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Disaster Resistant University

Predisaster Mitigation Planning at the University of Utah

Disasters impacting institutions across the country have heightened awareness that universities are not immune from damage. From earthquakes along the California coast, through flooding and tornados in the mid-west to hurricanes along the eastern coasts, the financial and operational impact on higher education has been significant, prompting FEMA and sectors from higher education to partner in support of the development of effective pre-disaster mitigation strategies.

The University of Utah applied for and was awarded FEMA’s competitive pre-disaster mitigation grant in 2005. The work plan outlined a process for collecting, organizing and analyzing hazard data specific to the University from which to develop a community supported strategy for quantifying risk and prioritizing efforts to mitigate those risks. The initial findings were shared with SOM in this master planning effort in November, 2007. Effective pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) requires development of and adherence to organizational guidelines and policies which articulate a community’s desire to protect its assets. In the lexicon for this project, those are the operating guidelines, the vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies upon which the road to project completion must be constructed.

The University’s Disaster Resistant University (DRU) Advisory Committee defined those guidelines and statements. Appointed by SVP David Pershing, this group is comprised of senior level administrators representing the majority of constituent groups at the University of Utah, including students and alumni. Also represented on this Committee are emergency planning experts from Salt Lake City and the State of Utah. Some of the results of their collective efforts are detailed below.

Opportunities exist through FEMA for financial support to correct pre-identified hazards to life safety and operational interruptions. If FEMA has had opportunity to review and approve mitigation strategy in advance, many of the University's planned projects would be eligible.

  1. Vision and Mission
    VISION
    To eliminate issues the University of Utah must otherwise address after a catastrophic disaster, primarily a significant seismic event

    MISSION
    To identify, define, and implement those pre-disaster mitigation actions that provide “maximum bang for the buck” and will insure the greatest benefit to stakeholders of the University of Utah.

    STRATEGY
    To engage our community in identifying and prioritizing specific mitigation actions, and to define processes appropriate for the implementation of preferred actions, armed with an understanding of risks and degree of threat posed to the University by known hazards

  2. Goals and Objectives
    Goal 1 – Preserve life safety
    Objectives:
    1. Reduce the risk of catastrophic failure in occupied spaces
    2. Minimize secondary hazards present after an earthquake (falling objects, blocked exits)
    3. Protect critical response facilities
    Goal 2 – Protect University assets and investments
    Objectives:
    1. Reduce the risk of catastrophic failure in high value spaces
    2. Minimize secondary hazards to high value assets (equipment, collections, records, samples)
    3. Protect the greater environment
    Goal 3 – Ensure continuity of mission critical functions
    Objectives:
    1. Reduce the risk of catastrophic failure to critical infrastructure
    2. Minimize disruption to critical support functions
    3. Protect business resumption capabilities
DEFINING CRITERIA
1. MISSION CRITICAL: Uninterruptible
    Criteria:
  • Functions are critical to the mission of the University or the welfare of the state
  • Design should minimize risk of interruption
  • In case of interruption, functions must be restored or relocated immediately

    Examples:
  • Emergency Operations Team
  • Medical Services and Patient Care
  • Public Safety
  • Critical Infrastructure
  • Hazardous Materials Handling
  • Communications
2. MISSION CORE: Urgent Restoration
    Criteria:
  • Functions are central to the mission of the University or impact community
  • Design should minimize risk of interruption
  • In case of interruption, functions should be restored or relocated on an urgent basis

    Examples:
  • Student Degree Support (means must be found for students to complete studies on time)
  • Student Housing
  • Certain Research Programs
  • Certain Service Programs (i.e. counseling, community services)
  • Library Services and Museums
  • Administrative Data Systems
  • Designated Administrative and Research Support Functions
  • Remaining Infrastructure
3. MISSION SUPPORT: Restoration as Possible
    Criteria:
  • Functions are part of the mission of the University
  • Not targeted for application of prevention resources
  • In case of interruption, functions will be restored or relocated as resources are available
CONCLUSION:
Mitigation strategies do not drive, but inform, master planning. At the conclusion of the activities associated with the DRU project, the University of Utah will have a better understanding of its natural and technological vulnerabilities and with that, enhanced opportunities to address those concerns during renovation and restoration projects identified through Master Planning.

The current cycle of master planning has established a permanent link between traditional master planning and “disaster resistant University” mitigation planning. There is a commitment at the University of Utah to provide and maintain a permanent linkage between these two parallel planning activities in any future discussions and updates both sets of planning activities.