Plan supports cross-campus action following disaster
When disaster strikes a university campus, police and emergency services are ready to jump in and respond. But what occurs in the days that follow to get campus back on track?
That is the question a team of University of Georgia faculty, staff and administrators sought to address. In collaboration with the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), the Institute for Disaster Management (IDM) was contracted to write the first UGA University Assistance Center (UAC) plan.
This plan serves as a framework for a central, in-person resource hub that could be activated following a disaster which interrupts daily campus activity at UGA. If activated, the UAC would act as a one-stop shop for all information and services the UGA community may need to facilitate a smooth return to normal operations.
“It provides a blueprint for setting up a location where we can bring in some of the service providers from campus who are critical to supporting students, faculty and staff,” said Interim Associate Vice President for Environmental Safety, Risk and Resiliency Adam Fouche. “This gives our community one place to go for resources and information.”
Stations staffed by select UGA services will be available to answer questions and provide resources regarding mental health, financial aid, housing assistance, transportation and more. For example, a student who is displaced from their on-campus housing due to a power outage may seek relocation assistance at the UAC.
“We already have all of these support services functioning on a day-to-day basis within our community. The question is, how can we leverage them more collaboratively and efficiently after a disaster?” said Fouche.
Activation may occur due to a variety of large-scale incidents, such as severe weather, infrastructure disruption or a mass casualty event. When an incident occurs, OEP will work with UGA administration to determine if the UAC is to be activated, a decision based on the impact to community and campus operations. The UAC could be implemented within three days post-incident and could remain active for seven to 10 days.
The presence of a University Assistance Center streamlines the delivery of information and services in the event of a disaster on campus, easing confusion for those involved, said Paul Link, a community preparedness manager at UGA IDM.
Having access to any support needed after a disaster, all in one location, makes recovery that much easier for the community at large, Link said. Centralizing resources can reduce stress, costs and time spent between services for affected individuals. All services at the UAC will be offered at no cost to members of the UGA community.
“We’re not sitting back waiting for something to happen. We’re trying to be forward-thinking as an institution,” said Fouche. “I hope that students, faculty and staff have some sense of peace knowing we’re thinking about these things for them so that we’re ready to support them in the unlikely event that we face something like this.”
More than 25 UGA units and divisions have received training on their roles in the UAC. Eventually, the IDM team involved hopes to see plans like this incorporated at all University System of Georgia Institutions, Link said.
As UGA continues to enhance its emergency preparedness strategies, the UAC plan represents a proactive approach that prioritizes student, faculty, and staff well-being. With interest in expanding the model to other institutions, the University of Georgia could help set a new statewide standard for disaster recovery in higher education.
