About 4 hours after the quake:

The Communications Team has posted a press release on the SPU website regarding the school closure and current response to the earthquake.

The campus closure has been announced via BECs and SPU-Alert and most students have left campus. Bridges were re-opened but traffic throughout Seattle remains congested. News stations report it is taking 2 to 3 hours to get out of Seattle.

Non-essential faculty and staff are told they can leave campus. Essential personnel are asking for direction: what will they do about food and water and will they have to stay overnight? BECs are expressing concern about water, shelter and food too.

Many of the injured have been treated and released. The Health Center keeps the First Aid Station open. Many people are upset that they can’t reach family and friends; others are angry that they are outside and want to return to their offices or residence halls.

CIS has provided an update to the ECMT: Generators may provide power but not all the servers can be maintained: some may need to be taken offline to prevent overheating.

Update from Facilities:  There are approximately 50-55 buildings (excluding rental houses and smaller apartment buildings) that will take 2-3 hours each for the structural engineers to screen.  To work though all of the buildings will take the structural engineers 8 and a half days.  It is very possible that after being screened once, work will be identified that must be completed before the buildings can be re-screened for potential occupancy.  The length of time that various buildings will be down after a major earthquake is unknown. 

• Generators are running in Moyer, Marston, and the Library. 
• FPM has confirmed that power remains out in the Library, Peterson, Moyer, Marston/Watson           
• FPM staff have found a dead crow on the ground under the transformer in front of McKenna (likely cause). 
• FPM staff can see that one of the breakers high up on the pole has tripped

Update-from CIS--- It has been clarified that CIS WILL NOT be allowed back into Marston Hall prior to inspection by structural engineers. That inspection will likely be many hours away.  Some testing and assessment of services can be determined remotely, but depending on the severity of the quake, and the potential damage it may cause, CIS will not be able to provide much actual assessment of systems or resources.  

Quick Assessment:

• Phone service – the PBX is running on generator power.  Most on-campus phones still work and can make on-campus calls, but our trunks to outside/inbound calling are blocked and not available.
• CIS Servers – most servers are still running on generator power.  HVAC from Moyer is down due to the power outage.  Within 2 hours the CIS Server room will reach approximately 100 degrees and equipment will gradually start shutting down, failing.  Some equipment damage should be expected.
• Network Core – most network core equipment in the PBX/Network core room is still running on generator power.  The air handler in this space will keep the room temperature within operating margins while the generator still has diesel. Network connectivity to various buildings would likely be spotty, but could still be available in some areas.  Access to campus buildings would be restricted and network access would likely be limited to wireless.
• Inbound/Outbound communications – it is very likely that all communications will be severely hampered.  Little or no inbound/outbound phone calling (through the PBX) will take place.  Most cell service will be inaccessible. Internet service from the PBX room may be available, but campus network connectivity may be severely limited.
• SPU-Alert  – access to the notification system via the internet has failed and a notification message has not been sent.
• Emergency signs – messages have been sent to the signs via email, but network connectivity in campus buildings is spotty and no one can determine whether the message have been displayed.  Since most people have vacated the buildings, no-one would be viewing the signs anyway

 

Update:  OSL has set up a station at Tiffany Arch for students who are leaving campus to check in --- let us know where they are going, provide contact, etc.  Also becomes a point for students to ask questions. 

Update:  Center for Worship (Tiffany Loop): started organizing a time each hour for prayer and petitions, as well as announcements and other communications (as appropriate based on ECMT updates).

Update:  First Aid Station:  Restroom facilities suddenly became an absolute must for the first aid station. Will appropriate a nearby   garbage can line with bag from grab and go bag ask for volunteers to move it to a semi secluded area if possible and mark biohazard. 

Note from CSOT Leadership.  This one temporary restroom facility is not enough for the entire community …. Who should    have this as part of their emergency response plan?  How many and where should they be located? What are the issues associated with setting up temporary facilities?

The ECMT members decide to suspend the meeting and go out in the field to observe the campus response and meet with their leadership teams and staff to obtain input regarding the decision to cancel classes and other issues such as shelter, food, water and people response. They will meet back at the Emergency Operations Center at 2:00pm.

What now?*

• Does your plan adequately provide for your employees to be outside for any length of time?

• Are you and your staff prepared for bad weather conditions?

• Should you meet with any other CSOT members and coordinate a response to address the needs of employees and students?

• Who will you send home? List the employees you would send home and those that are essential. Are any student employees on the list?

• What actions do you need to take in the next hour? Next two hours?

• Have any issues or new questions emerged?

*Email your response to Janet Ward / Cheryl Michaels