Berkeley College Emergency Management Master Plan

Policy Statement and Objectives of the Plan

The purpose of the Berkeley College Emergency Management Master Plan is to establish policies, procedures and an organizational structure for response to emergencies throughout the Berkeley College System. The Plan contains clear strategies and roles played by the campus based Emergency Management Team during the initial response and throughout the emergency. The Plan also outlines the responsibilities of the Crisis Management Team consisting of the College President and senior administrators. Nothing in this plan shall be construed in a manner that limits the use of good judgment and common sense in matters not foreseen or covered by the elements of the plan.

BES associates are subject to the Plan for the campus at which their office is located. The Plan and organization shall be subordinate to State and Federal plans during a disaster declaration by those authorities.

Organizational Statement, Roles, and Responsibilities

The Emergency Management Plan is a campus based plan that guides the Emergency Management Team during a major emergency. The team leader or their designee on each campus would be responsible for the following actions:

Notifications

Contact numbers for emergency service units (Fire, Police, EMS) along with Government agencies (Office of Emergency Management, Board of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Poison Control Center, American Red Cross, Federal Office of Emergency Management and the National Response Center for Chemical, Oil and Chemical/Biological Terrorism) are also maintained at the Command Centers.  Medical facilities, utility companies (electricity, water, gas, and telephone) and contractors (elevator, plumbing, electrical, sprinkler, hazardous material cleanup, and smoke/fire restoration) are maintained along with emergency contact numbers for all current staff, faculty and students.

Emergency Equipment

Each Campus is equipped with a reasonable supply of emergency needs.

Emergency Management Team

Each campus has identified an Emergency Management Team.  Under their direction the EMT will be responsible for assessment and implementation of emergency procedures (evacuations, lockdowns, crowd control, access controls and coordination with responding emergency services.)  The EMT consists of representatives from:

Crisis Management Team

In the event of a major emergency an executive level Crisis Management Team will gather to direct the handling of the crises.

Communication with the Campus Community and General Public

In the event of an emergency, Berkeley College’s 800 Information Line, (1-800-446-5400) will become an Information Hotline Number that will provide information regarding individuals confirmed to be on Campus. 

Berkeley College has a mass notification system called BERK-ALERT. Prior to, or during an emergency situation, we have the abilitiy to notify students, faculty, staff, and others that we may deem necessary, via text messaging, e-mails, cell phones, home and business phones, of any pending emergency.

Community Roles

Each community member has a role to play during an emergency,

Role of students:
Every student should familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures and evacuation routes in buildings they live in or use frequently.  They should evacuate buildings in an orderly manner when an alarm sounds or when directed to do so by emergency personnel. They should evacuate to pre-designated Emergency Assembly Area. 

Role of Faculty and Staff:
Every member of the faculty and staff should familiarize themselves with emergency procedures and evacuation routes. 

Evacuation Guidelines

Notification to evacuate a building will be made by means of the fire alarm, public address systems, hand held public address horns, telephones, word of mouth or any other means that may be available at that time. In the event of a fire, Berkeley College employees, students and visitors are required to evacuate the building.  In non-fire emergencies, a decision to evacuate will be based on the scenario.  Consideration will be given to the specific threat (bomb threat, explosion, hazardous material incident etc.), its context (time of day, its likelihood etc.) and the recommendation of public safety officials.  When the order is given to evacuate a building for any reason, the procedure is basically the same.  Occupants are instructed to follow life safety survival skills, not to use elevators and to evacuate by way of the nearest safe stairway.  They are instructed to exit the building and proceed to a pre-designated Emergency Assembly Area.  If a decision is made not to evacuate, the Emergency Management Team members will have the responsibility to pass the word throughout the building or the entire campus. 

Lock Down Procedures

In the event of a lock down, you will be instructed to either simply remain inside the building or to move quickly out of common areas and into the nearest classroom or office.