The key component workshops are specifically design to meet the
department needs to establish protocols for emergency preparedness and response. The workshops were
coordinated by EMB and it included EH&S, and the Fire Marshal’s Office in several sessions.

Administration and Finance Leadership Team

Counseling for Student Disabilities:

Animal Care 06/27/11

UH Police Department & Security Personnel 07/21/11

College Division of Business Administrators

UH Building Coordinators

Division of Student Affairs
3. Communicating Emergency Information through Social Media Alliance: Staff presented to 30 members
of the social media alliance (SMA) about the UH Emergency Alert Notification System (EANS) and the
EMBs role. The presentation helped facilitate the use of Facebook and Twitter pages and how the SMA
can help facilitate the distribution of the official UH emergency Alerts campus-wide.
4. Hurricane Awareness Presentation: Staff presented basic hurricane information and how to be prepared
to 25 UH Library staff members as a part of their Work-Life Balance series.
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5. National Weather Service (NWS) Skywarn Storm Spotter Training: Staff sponsored a 2 hour certification
class to 25 UH staff, faculty, UH Fire marshals and community members, on how to spot severe weather
and report it to the NWS.
6. Making Sense of Mass Notification Webinar, Staff sponsored Webinar through the Campus Safety and
presented to 4 members of UHDPS.
7. Impact Weather Tropical Outlook Webinar: Staff took part in several Hurricane predictions webinars for
Houston, the webinars were open to UHDPS staff, EH&S, Security Personnel and Athletics:

August 3, 2011

September 1, 2011

July 11, 2012

August 11, 2012

September 11, 2012

Winter Outlook
8. Life Flight Landing Zone Training: Memorial Herman Hospital 07/09/11 sponsored Life Flight
Landing simulation for 5 UH members to prepare for immediate medical evacuation of campus patients.
This included a 45-minute class room training and a tour of the Life Flight Dispatch Center.
9. Campus Awareness and Safety Panel: Staff presented at 7 panel sessions throughout the summer for the
Parent Session of New Student Orientation; discussed disaster preparedness outreach opportunities,
disseminated information, introduced the CERT program, Emergency Alert Notification System and the
importance of being proactive in emergency planning.

Dean of Students

Assistant Chief of Police

Director of Residential Life

Outreach Coordinator

Psychologist of CAPS

EMB Staff
10. UHDPS Security Training: Staff presented an overview of UH EMB, Security Officer’s role in
emergencies, emergency information, ICS refresher, and UH EOC orientation to 30 security personnel.
11. UHDPS
Security/Parking
Enforcement
Hurricane
Plan
Review:
Staff
reviewed
UHDPS
Security/Parking Enforcement Hurricane Plan and provided technical assistance and recommendations.
12. UH CERT Program: Staff instructed three more 8 week CERT classes to include students, faculty,
police, and security personnel. Approximately 56 UH members have been trained and received
certification in this volunteer and disaster preparedness program. Support agencies include: City of
University of Houston Emergency Management
17
Houston, Harris County, Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, UH Police
Department, UH Fire Marshal’s Office.

1st CERT Class – August 2, 2011, Number of Graduates: 13

2nd CERT Class – Mar. 7, 2012, Number of Graduates: 23

3rd CERT Class – Sept. 28, 2011, Number of Graduates: 20
13. UH Outdoor Siren Training: Staff trained 37 UH staff, police and police dispatchers, on how, and
when to use of the UH Siren System that included PIER Testing, manual activation and monitoring
and testing. EMB staff developed a standardized log system to monitor the equipment, testing gaps and
reporting mechanisms for follow-up and action.

Police supervisors

Police dispatchers
14. Active Shooter Virtual Awareness Roundtable: Staff coordinated an Active Shooter preparedness and
prevention training webinar presented by Department of Homeland Security 3 attendees.
15.

EMB

Police Administration
Emergency Planning for Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch Campuses: Staff met with 6 UH System
member to review, update and provide consulting services for developing their emergency response
plan and business continuity plans.
16.
Alternate Care Site Supervisor Training (ACS): Staff coordinated 3-hour training for 30 UH Staff,
faculty and community members, the course teaches the set-up, operations and logistics of managing
an Alternate Care Site.
17.
Ride-Out Team Orientation: Staff trained campus-wide participants on the Ride Out program to
include 50 members from Animal Care, UH IT Ride Out-Team members on the new standards and
coordination in overall campus Ride-Out Team processes. The orientation explained the importance of
NIMS/ICS training and the basics of the UH Emergency Operations Center functions.
18.

Animal Care

UH IT

UH Hilton Garden
UH Ride Out Team Preparedness Planning: Staff developed a campus-wide Ride-Out Team
coordination with procedures and standards; and met with 25 supervisor/coordinators of each campus
Ride Out Team to discuss Ride Out Team responsibilities, coordination with the UHEOC.
19.
UH Ride-Out Team Food Coordination with Aramark and UH Dining Services: Staff coordinated
with Aramark/UH Dining Services for the preparation and distribution of food for UH Ride-Out
University of Houston Emergency Management
18
Team personnel.
20.
Unclouding the Clery Act: Emergency Management Compliance Webinar: Staff coordinated 1-hour
webinar on mass notification and emergency policies on college campuses 4 members attended.
21.

EMB

Police Department
Emergency Health Advisory Board (EHAB) Development. Staff coordinated and assisted in the
development of the EHAB as a result of Pandemic Flu planning; The purpose EHAB is to promote
coordination across UH, Texas Medical Center (TMC), and local public health authorities in the event
of any health-related emergency. EHAB will make recommendations regarding UH’s response.
22. National Night Out: Staff participated in the annual National Night Out during 2011 and 2012,
partnering with students and police department and provided a tour of the campus to report crime
prevention issues to the Police Chief/AVP.
23. Business Continuity Planning: Staff presented to various departments, colleges and divisions on the
importance of a departmental business continuity plan and the different components to the plan.
24. Emergency Preparedness Material: Staff partnered with external local partners to receive and distribute
City of Houston, Harris County emergency preparedness information. The documents are disturbed at
various UH trainings and outreach events:

Ready Houston Disaster Preparedness DVD

City of Houston Hurricane Preparedness Guides including Hurricane Evacuation Maps

FEMA Emergency Supplies Kit information
OBJECTIVE 6: STRIVE FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. UH Emergency Management : Emergency Alert Notification System Improvement Project Milestones

September 2011: Mass Notification and Security Standards - to include mass notification, master plan
to physical improvements for security and mass notification and approvals.

September 2011: Enhancing the PIER web page design to include, user friendly links, social media,
and weather link updates.

October 2011: UH Emergency Operations Center (EOC) test webpage updated with new menu,
UHEMB Facebook page created, approvals for new design of UHEOC website from UH Marketing
and new UH Siren Testing procedures and documentation implemented

November 2011: February 2012: UHEOC site customization with PIER

December 2012: UHEMB Twitter page created
University of Houston Emergency Management
19

February 2012: Facebook/Twitter integration into PIER Emergency Alerts

March 2012: UHEOC webpage New Design walkthrough with UH partners (DPS, IT, Marketing,
Univ. Communications) Comments from group implemented. UH Siren Activation Training
conducted for UHDPS police and dispatchers

April 2012: UHEOC Webpage Design Follow-up Meeting with UH partners. UH Siren Activation
Training conducted for UHDPS police and dispatchers

April-May 2012: Website comments, suggestions and changes implemented

June-July 2012: Content preparation for release of the New Design

August 2012: UH PIO personnel training on new site design and publication of documents

August 2012: Launch of new site design and implementation of new streamlined process

October 2012: Development of Emergency Alert Notification System roles in the Emergency
Management Plan, Police, University Communications, Emergency Management, Information
Technology

November 2012: Mandatory Emergency Alert PIER Training for Dispatchers

November 2012: Streamlining the alert process by removing unnecessary folders from the Emergency
Communications folder and developing a generic Emergency Alert template.

December 2012: Police Chief is asked get police bureau on the same page regarding Emergency
Alerts. Police dispatcher will distribute the alerts; Police Sergeant acting as the PIO will make internal
UH notifications; University Communications will update the main UH website, if necessary. If
needed, Emergency Management will be notified.

December 2012: AVP Davis; supports the Campus Wide EANS program and is assigned UHS
EANS project. The project includes: members of UHS and UH.
2. UH Emergency Operations Center (UHEOC) Website Improvement Project: Staff coordinated for the
design of the UHEOC website and developed the new PIER System site to streamline the distribution of
Emergency Alerts within the System. A new organization, layout and content for the menu was also
developed.
3. UH Emergency Management Bureau Social Media - Facebook and Twitter page: Staff developed the UH
EMB Facebook page in order to: (1) Post emergency information, and (2) promote disaster preparedness
and awareness through tips and training announcements. Developed the UH EMB Twitter page in order
to: (1) Post emergency information, and (2) promote disaster preparedness and awareness through tips
and training announcements.
4. Emergency ALERT PIER Training for Police Dispatchers: Staff instructed UH Police dispatchers on
how to send in Emergency Alert using the PIER System. Assistant Police Chief and dispatch manager were
University of Houston Emergency Management
20
also in attendance.
5. UH Emergency Alert Notification System Preparedness Document: Staff developed information sheets
to explain how the campus community is notified of an emergency including the mediums that are used
and the terms. The information was disseminated via several information mediums.
6. Launch New PIER Web design for Emergency Communications: Staff launched new PIER website
design that includes an improved and organized menu, an enhanced look to the overall appearance of the
PIER website and the streamlining of the distribution of emergency alerts. This new process allows
Alerts to be sent simultaneously through E-mail, SMS Text Messaging, Phone calls, the new website, Alertus
beacons, Facebook and Twitter. www.uh.edu/emergency
7. UH Emergency Alert Notification System and Communications Plan: Staff coordinates, plans, and
continues to standardize the streamlining of the emergency alert notification system, with the AVP and
provides input to the process; the roles and responsibilities were outlined in the EMP. (This process is
on-going from beginning in March 2011 to present.
NOTIFICATIONS, ADVISORY AND ALERTS
1. Tropical Storm Don (7/27-7/29). Released a General Notification to EMT, UHDPS Command Staff and
Building Coordinators; Post to UHEOC page and Facebook.
2. Tropical Storm Lee (8/30-9/2). Released an Advisory sent to all UH students, faculty and staff via PIER;
Post to UHEOC page and Facebook.
3. Tropical Storm Nate (9/8-9/9). Released a General Notifications to EMT, UHDPS Command Staff and
Building Coordinators; Post to UHEOC page and Facebook.
4. Tornado Watch (11/8/11) Released an Advisory to all UH students, faculty and staff via PIER; Post to
UHEOC page and Facebook.
5. City of Houston Alert regarding Smoke: (1/3/12). Released a General Notification to EMT, UHDPS
Command Staff regarding smoke near campus.
6. Tornado Warning and Campus Flooding: (1/9/12) Released an Emergency Alert to all UH students, faculty
and staff via e-mail, text, Alertus beacons; Post to UHEOC page, Facebook and Twitter; to include four
advisories and updates.
7. Severe Weather and Tornado Warning: (1/25/12). Released a General Notifications as early as 1/23/12 in
regards to potential severe weather on 1/25/12. Advisories and alerts sent to all UH students, faculty
and staff via e-mail, text, Alertus beacons; Post to UHEOC page, Facebook and Twitter; Sirens were
activated.
8. Gas Leak (2/22/2012). Released Advisory to all UH students, faculty and staff via e-mail, selected Alertus
University of Houston Emergency Management
21
beacons; Post to UHEOC page, Facebook and Twitter; A total of four advisories were released.
9. Small fire at Cemo Hall (3/2/2012). Released a General Notifications to the UHDPS command staff and to
the UH PIOs.
10. Severe Thunderstorms and Wind Damage (3/20/2012)/. Released an Advisory to UH students, staff and
faculty.
11. Heavy rain and Possible Severe Weather (4/15-4/16/12). Released a General Notification was sent to the
UHDPS command staff and to the UH PIOs on 4/13/12. The UHEOC website was also updated.
12. Houston Fire Department Shelter in Place Order City of Houston Shelter-in-Place Order due to
Warehouse Fire. Released an Emergency Alert to all UH Students, faculty and staff to notify them of the
Shelter In Place order that included a 5-mile radius from the fire; this order was later lifted for UH area.
13. Tropical Storm Debby. Released a total of (6) General Notifications to the EMT, UHDPS Command Staff,
UH PIOs, and Ride-Out Team supervisors regarding the potential threat of Tropical Storm Debby
14. Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac. Released (3) General Notifications sent to EMT, UHDPS Command Staff
and UH PIOs regarding Isaac. This information was also posted to the website (uh.edu/emergency) as
well as the EMB Facebook and Twitter sites.
OBJECTIVE 7: ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN ALL ENDEAVORS
AND ENSURE THAT STRATEGIES ARE MEASURABLE
PERSONNEL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
EMB’s professional development is to benefit both UH and the employee. Professional development
enhances personal skills, and can affect an employee’s future as a talent and knowledgeable worker. EMB
pursues the right training for career enhancement and in order to provide oversight, communication, and
coordination of a broad and diverse group of campus stakeholders.
1. Leadership Training: Staff participated in the leadership training sponsored by Professor J. Webb, Bauer
College of Business.
2. Blood borne Pathogen Training: Staff attended training offered by UH EH&S about awareness and
responding to the contamination from a blood borne pathogen.
3. CERT Facilitator/Instructor Training: staff certified 8-hour to teach or facilitate CERT for UH classes.
4. Conducting a Hazard and Risk Assessment at Your Campus Webinar: Staff attended 1-hour webinar
outlined how to conduct a risk assessment and how to implement the findings in a mitigation plan.
5. EOC Operations and ICS Interface G-975: Staff attended 28-hour course on how to manage an EOC
and how the EOC interfaces with ICS operations in the field (ICP).
6. FEMA Webinar Using Social Media for Emergency Management Practices: Staff attended 1-hour
University of Houston Emergency Management
22
webinar on how to use social media during preparedness, response and recovery.
7. FBI Biosecurity Workshop: Staff attended the workshop on biosecurity in universities and research
institutions and a table top exercise.
8. FSU SharePoint Incident Management System Webinar: Staff attended 1-hour webinar to review FSU’s
use of SharePoint as an Incident Management System software; identified pros and cons.
9. Galveston Houston/Alliance for Response: Staff attended Conference for responders, emergency
management, and museum/institute/facility administrators; The goal of this program is to promote
preservation of heritage (artifacts, art and other structures) during disasters.
10. Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (L-146 HSEEP): staff attended 24-hour course on
how to design, develop, conduct and evaluate exercises.
11. Houston All-Hazards/All Stakeholders Summit 2011: Staff attended 6-hour summit for emergency
management stakeholders from the Houston area. Speakers included Mark Sloan and Gary Briese.
12. International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM): Staff attended 3-days of the IAEM
Conference in Orlando, Florida; Attending general sessions and multiple breakout sessions
13. Legal Issues and Disasters MGT-366: Staff attended legal and disaster training.
14. Making Sense of Mass Notification Polices Webinar: Staff attended training on campus safety and
policies for warning a campus.
15. PIER Basic Training: Staff attended Basic PIER webinar online.
16. PIER 7.0 Preview Webinar: Staff attended 1-hour webinar showcasing social media and geo-tagging
integration into the new release of PIER Systems.
17. PIER Social Media Connectors Webinar: Staff took 1-hour webinar on how to setup social media
connectors in PIER and how to post to social media pages and manage inquiries.
18. PIER System Strategic Training: Staff attended 3-day course to learn the administrative processes and
strategies to using and improving UH PIER System site. In addition, staff was trained on the
development of a communication plan.
19. Peer Audit Review Workshop UH System Emergency Management: Staff attended a 2.5-hour training on
how the peer review and audit compliance requirements for the UH System were to be conducted.
20. Regional Technology Seminar and Fair: Staff attended 1-day seminar to learn about the different
technologies being utilized in the Region and how UH could use the technologies. These technologies
included: PIER, GIS, EMTrack, eNotify, i-Info, Video teleconferencing and WebEOC.
21. University of Houston Texas Hurricane Center Conference: Staff attended conference regarding
preparation, planning and mitigation for hurricanes; key note speaker: TDEM Deputy Chief, Nim Kidd.
22. Threat and Risk Assessment: MGT-310: Staff attended 2-day course to learn how to conduct threat,
hazard, and vulnerability assessments in order to improve gaps in planning and preparedness on campus.
University of Houston Emergency Management
23
23. The 23rd Annual Hurricane Seminar for Business and Industry Houston Staff attended a half-day seminar
that focused on case studies and lessons learned for hurricane preparedness and recovery. Speakers
included personnel: global and regional private companies, University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston
Zoo and hurricane scientists presenting on the Hurricane Outlook for the 2012 season.
24. Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents (UPSBI): Staff took an online 4-hour training
course that covers understanding and responding to bomb threats, how to recognize IEDs and how to
develop preventive measures and plan for these incidents in schools.
25. WebEOC Sentinel Mandatory City of Houston EOC Training: Staff attended the training to become a
WebEOC Sentinel (required) for UH. Sentinel capabilities include: acting as the administrator for the UH
WebEOC site, conducting basic training for all users, creating/managing new logins.
26. WebEOC Basic Training: Staff attended the basic training for WebEOC to observe the structure and the
presentation in order to train UH personnel.
27. University of Houston System Required Training: Staff completed the following: Cash Security
Procedures, External Consulting Related Party Disclosure Training Acknowledgement.
28. Emergency Management Institute/Independent Training: Staff independently took the following courses
for certifications:

IS 1: Emergency Program Manager, An Orientation to Position

IS-15b. Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agency

IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness

IS-100: Introduction of ICS

IS-10PWb. Introduction to the Incident Command System Public Works

IS-ICS100.HE: Introduction to Incident Command System for Higher Education

IS-120 & 120a: An Introduction to Exercises

IS-139 & 139a: Exercise Development Course/Exercise Design

IS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident.

IS-230 & 230b: Principles of Emergency Management

IS-235 & 235a: Emergency Planning

IS-240 & 240a: Leadership and Influence

IS-241 & 241a: Decision Making and Problem-Solving

IS-242.a: Effective Communications

IS-244a: Developing and Managing Volunteer

IS-393a: Introduction to Hazard Mitigation

IS-520: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning and Pandemic Influenzas
University of Houston Emergency Management
24

IS-522: Exercising Continuity Plans for Pandemic Courses

IS-546 & 546a: Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Awareness

IS-547.a: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning

IS-548: Continuity of Operations Planning Manager’s Train the Trainer

IS-551: Devolution Planning

IS-700.a – National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction

IS-775: EOC Management and Operations

IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction promote planning and response functions.

IS-906: Basic Workplace Security Awareness

IS-907 Active Shooter: What You Can Do

IS-923 Performance Management Goal Writing

ICS-300: Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

ICS-400: Advanced Incident Command System, Command and General Staff
DEFINITIONS
Preparedness, response, continuity, recovery and mitigation are mentioned frequently through the Annual
Report. These terms are defined below as used by the Emergency Management Program.
1. Preparedness: Preparedness refers to activities, programs, and systems developed in advance and
designed to build and enhance capabilities to support respond to, and recovery from disasters.
2. Response: Response begins as soon as a disaster occurs. Response is the provision of search and
rescue, medical services, access and control, and restoring communication systems during a crisis.
3. Continuity: Continuity of Operations Planning or Business Continuity Planning can be defined as an
interdisciplinary systematic approach to planning how an organization will continue critical
operations and business during and after a crisis or disaster.
4. Recovery: Recovery operations provide for basic needs and restore the organization. There are two
phases in the recovery phase. The first phases, infrastructure is assessed, and repairs are conducted
to restore, water, power, communications and other utilities. Second phase includes returning to
normal functions and addressing future disasters.
5. Mitigation: Hazard mitigation is defined as a method to reduce or eliminate loss of life and/or
property and injures resulting from natural hazards through short-and long term activities. Effective
mitigation activities have the potential to reduce the vulnerability and/or exposure to risk and natural
disasters.
University of Houston Emergency Management
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