44.100:  Critical Incidents

Emergency response plans defining specific procedures will be developed and maintained by the Ohio University Police Department and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, with input from the university community. Procedures will be reviewed on an annual basis by the standing Critical Incident Response Team.

I.  Definitions

A.  Critical Incident

Any incident requiring immediate actions be taken to ensure a safe and healthful environment and that university operations are maintained or restored.

B.  Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)

The standing CIRT consists of the Chief of Police (co-chair), Assistant Vice President for Safety and Risk Management (co-chair), Dean of Students, Associate Vice President for Facilities, Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services, Emergency Programs Coordinator, and Executive Director for Communications and Marketing.

Upon the declaration of a critical incident, the CIRT chair will appoint appropriate members to the augmented CIRT, based on the nature of the incident. In most cases, the augmented CIRT will include all members of the standing CIRT.

C.  Critical Incident Command Center

This is selected from pre-determined locations for the President's Executive Staff and the CIRT to meet when a Critical Incident has been declared. These locations will not be publicized.

D.  Critical Incident Media Site

This is selected from pre-determined locations for the dissemination of information to the media. The following have been designated as Critical Incident Media Sites, although other locations may be selected as appropriate to the specific incident: Baker University Center (various locations), Computer Services Center 121B, Howard Park, Nelson Commons, and Irvine Hall. Upon declaration of a Critical Incident, the Executive Director for Communications and Marketing, or designee, will determine the Site.

II.  Critical Incident Activation

The incumbent in each key role identified in this policy is required to designate a backup to fill that role in the case of absence or unavailability of the incumbent.

After taking immediate emergency action, such as calling 911 or activating an alarm, any member of the Ohio University community who becomes aware of a potential critical incident should contact the Ohio University Police Department. The Police Chief will contact the Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). The VPFA will decide whether or not to declare a Critical Incident. In the absence of the VPFA, the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) will be contacted to make that decision. The declaration will specify the location of the Command Center for this critical incident.

Upon declaration of a Critical Incident, the following will occur:

1. The Ohio University Police Department Communication Center will notify the Assistant Vice President, Safety and Risk Management (AVPSRM) that a critical incident has been declared.

2. The VPFA or VPSA will contact specific members of the President's Executive Staff as appropriate to the incident.

3. The Executive Staff members notified in the prior step will meet to take whatever actions are deemed appropriate. They will be convened by the Executive Vice President and Provost or by the Vice President issuing the declaration.

4. The AVPSRM will contact other members of the standing Critical Incident Response Team, or their designees, as appropriate to the incident.

5. The AVPSRM or CIRT will contact such additional people as are needed to deal effectively with the particular incident (e.g., the Vice President for Research), thereby forming the augmented CIRT.

In all of the above steps, the notification will specify the location of the Command Center for this critical incident. Those notified (both Executive Staff and members of the augmented CIRT) should report to the Command Center as soon as possible.

III.  Preparation

Every member of the standing CIRT, as identified in subsection I, sub-subsection B, above, will:

1. Name a designee to be notified in the event that the individual member cannot be contacted. Contact information for the CIRT members and their designees will be maintained in a university automated call database and at the Communication Center of the Ohio University Police Department.

2. Be responsible for developing, maintaining, and activating a staff emergency notification list within his or her department for the purpose of responding to a Critical Incident when needed.

The standing CIRT, as a group, will prepare, and at least annually review and revise as needed, the Ohio University Emergency Preparedness Response Plan, which will be published online, linked from the Environmental Health and Safety home page at http://www.ohiou.edu/ehs/.

IV.  Regional Campus Responses

The Executive Dean of the Regional Campuses will work with each campus dean to prepare response plans augmenting those described above. The Ohio University Police Department and Emergency Programs Coordinator will serve as consultative resources.

1. President

2. Executive Vice President and Provost

3. Executive Staff

4. Vice President for Finance and Administration

5. Vice President for Student Affairs

6. Vice President for Research

7. Director of Legal Affairs

8. All members of the standing CIRT

9. Vice President for University Advancement

10. Executive Dean of the Regional Campuses

11. Policy and Procedure Review Committee