Committee to Prepare Campus for Crisis, Disaster

Olivia DrakeAugust 24, 20062min

Posted 08/24/06

A team of staff members is updating Wesleyan’s emergency response plan, which describes protocols for maintaining personal safety and the continuity of operations in the event of a crisis.

Led by Director of Physical Plant Cliff Ashton, the Business Continuity Planning Committee is updating a plan that was implemented in 2002. The plan covers hurricanes and other natural disasters, as well as such manmade crises as power outages and chemical spills. The committee is exploring responses to more recent threats—such as the possibility of a pandemic contagion. It also is reviewing the plan for consistency with protocols established in the National Incident Management System created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The committee, which began its work last spring, will recommend a revised plan to the senior administration in the fall.

Questions and comments may be directed to Cliff Ashton at cashton@wesleyan.edu.
 

By Justin Harmon, vice president for Public Affairs and director of University Communications