Emergency Response Plan
The intent of Westminster College's Emergency Response Plan is to provide the institution's faculty, staff, and students with a comprehensive plan which will delineate our response tactics to major disasters while on college property. The purpose of this plan is to arm our campus with preparedness, increase our sense of detection, improve our success in continuity, and aid in recovery, while ensuring the protection of students, employees, and the public from the effects of these disasters.
Westminster College in conjunction with outside emergency personnel is committed to:
- Saving lives
- Minimizing injuries
- Protecting the environment
- Protecting property
- Preserving a functioning administration
- Ensuring continuity of operations according to the Mission Statement
- Recovering from natural, technological, and chemical hazards
Westminster College is located in an area potentially affected by the following natural and unnatural disasters:
- Tornadoes
- Earthquake
- Fires/Explosions
- Ice storms/Blizzards
- Public Health Issues
- Terrorism
- Nuclear Event
- Bomb Threat
- Act of Violence
- Transportation Accident
- Power Outage
- Hazardous Materials releases
- Civil Disorder
Emergencies or disasters will be defined and responded to based on one of the following Levels:
- Level I: An unusual occurrence or non-emergency which warrants no more than administrative notification and can be handled by Security protocol
- Level II: A situation which disrupts sizable portions of the campus and
possibly the surrounding community, requiring assistance from external agencies and resulting in possible suspension of normal activities - Level III: A situation involving the campus and the surrounding community which calls for immediate campus evacuation and which requires assistance or control from external agencies.
Westminster College has adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) structure, utilizing a Cabinet member as Incident Commander (IC). Remaining Cabinet members and designated staff members will act as the General Staff and the Command Staff. Various other department persons will act as Essential Personnel.
Our campus notification systems are email, text messaging, and telephone intercom.
For questions relating to our comprehensive Emergency Response plan, contact our Director of Campus Safety & Security at 573-592-6231.
For questions relating to our comprehensive Emergency Response plan, contact our Director of Campus Safety & Security at 573-592-6231.