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Emergency Operations Plan

Emergency Operations Plan: Purpose And Authority

Purpose

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) shall provide the necessary guidance to organize and direct University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s operation in the event of an emergency and/or civil defense action that may be necessary (University of Hawaiʻi APM A–9.700, Plan for Emergency and Civil Defense Events).

Campus Priorities

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UH Hilo) emergency response organization shall respond to an emergency situation in an organized, safe, effective and timely manner. UH Hilo personnel and equipment will be utilized to accomplish the following priorities:

  • Priority I: Protect Life and Safety
  • Priority II: Assess Critical Infrastructure and Facilities
  • Priority III: Restore/Maintain Campus Operations and Resume Education/Research Programs

Emergency Classifications

Type 1 (Minor Incident)

  1. A Type 1 minor incident is localized or in a small area. It can be quickly resolved with existing UH Hilo resources or limited outside help. A Type 1 incident has little or no impact on personnel or normal operations outside the locally affected area.
  2. Type 1 incidents do not require activation of the UH Hilo EOC. Impacted personnel, departments or offices coordinate directly with operational personnel from the UH Hilo Environmental Health & Safety Office, Auxiliary Services, Facilities/Planning, Campus Security or other units to resolve Type 1 incidents. In certain incidents, the UH Hilo Director of Communications will be asked to provide necessary media releases.
  3. Examples: Odor complaints, localized chemical spill, plumbing failure or water leak.

Type 2 (Emergency)

  1. A Type 2 emergency disrupts sizable portions of the Campus community. Type 2 emergencies require assistance from external organizations. These events can escalate quickly and have serious consequences for mission-critical functions and/or life and safety.
  2. The UH Hilo EOP Executive (Chancellor) or an authorized representative receives intelligence from responding operational departments or from the Campus Security Call Center and determines whether the EOP and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) should be activated.
  3. Senior members of the Chancellor’s Executive Council, the President of the University of Hawaiʻi, and County/State Civil Defense may be alerted depending on the nature and severity of the emergency.
  4. Examples: Building fire or explosion, biological or terrorist threat, major chemical or hazardous material spill, severe windstorm or flooding, and extensive utility outage. Also includes external emergencies that may affect Campus personnel or operations.

Type 3 (Disaster)

  1. A Type 3 disaster involves a large part of the Campus and its surrounding community. Normal Campus operations are curtailed or suspended. The effects of the disaster are wide-ranging and complex. A timely resolution of disaster conditions requires campus-wide cooperation and extensive coordination and support from external jurisdictions.
  2. The Chancellor is notified and the EOP and EOC are activated. County/State Civil Defense is notified and communications opened. UH Hilo EOC members and other key personnel are alerted to report to Campus and Emergency Operations Center. Operations and Finance units activate plans to respond with facilities personnel and resources and provide the necessary financial, contracting and claims support. Plans and Logistics units activate plans to provide intelligence, record keeping and distributes material and equipment and assigns personnel where needed. The UH Hilo EOP Executive activates the Public Information Plan and requests support from the System Joint Information Office.
  3. The President is notified and the System EMP and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may be activated

Types of Emergencies

Human-Caused Hazards

Emergencies such as unlawful assemblies resulting in riots; labor strikes; large scale demonstrations, threats of violence against individuals or groups, utility failures; chemical or radiological accidents; bomb and bioterroristic threats; shooting incidents; fires; explosions; aircraft crash and others. Additionally, biological outbreaks and pandemics may be considered as Human-caused hazards. In the event of Pandemic event, refer to the UH Hilo Pandemic plan.

Natural Hazards

Storms, hurricanes, waterspouts, tornadoes, and droughts are considered Meteorological Hazards and may threaten any part of the State or the entire State at the same time.

Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity are considered to be Geological Hazards and may occur with little or no warning.

Most Other Natural Hazards are associated with either meteorological or geological hazards and may include landslides, mudslides, and forest/brush fires.

Reporting a Potential Emergency

For identified Police, Fire and/or Medical Emergencies, call 911 (9–911 from campus phones) and provide the requested information. For all other emergencies, contact the University Campus Security Office at 974–7911 (4–7911 from campus phones) and provide the following information:

  • Your Name.
  • Your location and telephone extension or number.
  • Type of emergency.
  • Special Directions (if any).

Authority

State of Hawaiʻi

The Governor’s Administrative Directive No. 90–13, dated September 21, 1990, State of Hawaiʻi Plan for Emergency Preparedness, states: “State departments and agencies and county governments are responsible for developing and maintaining disaster response plans which are in consonance with this plan. Specific procedures, action-oriented checklists, and prepackaged administrative forms required for prompt and effective response to disaster situations are to be included.”

University of Hawaiʻi and Community Colleges

Executive Policy E2.203 Plan for Emergency and Civil Defense Actions dated August 1983, directed Chancellors to “develop, implement and maintain an emergency operations plan to meet the particular needs and circumstances of the campuses and organizations under their jurisdiction. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will include the system offices, facilities, personnel and operation in its plan.”

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UH Hilo)

The UH Hilo Chancellor is responsible for the protection of the physical and academic environment of the UH Hilo, and for the security and public safety program to provide that protection. The Chancellor or Designee, has the authority to suspend classes and close campus; whenever possible, it will be done so in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Community College (HawCC).

Delegation of the UH Hilo Chancellor’s Authority

The Emergency Operations Plan delegates the Chancellor’s authority for maintenance of order to specific individuals. It also defines specific tasks and responsibilities these individuals have for maintenance of order during periods of emergency.

  1. Plan Director (Vice-Chancellor for Administrative Affairs): During periods of campus emergency, as the Emergency Plan Director, acts for the Chancellor and may make decisions accordingly.
  2. Director of Campus Security: Authority for the security of grounds, buildings and other property is delegated to the Director of Campus Security.
  3. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs: The Chancellor delegates authority to implement and administer University regulations and policies affecting discipline for students to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.