09:12:00 College Emergency Response Management Team

PURPOSE

To define responsibilities of the College Emergency Response Management Team.

POLICY

The College has established the College Emergency Response Management Team (CERMT) as the executive level management, policy and decision making group for the College concerning emergency preparedness.This group will review emergency preparedness policies on an annual basis and make recommendations for changes or improvements in the planning process. The team will work together to establish annual schedules for emergency preparedness drills, testing and training. During major or significant incidents requiring decision making skills and expertise of the group members, a portion or all of the team may be asked by the president to assemble in a designated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to provide guidance for and management of the incident.

EXECUTIVE POLICY GROUP

An integral part of the College Emergency Response Management Team (CERMT) is the Executive Policy Group. At the request or direction of the president, the Executive Policy Group will convene in the designated Emergency Operations Center location. The president will brief the members of this group concerning the circumstances of the emergency and will consult with them during the decision making process of managing the emergency at hand. If circumstances of the emergency warrant full activation of the Emergency Operations Center, each vice president will be responsible for notifying personnel assigned to him/her. Refer to the executive policy group organizational chart, Figure 29 in the Annual Safety Report.

CERMT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Although all staff are required to be familiar with the College’s Emergency Preparedness Plan, members of the College Emergency Response Management Team (CERMT) may have special designations and associated responsibilities during an actual event. Figure 30 in the Annual Safety Report shows the organizational chart for the College Emergency Response Management Team.

CERMT RESPONSIBILITIES

Critical incidents, emergencies or pandemic events can cause disruption to services. Management response activities will involve members of the College Emergency Response Management Team (CERMT). The president, or his/her designee, will decide the necessity of activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a critical event based upon the severity of the emergency and its overall effect on the campus or campuses.  At the time a major emergency or disaster is declared, the following will occur:

1. Upon receiving an emergency alert, CERMT team members, as well as all campus occupants, will evacuate, relocate or lock down as instructed.
2. Once vice presidents, other CERMT team members, Campus Police or other emergency responders, brief the president or campus dean and if conditions warrant that a major emergency or disaster be declared for the affected campus, a decision will be made as to the necessity of convening the CERMT team.
3. Once convened in a designated location not affected by the event, and conditions permitting, team members will turn on and monitor any communication devices to include emergency radios, cell phones, television and computers. Members will maintain communications with on-scene incident command.
4. CERMT team members will collaborate on decisions relative to critical issues associated with managing and recovering from the event.
5. If conditions warrant, the president will contact the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to keep them informed and request assistance from the office of Facilities Administration and Development staff for recovery assistance.
6. Campus Police will establish direct communication with emergency service agencies needed to assist in management of the incident, maintain communication with the EOC, and provide police coverage for buildings and grounds.
7. The College’s Facilities Management will respond according to its established response plan for damage assessment, increased sanitation, disinfection, establishment of relocation areas for continued business services, and other routines vital to the management of an incident.
8. In the event a catastrophic event occurs at any campus, key/fob members of the College Emergency Response Management Team, as directed by the president, will immediately travel to the site to assist with management of the incident as well as continued business and student learning services.

10/19