Emergency Preparedness

Dickinson College has a comprehensive emergency response plan which provides a framework for the college response to crises and emergencies. The plan was developed under the Incident Command System (ICS) model prescribed by the National Incident Management System (NIMS). In the emergencyresponse plan, specific campus administrators (the Core Team) are identified who are responsible for oversight of key functions in the event of an emergency or crisis which impacts a large segment of the campus population. Members of this Core Team include the Vice President of Campus Operations, the Director of Facilities Management, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, the Chief of Public Safety, the Director of Media Relations and others. The Core Team coordinates with other campus offices (Health Center, HR Services, etc…) and outside emergency response agencies (fire department, Carlisle Regional Medical Center) as needed.

The emergency response plan is continually updated, and tabletop and other emergency planning exercises, including evacuation drills are conducted at least once a year. Exercises and emergency response planning is coordinated by the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, who documents the exercises or drills, including the date, time, and whether the exercise was announced or unannounced.

Public Safety staff also conduct regular training sessions for employees, including “Responding to Campus Emergencies – Guidelines for Dickinson College Employees.” In addition, basic emergency response and emergency contact information is distributed to new employees and is available at HR Services and on the Public Safety webpage.