EMERGENCIES AND ASSUMPTIONS

SITUATION

Southern Methodist University is located in  Dallas County, approximately three miles north of downtown Dallas. The Main Campus of the University is comprised of an area of 164 acres,  with an average daily population of 10,000 people .

Central Expressway to the east, Mockingbird Lane to the south,  and Hillcrest Avenue to the west, provide major highway and street access to the University.

No rail service is provided directly to the University.  However, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System provides light rail service from Mockingbird Station located approximately ¾ mile east of the campus.

The University has the support of the City of University Park Fire Department for fire and emergency medical service.  The fire station is located on University Boulevard approximately one mile west of the campus.

Mutual Aid System ‑ The City of University Park Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with the City of Highland Park and the City of Dallas.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority provides bus passenger service.

Law enforcement is managed by the Southern Methodist University Police Department, City of University Park Police Department and if necessary, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Dispatching services are provided by the SMU Police Department. 

The nearest hospital Emergency Room is provided by Presbyterian Hospital, located four miles away.  The Memorial Health Center, located on campus, provides limited outpatient services including a pharmacy for the University student body.

During a disaster incident, the University must be prepared to relinquish control of facilities or resources to governmental authorities who may require use.

Employees of Southern Methodist University may not be able to return to work in a timely manner due to various circumstances.  These employees may include, but are not limited to, those with children who attend local schools.  Extended closure of schools will affect the ability of parents to get back to work.

Emergencies have been broken down into the following three categories of emergency incidents: Natural, Technological, Man-made.

TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

1. NATURAL
   • SEVERE WEATHER (Tornadoes, Thunderstorms/Hail):  Dallas is located at the southern edge of Tornado Alley. Tornadoes are the most violent weather systems on earth.  The potential for large losses of life and property, coupled with extremely vulnerable populations at outdoor venues like football and soccer games, leads to its placement as the number one hazard facing the University. Severe thunderstorms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are at the forefront of concerns and are the most probable natural cause of emergencies or disasters that could affect Southern Methodist University.  In-place shelters have been identified to protect life.
   • FLOODS:  Flooding is the most common cause of weather-related deaths in Texas. The University has experienced significant flooding in the past. Advanced weather prediction is not always accurate and extreme precipitation can develop without adequate warning.  Flooding, especially flash flooding, can impact areas around the campus that are located above designated flood plains. The frequency of extreme weather events fluctuates from year to year.
   • WINTER STORMS:  Dallas is vulnerable to winter storms, which can virtually paralyze the city. This area is much more likely to receive frozen precipitation in the form of ice rather than snow.  Generally, these storms strike between late January through early March.  The lack of equipment and the susceptibility of overhead power lines to damage from the weight of ice compound the difficulty of the situation. Recent winter storms occurred in: 1964 1966 1974 1978 1983 2000.
   • EARTHQUAKE:  The City of Dallas is situated in a small earthquake zone. Earthquakes have been felt in some parts of Texas in the past and remain a geological possibility. There is also some risk to people from earthquakes that may occur outside of Texas. Although earthquakes are not a likely event, they have the potential to cause extensive damage to un-reinforced buildings.
2. TECHNOLOGICAL
   • FIRE:  Fire represents the most likely disaster to affect the University. Fire detection methods are excellent.  Most buildings on the campus have detection systems as well as fire suppression systems. 
   • Hazardous Materials Accidents could impact the University.  Fuels and chemical spills are the most widespread materials likely to create problems.  Chemicals used in science experiments, cleaning, and water treatment, are also sources of possible HAZMAT incidents along with the possibility of a criminal/terrorist utilizing various chemicals and/or substances to perpetrate a crime or attack. There are several known areas on campus where hazardous chemicals are stored.  There is a central hazardous materials waste facility for temporary storage of materials until transported off campus.
   • Chemical/Biological/Radiological (CBR) Emergencies are possible.  When properly stored and handled, CBR materials pose no extreme threat.  However, during times of natural or man-made disasters, these materials become a special hazard to the campus and to emergency personnel.  These types of materials are present in academic buildings housing scientific experiments and research.
   • Aircraft Crashes can happen anywhere in the country.  Small private planes and large commercial aircraft are common in air space over Dallas.  A commercial airliner crash remains a potential threat for creating mass casualties.
3. MAN-MADE
   • NATIONAL EMERGENCY (War or Terrorism): National emergencies, including a possible attack by foreign interests are a possibility at Southern Methodist University.  Since the destruction of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center Towers in New York City, as well as the subsequent smaller scale attacks from various unknown terrorists, there remains some potential that SMU would be affected either directly or indirectly by a major incident.  SMU is dependent upon outside resources for a large percentage of its operational supplies of food, utilities, fuel and other expendable items.  Any situation that might affect the procurement of these supplies could have a severe impact upon the operation of the University and its population.  Any attack on Dallas or the region could over-task the local emergency response organizations on whom the University relies.
   • CIVIL DISORDER: Planned or unplanned demonstrations may become large and uncontrollable.  In some cases, participants could get violent causing the destruction of property and injury or even death to themselves or observers. 

DEFINITIONS OF EMERGENCIES

The following definitions of an emergency are provided as guidelines to determine the appropriate response:

1. MINOR EMERGENCY: Any incident which will not seriously affect the overall functional capacity of the university, such as minor water damage to a building basement.  These types of incidents are normally handled by University resources and don’t require the activation of the Emergency Management Plan.
   
   
2. MAJOR EMERGENCY: Any incident that affects an entire building or buildings, and which will disrupt the overall operations of the University.  Examples might be a building fire or HAZMAT spill. Outside emergency services will probably be required, as well as major efforts from campus support services. Major policy considerations and decisions will usually be required from the University Administration during times of crisis.  The Emergency Management Plan may be activated by the President.
   
   
3. DISASTER: Any event or occurrence which has taken place and has seriously impaired or halted the operations of the university. In some cases, mass casualties and severe property damage may be sustained. A coordinated effort of all campus-wide resources is required to effectively control the situation. Outside emergency services will be essential. In all cases of disaster, the Emergency Management Plan will be activated.

An emergency at any level will be debriefed at the conclusion of the incident for the purpose of review, training, and future enhancement of this plan.
INTERFACE RESOURCES

Emergencies may warrant the interface, coordination, and use of other agencies at the local, County, State, and Federal level.  Agreements are in place between the City of University Park and the Cities of Highland Park and Dallas for police, fire and medical aid.  Other businesses may also provide support services; these include but are not limited to TXU, Southwestern Bell, the records recovery companies and companies that specialize in disaster cleanup. Southern Methodist University can go directly to these companies for assistance. Requests for assistance from them will be initiated by the Emergency Coordinator.

The American Red Cross provides disaster relief in peacetime as mandated by (Federal Law 36‑ISC‑3 and reaffirmed in Public Law 93‑288, Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1974).

At the State level, the Statement of Understanding between the American Red Cross and The State of Texas establishes the operating relationships between these agencies.  The major care and shelter responsibilities of the Red Cross in the emergency period include:

• Emergency lodging for disaster victims in public or private buildings
• Food and clothing for persons in emergency mass care facilities
• Food for disaster workers if normal commercial feeding facilities are not available
• Registration and inquiry service
• Collecting, reporting and receiving information about victims
• Aiding family reunification

The Red Cross acts cooperatively with State and local governments and other private relief organizations to provide emergency mass care to persons affected by disasters in peacetime.  There is no legal mandate for Red Cross involvement in a State of War Emergency; however, assistance and support will be provided to Dallas County Emergency Management, to the extent possible.