“IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: A UNIVERSITY CONFRONTS
HURRICANE FLOYD”
AIM: This presentation provides a twenty (20)-minute narrative which describes the ways in which East Carolina University responded to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane
Floyd, which occurred on September 16, 1999, bringing twenty (20) inches of rain to eastern North Carolina, with windspeeds of one hundred fifteen (115) miles per hour.
This presentation, to the extent beneficial, includes minimal references and citations to legal analyses, case law and applicable statutes. This narrative, consequently, functions as a "preface" to Mr. Schannon's more technically legal perspective upon crisis management and risk communications.
PRESENTATION: Given that the aim of this presentation tends to be more narrative in form, the following constitutes its tentative outline:
I. Introduction
A. Quantitative realities
B. Recurring motifs
1.
2.
Communications
Necessity, Compassion and Legal Analyses
3. Reciprocity
II. People
A. University Community
B. City and County Communities
III. Property
A. Facilities
B. Environmental Health & Safety
C. Computing, Information, and News Services
IV. Conclusion
A. Tentative Legal Defenses
B. Lessons
 Sources consulted include Ben Irons, Esq.; Ms Toi Carter, Esq.; Kris Smith, Ph.D.; The
News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)(September 29, 1999 at "Special Section"); Pieces of
Eight (October 29, 1999); Public Health Surveillance Summary of Reports (October 14,
1999); and, East Carolina University's "Emergency Preparedness Checklist” at www.ecu.edu/oehs/emergency/checklist.htm (copy attached)

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PHASE I (Initiate 24 to 72 hours prior to onset of emergency)
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance alerts campus of Phase I Status
General (All Divisions/Departments)
Update internal emergency procedures and phone trees
Administration and Finance
Monitor and update latest forecast and storm tracking information
Determine and report on campus administrative events scheduled
Academic Affairs
Determine and report on academic/research/special events scheduled
Research/Graduate Studies
Determine and report on academic/research/special events scheduled
Health Sciences
Determine and report on academic/research/special events scheduled
Student Life
Prepare dining halls for power outage and food/water supply needs
Housing Services prepares plan to move or accommodate residents - coordinate with ECU Police and Transit
Housing Services informs staff and all residents of emergency operations policy
Inform outside (non-University) groups in residence of emergency operations plan
Inform Panhellenic Council of emergency operations policy
Computing & Information Systems
Establish emergency information phone line and provide number to faculty/staff/ students
Maintain and update Emergency Telephone list
Ensure integrity and maintenance of computer and telecommunications systems data/ equipment
Coordinate emergency information access on ECU Home Page
Report on expected computer network availability

News and Communications Services
Review and update current inventory of public information resources
Facilities Services
Review and initiate Emergency Operations plan (i.e. Resource List, Mutual Aid
Agreements, etc.
Ensure maximum fuel storage/reserves
Environmental Health & Safety
Update Emergency Telephone Listing
Update Emergency Operations Plan
Review Mutual Aid communications and agreements - chemical emergency
Contact City/County Rep regarding meeting
Establish EH&S Emergency Operations Center Liaison (and communications) at
City/County EOC
Provide announcement on Email system regarding “Office/Laboratory
Preparations”
PHASE II (Initiate 12 to 24 hours prior to onset of emergency)
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance notifies campus of Phase II status and activates Emergency Response Team. As wind gusts reach 30 mph, an orderly secession of activities will begin. As wind gusts reach 30 mph, all aerial work
(work at heights, on ladders or on rooftops) shall begin shutdown. At wind gusts of 40 mph, all outdoor emergency preparation activities shall begin shutdown.
Only emergency response and ECU patrols will be allowed to operate at this point.
At wind gusts of 65 mph, all outdoor activities (i.e. ECU Police patrols) shall shutdown, except in the case of a response to a life-threatening event. Response to life-threatening activities shall be decided by the VCAF with appropriate counsel. These same parameters will be utilized to determine the initiation of response activities.
City/County Rep
Report on city/county plans and coordinate needs with ECU
Identify and report on safe routes for evacuation and emergency shelter locations with ECU

PCMH Rep
Report on hospital preparations and any needs/assistance
Administration and Finance
Provide latest forecast and storm tracking information
Ensure Materials Management availability for emergency procurement and supplies
Marketing Director distributes announcement on Email system regarding cancellations
Marketing Director to provide AM 530, Emergency Hotline, and "Alert"/Campus
Emergency Information web site with updates
Decide on campus events status - continue/cancel/postpone
Provide mobile phones to key emergency personnel
Provide for relocation of faculty/staff/students (non-resident) to Mendenhall
Student Center
Academic Affairs
Decide status of special academic events/experiments scheduled - continue/postpone/re-schedule/cancel and secure research
Decide status of Theater Arts/Music events scheduled - continue/postpone/reschedule/cancel
Decide status of academic class schedule for potential cancellation - continue/cancel
Decide status of off-campus activities - boats, research, field work, etc.
Secure/evaluate modular units
Health Sciences
Decide status of special events/experiments scheduled - continue/postpone/reschedule/cancel and secure research
Secure radioactive/biological materials & prepare staff for emergency response
Secure/evacuate modular units
Student Life
Decide status of student activities scheduled/re-scheduled/postponed/canceled and report to the Chancellor's Emergency Preparedness Committee
Accommodate handicapped/special needs residents
Provide entertainment for residents
ECU Police contact Housing Services to determine time to move students from rooms to hallways
Prepare dining halls for power outage (stocked food, cooking source, water)

Place Student Health Services staff on stand-by and prepare units
Place Counseling Center and Student Health Services’ Mental Health Services staff on stand-by and prepare units
Make preparations for alternate Aid Station
Ensure bus transportation is available and fueled for possible evacuation - staff on stand-by
Computing & Information Systems
Maintain staff on stand-by for response
Test emergency communications systems including computers
Determine emergency shutdown needs and implement plan
Environmental Health & Safety
Report on status of EH&S Emergency Operations Center Liaison
Assist in emergency preparations of Dining Services
Secure HazMat Storage facilities
ECU-EOC Liaison report to City/County EOC
Check East/West campus to assist Facilities Services in securing facilities and construction areas
Secure recyclable materials and equipment
Test emergency communications with EOC Liaison, PCMH and other ECU staff
Fuel vehicles
Place EH&S staff on stand-by for response
Provide safety information to Facilities Services Response team.
Facilities Services
Secure facilities and construction areas
Clear storm drains and secure grounds
Secure modular units
Secure off-campus facilities
Make forms available for compiling FEMA information
Verify progress with emergency plan
Fuel vehicles and emergency generators
Test emergency resources (e.g. generators, sump pumps)
Place facilities Services staff on stand-by

ECU Police
Prepare emergency Operations Center (including alternate EOC)
Test emergency communications to all Emergency Operations Centers by all means (phone, fax, email, radio, etc.)
Fuel vehicles
Place ECU Police staff on stand-by
Contact Housing Services to determine time to move students from rooms to hallways
Parking & Traffic Services
Remove vehicles from low-lying areas in case of flooding & close unsafe areas
Notify all faculty/staff/students to move vehicles to higher ground and away from beneath trees and other high wind hazards
Place staff on stand-by
News and Communications Services
Place staff on stand-by to contact news media - Local TV/radio stations
Place staff on stand-by to contact campus radio (WZBM)
Place staff on stand-by to contact cable channel voice-over
Establish Disaster Assistance/Information Center
PHASE III (Initiate when storm has passed and winds dissipate below 40 mph)
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance activates emergency response activities
Facilities Services
Remove debris from roads to allow access to emergency vehicles
Complete damage assessment - East/West campus (grounds, facilities, construction areas)
Secure unsafe areas - repair/restrict access
Establish utility service in cooperation with Greenville Utilities
Compile damage report and prioritize repairs
Collect data for insurance/FEMA reimbursement
Provide equipment, personnel and resources to rescue workers

Environmental Health & Safety
Complete Safety Assessment - East campus grounds
Complete Safety Assessment - Dining Services facilities
Complete Safety Assessment - HazMat storage facilities
Complete Safety Assessment - West Campus laboratories
Complete Safety Assessment - East Campus laboratories and grounds
Complete Safety Assessment - assist Facilities Services with balance of facilities, if needed
Provide safety assistance to university response teams during recovery and cleanup
Contact Greenville Utilities to assess water contamination
Review Emergency Operation Plan and revise, as necessary
Schedule de-briefing to discuss response, if necessary
ECU Police
Establish Auxiliary Command Post at site, if necessary - phones, computers
Establish Press Area, if necessary
Establish Recovery Area, if necessary
Establish Receiving/Counseling Area
Establish perimeter around incident site
Patrol unsafe areas to ensure security
Control media access to victims and victim's family members
Greenville Fire Department
Set-up Command Post
Be aware of visual reference when removing victims & develop removal procedures
News and Communications Services
Remain on stand-by to contact news media - Local TV/radio stations
Remain on stand-by to contact campus radio (WZBM)
Remain on stand-by to contact cable channel voice-over
Organize news media into one area
Provide hourly news conferences and information updates in between - coordinate with media
Do NOT allow individual interviews

Telecommunications
Establish “800” or “888” hotline number where victim's families can obtain information
Computing and Information Services
Establish computer link to student/staff/faculty database to identify victims/missing
Provide press releases on ECU Home Page with hotline number for families
Housing Services
Complete damage assessment of Housing Services’ facilities
Deactivate use of hallways for student housing and/or other temporary shelter facilities
Inventory residents to establish list of missing, injured & unharmed residents
Maintain list of names of missing, injured and their status and accounted for residents
Provide temporary housing for rescue/utility workers
Dining Services
Complete Damage Assessment - Dining Services facilities
Recover and provide food service for students
Establish food service for rescue workers, families, news media, etc.
Student Life
Organize/contact interested student groups to help in “light duty” cleanup effort
Report to command post to assist with identifying missing/victims and dealing with families
Provide Counseling Center and Student Health Services - Mental Health Services staff for counseling students, staff, faculty, response teams and family members of victims