SHAKY GROUND

A CSOT EXERCISE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

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HR Msg 4 Response

 

Point of Contact: Gary Womelsduff

CSOT Department/Area: Human Resources

 

What now?

• Before students leave, have you identified a need for volunteers to assist in recovery efforts for your area? How will you recruit volunteers?

We have only two student workers in our building, who will be mingling with others in the Alumni parking lot area.  Once we they are accounted for, they will be free to stay and help as needed, or migrate to Tiffany loop to join other students for information and prayer.

• Have you begun assessing the impact of the quake to your area? Have you addressed staff availability (who needs to go home tonight versus who needs to stay)?

  The HR building is not on a list to be inspected in the early stages, so we assume we cannot return to the building any time soon.  Once everyone is accounted for, I will encourage HR staff to be available to help with anyone injured, and to encourage and pray with staff and students.  Once things are somewhat settled down, we will ask staff who live nearby to allow our team (and others) to rest/sleep on a couch or floor if they cannot get home.

• List your essential personnel – those who may be required to staff through the night.

The HR Director will remain on site indefinitely, and some HR staff will be nearby indefinitely

• Are your staff/students or others around you in need of pastoral care, counseling services?  What is your plan for helping them in gaining assistance?

Within these first few hours, our pastoral care and counseling will be among ourselves.  We will be identifying staff and faculty who are trained and can offer immediate assistance here on campus.   Outside counseling help through the EAP will not be available for at least two days.  As staff/student gatherings are organized (Tiffany Loop?) for prayer and worship, will check with OSS via radio, and as approved encourage people to gather there for encouragement, comfort and quicker access to updates and news.

• Shelter/warmth, food, water and restrooms on campus are still unavailable as the buildings are not yet open.  How will you deal with these issues for those who stay?

HR has a limited supply of blankets, bottled water and canned food which will be brought out of the building when we evacuate.  These will have to be rationed until regular supplies can be released.  (we will add toilet paper to our emergency supply kits)

• Have your priorities changed? 

The biggest issue now will be taking care of people who are outside overnight.  We will give priority to anyone injured or in shock for blankets, water and possible transport (if safe) to any structure deemed safe – either on or off campus.   For some people the priority is simply to get home.    Could we work with Athletics to establish a crew/canoe “shuttle” across the canal for people who need to head north?

• Have any issues or new questions emerged?

  Sanitation, food and water and shelter for a more lengthy evacuation where people are “stuck” and cannot simply leave.  Alternative housing.  Quicker identification of one or more safe buildings where people can at least get in from cold/weather.