Emergency Operations Plan
Preface
Higher education institutions across the United States have recognized the importance of comprehensive all-hazard planning in response to both incidents and federal mandates. Emergency management is an evolving field that now recognizes the unique vulnerabilities present on college campuses. Appalachian State University provides this Emergency Operations Plan as a guidance document for all-hazard emergency management. This document is established to replace the former University Emergency Response Plan. While similarities between the two plans exist, this Plan considers emergency functions, numerous hazards, and a heightened role of the Emergency Operations Center in response to major emergencies and disasters.
This Emergency Operations Plan is a guide to how Appalachian State University conducts all-hazards response. It is built upon scalable, flexible, and adaptable coordinating systems to align key roles and responsibilities across the University. It describes both authorities and best practices for managing and coordinating incidents that range from the serious but purely isolated, to large-scale incidents and catastrophic natural disasters.
This emergency operations plan is founded on the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a national template that enables federal, state, local, and tribal governments and private sector nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently.
Implementation of this plan will require extensive cooperation, collaboration, and information sharing across all Appalachian State University departments, as well as local and state agencies that will assist the University during major emergencies and disasters.
Portions of this preface are adapted from the National Response Framework, January 2008.
