Southern Campus updates EOP

IRONTON, Ohio – Whether natural, accidental or sinister, no one ever wants to think about a disaster The one thing experts agree on; however, is that having a plan and knowing how to implement it in the midst of tragedy is an essential element to saving lives.

With this in mind, Ohio University Southern recently updated its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and convened its first meeting of the campus Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). 

Southern Campus Director of Facilities Adam Riehl said, “The EOP assures that our campus can provide strong leadership, effective management and quick response to any situation that may occur. Our critical goals are to preserve life, protect property and maintain continuity of academic business operations.” 

One element of the EOP includes the installation of a new Emergency Mass (EMASS) Notification System at the Ironton location. From Jan. 2 to Jan. 5, the system will be tested at any time during this period in both internal and external locations throughout the campus. In addition to traditional strobe fire warnings, the EMAS system has 12 pre-recorded messages – including everything from severe weather to fire to active shooter warnings – and includes the ability for custom announcements. 

The Southern Campus CIRT is comprised of core members including the dean, associate dean, facilities management director, and others whose roles would be vital in an emergency situation. CIRT members will be participating in drills and exercises in the coming year to promote preparedness. 

Riehl added, “I feel you can never be too prepared. We are always looking for ways to improve campus safety and security, for obvious reasons.”