Western Michigan University Parent and Family Guide
Emergency Preparedness Planning at WMU
Unpublished
WMU has a Critical Incident Response Planning committee that generally meets monthly. Emergency Action Guidelines (EAG) were developed to provide emergency management response and recovery should a critical incident occur at WMU. Each team also has specific guidelines that include checklists of actions to consider, emergency contact info, and additional reference materials. As a living document, emergency action guidelines are continually reviewed and updated.
The plan includes two main groups: The Chief Executive Officer (President) and the Critical Incident Policy Group (Vice Presidents). The Emergency Operations Center comprised of the following six teams: Academic Support, Assessment, Human Services, Logistical Support, Public Information, and Public Safety.
In addition, disaster exercises, which are held at least annually, are designed to test our response and recovery activities. Ranging from tabletops and drills to functional exercises with full-scale components that involved working with the Kalamazoo County Police Department and the Kalamazoo Office of Emergency Management, each exercise involves a debriefing as well as evaluations by the participants, observers, and exercise designers. The evaluations are included in the After Action Report that summarizes the exercise findings, identifies the accomplishments and the shortfalls, and provides recommendations.
Many WMU buildings have emergency preparedness volunteer teams. After participating in a variety of training seminars, the volunteers provide leadership and direction during fire evacuation and tornado shelter exercises. Some volunteers are trained in first aid and CPR/AED as well.
The WMU hot line is (269) 387-1001. Although rare, if weather conditions result in closing WMU, the information is immediately posted on the hot line as well as on the WMU home page. These two sources will also be updated should a campus emergency occur.
An additional emergency resource is the Kalamazoo County Office of Emergency Management where updates will be posted if there is an emergency in Kalamazoo County.
The American Red Cross has a website where people affected by a disaster can register to let family and friends know they are safe and well.
For additional information about WMU emergency preparedness planning, please visit WMU Emergency Management or contact Environmental Safety & Emergency Management at (269) 387-5590.
