On September 18th, Regroup attended the informative live Twitter chat hosted by FEMA for National Preparedness Month. FEMA, who partnered up with DePaul University in Chicago (@DePaulU), Boston College (@BC_OEM), Virginia Tech (@BeHokieReady) and Florida State University (@FSUAlert), highlighted innovative ways for enhancing campus readiness through a question and answer session that generated over 100 tweets. Participants discussed how colleges and universities can better prepare for disasters, alert faculty members and students, as well as shared best practices.
While we did tweet our followers some of the insightful highlights, we’re sharing the Q&A for those who would like to review the information that was shared. If you’re not currently following Regroup on Twitter, do so today to ensure you’re kept up-to-date on the latest Emergency Management Tips & News. Our Twitter handle is @Regroupdotcom.
Q1: What's the greatest threat in your area, and how does your school prepare for it? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@DePaulU: Answer #1: most likely threats in Chicago are severe weather—blizzard or flooding–or human attack. #EDUprepChat
@FSUAlert: Answer #1: The #FSU Emergency Preparedness Guide http://bit.ly/FSUEMGuide highlights our major hazards and campus-specific actions. #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: PR&Comm part of DePaul’s Executive Emergency Response Team, Crisis Management Team & serve as communication coordinators. #EDUprepChat
@FSUAlert: Answer #2: #FSU’s worst-case threat is hurricane: http://bit.ly/FSUTropical but Severe Tstorms most frequent: http://bit.ly/FSUTStorms . #EDUPrepChat
@BC_OEM: Winter storms, hurricanes, severe weather and man-made threats. Visit http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/emergency/hazards.html … for details #EDUPrepChat
Q2: How many ways do you alert students of an emergency? How many of these are digital? What non-digital methods do you use? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@FSUAlert: Answer #1: @FSUAlert lists up to 35 methods of delivery, some more important than others. Redundancy is key. http://bit.ly/FSUAlertInfo . #EDUPrepChat
@FSUAlert: Answer #2: “When seconds mean the difference between life and death, we can’t take minutes to send an alert.” http://bit.ly/FSUAlertEZButton …. #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #1: Digital: DPU Alerts via text, email, phone; electronic message boards in all classrooms, many hallways; homepage changes #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: Message 2: Screen shot DePaul homepage Level 1 alert (weather, fire) #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #3: Message 3: Entire DePaul homepage replaced with Level 2 alert (shooter) #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #4: Level 3 alert means computers down (power out), message posted on remote off-site server. #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #5: We’re converting DePaul’s website to SharePoint & exploring emergency banners that populate across all SP pages. #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #6: Have off-site hotline option in place in case power out or campus inaccessible. #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #7: Non-digital: Intercom announcements all classrooms, halls, outside; voicemail on main U phone; media alert; hotline option#EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #8: Res hall speakers tested for loudness with showers running, doors shut, to ensure students can hear emergency directions. #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #9: Res halls all have own Twitter accounts, retweet emergency messages. #EDUprepChat
@BeHokieReady: Answer #1: VT Alerts uses Twitter, texts, emails, classroom digital signs, sirens, Desktop Alerts, & more #EDUprepchat http://www.alerts.vt.edu
@BeHokieReady: Answer #2: We are constantly evaluating other forms of communication, such as Fire Alarm Annunciators. #EDUprepchat
@BC_OEM: Multiple ways: email, text messages, web banners, social media & don’t forget word of mouth! http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/emergency/communications.html … #EDUPrepChat
Q3: In your experience what's an effective way of motivating students to prepare for emergencies? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@BeHokieReady: Use communication mechanisms that interest students; participate in campus events; tie in everyday topics that relate #EDUprepchat
@DePaulU: Answer #1: Urge them to attend Safety Fairs, provide info on being prepared at home, school. Push out emergency plan 3x year. #EDUprepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: Show school safety kit: flashlight, first-aid kit, water bottle, power bars #EDUprepChat
@BC_OEM: Keep it basic and relevant. Don’t give them doomsday scenarios.Use real examples they can relate to & how they can prepare #EDUPrepChat
@RollinsCS: Answer #1: Keep it as personal and specific to your audience. Enlist the help of other students and staff. Partnerships #smem #eduprepchat
@RollinsCS: Answer #2: We teach sessions, incorporate info during orientation, and frequent interaction on social media, CERT #smem #eduprepchat
Q4: How frequently do you work with faculty & staff, and how big of a preparedness role do they play? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@BC_OEM: Faculty and staff are key part of our response system to provide guidance to students, staff, visitors. #EDUprepchat
@FSUAlert: We communicate regularly with the 300+ staff, faculty, students & community partners on #FSU Emergency Management Team. #EDUPrepChat
@BeHokieReady: Answer #1: Faculty & staff are involved in #EMprep on a daily basis. They play an active role in COOPs, EAPs, & drills/exercises #EDUprepchat
@BeHokieReady: Answer #2: VT-OEM & VTPD partner to provide an in-person Campus Safety, Security, & Preparedness presentation to university members #EDUprepchat
@DePaulU: Encourage students to add preparedness for pets to safety plan, kit http://1.usa.gov/tONriv #EDUprepchat
@PrepareAthon: Answer #1: One way could be through campus Community Emerg. Response Teams (CERT) Check out http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams … @FEMAlive
@PrepareAthon: Answer #2: Great point by @BC_OEM – make prep easy. One idea: download safety apps during freshman orientation http://www.fema.gov/app
Q5: What’s the biggest challenge you face in getting your college/university prepared for emergencies? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@DePaulU: Answer #1: Coordinating responses across 5 campuses across in complex urban location. #EDUprepChat
@FSUAlert: Time and memory is a huge challenge to preparedness. Last hurricane in #Tallahassee: Kate in 1985. http://bit.ly/FSUTropical #EDUPrepChat
@BeHokieReady: Changing the culture to one of preparedness = individual preparedness; departmental readiness; institutional resiliency #EDUprepchat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: Keeping people prepared for an emergency we (thankfully) haven’t had yet. No campus shooter in Chicago, much weather.
@PrepareAthon: Regardless of your challenge, break it down into manageable steps. Use this guide as a start: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33597 …
@BC_OEM: Complacency, denial of the community & preparedness a priority. Not hard but some effort is needed beforehand #EDUPrepChat
@RollinsCS: @FEMAlive Rapidly changing threat environment, increasing interest in EM and willingness to help. It can be a challenge to keep up!
Q6: What kind of involvement do you have with parents? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@FSUAlert: #FSU Parents are engaged through our @fsualert social media channels, @FSU_Family Connection and @FSUorientation resources. #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: We talk about emergency plans at freshman parent orientation & share ways we try to keep their children safe. #EDUprepChat
@BeHokieReady: VT OEM participates in new student orientation, parents weekend, & contributes to the VT parent e-news letter #EDUprepchat
@BC_OEM: We communicate at orientations, encourage having plans with their student & sources of information http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/emergency/for-parents.html … #EDUPrepChat
@RollinsCS: @FEMAlive LOTS of great questions and feedback from parents. They are more interested than ever in preparedness. #eduprepchat
@PrepareAthon: Encourage parents to text or use social media to connect w/ students during/after an emergency on campus – not voice calls
Q7: RT @Mr_Hip Are students a part of social media monitoring or outreach? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@FSUAlert: Numerous #FSU student organizations contribute to @FSUAlert efforts, e.g.: @FSUWeather @northflamsnwa @RedCrossNoles @CDRP_FSU @FSUSGA
@DePaulU: Answer #1: No students. EM has 1 primary person, supported by sm managers in other departments. PR & Comm has 6 at any given time.
@BC_OEM: Students play a key role in providing real time info about what is occurring on campus but the info needs to be verified #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: Students not on staff teams, but student groups like @DePaPaulSGA actively retweet emergency messages. #DPUprepchat
Q8: RT @meneedIs there a way to instill a culture of preparedness and excitement, without cultivating fear? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@DePaulU: During Nat’l Prep Month events, we hold a quiz game. Everyone gets something, student who answers the most right gets prizes….
@BeHokieReady: Answer #1: Use tools that are innovative & add value; use Incident Management for events. Exercises pertinent to community #EDUprepchat
@BC_OEM: Make prep relevant. Pick 2-3 things to do which can be used for a wide range of issues. Emergency Kit, Plan with family #EDUPrepChat
@FSUAlert: Answer #1: The “culture of safety” on campus needs to be continuous, pervasive, constant, across all of campus. Not a catchphrase. #EDUPrepChat
@BeHokieReady: Answer #2: Putting emergency preparedness tools/info at the fingertips of our community; e.g. the VT Gemini emergency info phone app #EDUprepchat
@FSUAlert: Answer #2: We host annual #FSUPrep Week, http://bit.ly/2013WSW , and other events with numerous campus and community partners. #EDUPrepChat
Q9: RT @sergutdejene what was the last major emergency on your campus, and how was it handled? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@DePaulU: Snowpocalypse 2011, closed U & city for 2 days. DPU Alert system/website/voicemail/media alert combo worked well. #EDUprepChat
@BeHokieReady: Spring Commencement, stadium evacuation for lightning. Pre-planning, ICS, & unified command aided in a successful evac #EDUprepchat
@BC_OEM: Marathon Bombing. Rapid communication about what we needed the campus to do to stay safe & where to get official info #EDUPrepChat
@RollinsCS: High pressure gas leak. Unified response, with the same partners we prepare with every day. #relationships @cityofwinterpark @FEMAlive
@TuftsReady: Sandy, Feb 8-9 blizzard, & Boston Marathon bombing last. Key is teamwork, freq communication w/ team, campus, parents #EDUprepchat
Q10: If you could tell your students to do just ONE thing to prepare, what would it be? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@PrepareAthon: Answer #1: All those tuning into #EDUprepChat: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33597 … is a guide on how to build your team & make a smart campus emerg plan
@FSUAlert: Preparedness begins with YOU. #GetAPlan! Personal responsibility trumps 3rd party (university, government, NGO) help. #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #1: Keep their information up-to-date in the DPU Alert system. We can’t help them if we can’t reach them. #EDUprepChat
@RollinsCS: Get involved, take the lead, become a partner with your first responders, be a resource to your community. #EDUprepchat @FEMAlive
@BeHokieReady: Make a plan/get a kit. Think about the “what if”. Start that conversation w/ those around you #EDUprepchat visit http://www.emergency.vt.edu/ready/index.html …
@BC_OEM: Develop an emergency communications plan with family and friends now! http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/emergency/communications/commplan.html … #EDUPrepChat
@DePaulU: Answer #2: Know your surroundings, pay attention to where you are, know exits, help buttons, and be vigilant. #EDUprepChat
@PrepareAthon: Answer #2: One simple action would be – have an emergency plan w/ your roommates
@rusnivek: Be informed. Listen to authorities and learn more about various emergencies on and around campus. #NATLPREP #EDUPrepChat
Q11 @BC_OEM Is there anything you would change in your preparedness practices as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@BC_OEM: Really encourage community to develop personal emergency plans & emergency kits before emergency http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/emergency/how-to-prepare.html … #EDUPrepChat
Q12: @FSUalert In what ways have you leveraged social media to increase preparedness on your campus? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@FSUAlert: @FSUAlert posts prep tips regularly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, et al http://bit.ly/FSUAlertInfo #EDUPrepChat
Q13: @DePaulU How are multi-campus universities different? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@DePaulU: Some scenarios only affect one campus. Alerts must convey that classes, operations continue on other campuses. #EDUprepChat
Q14: @BeHokieReady What tools do you have in place to help people recover from an emergency? #EDUprepchat
— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) September 18, 2013
@BeHokieReady: An all-hazard Response & Recovery plan, which includes a specific Disaster Mental Health plan #EDUprepchat
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