Crisis Management Team Update – Feb. 1, 2008
By Gary Juhan, Vice Chancellor for Administration

I write to provide you with an update on the work of the UVa-Wise Crisis Management Team over the last several months. Months prior to the tragedy at Virginia Tech, the College had established a Crisis Management Team (CMT) with a particular emphasis on the potential impact of the avian flu. Since that time, however, the scope of the CMT has been more comprehensive.

The Team includes the following members — Keith Fowlkes, Roger Hagy, Gary Juhan, Joe Kiser, Steve McCoy, John Reeves, Lora Williams, and Jewell Worley. We have reviewed institutional policy and procedures on an array of aspects pertaining to campus safety and security. As chair of the CMT, I want to share with you a variety of efforts by the CMT and various campus units to continue to safeguard the campus community.

• Signed a mutual aid agreement with Wise County Emergency Services. The College also has agreements with the Town of Wise, Wise County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Norton.
  

• Developed an Emergency Response webpage, linked from the College’s homepage, to provide communications along with mass e-mails.
  

• Installed an emergency alert siren system with voice broadcast capability on top of Darden Hall that can be activated by Campus Police portable radio. In the event the siren is activated, please remain in your building, office or room and seek additional information from the Emergency Response webpage.
  

• Implemented a Crisis Communication Team consisting of Roger Hagy, Marcia Quesenberry, Laura Pritchard, and Joseph Meade.
  

• Conducted a campus risk assessment and categorized potential threats.
  

• Conducted table top exercises on different scenarios such as severe weather, hostage situation, bus crash, and communicable disease.
  

• The Chief of Campus Police and the Campus Police officer responsible for coordination of parking and special events obtained National Incident Management System certification.
  

• The Chief of Police attended Basic Principles of Emergency Management training provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Training.
  

• Modified our existing policy regarding weapons on campus.
  

• Installed thirteen additional surveillance cameras in campus parking lots.
  

• Campus Police and Residence Life staffs provide educational programming in the residence halls several times each semester.
  

• Risk assessment training was provided by a Licensed Professional Counselor from our Center for Student Development’s Counseling Services unit at faculty and staff workshops at the beginning of fall semester.
  

• The Dean of Students is a certified Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefer.
  

• Contact and arrangements have been made with area mental health professionals to provide assistance if needed.
  

• Developed a plan to utilize the current weather-related changes notification system for other emergency needs.
  

• The Campus Police officer responsible for coordination of parking and special events is also the Emergency Coordinator for Wise County.

The College has invested considerable resources in personnel, training and preparation in the event that it becomes necessary to respond to an emergency situation. As is always the case with such planning, however, the hope is that it will not be needed. Please be reminded that it is incumbent on every member of the college community, not just the CMT and Campus Police Department, to assist in identifying incidents and persons who may pose a risk to our campus. Do not hesitate to contact Campus Police at 328-COPS (2677) in the event you have concerns or suspicions.

If you have questions about the CMT or its efforts, please do not hesitate to contact me or other Team members.