The following is a list of the type of emergency situations that have the potential to develop at Binghamton University:
ACT OF TERRORISM:
Acts of terrorism can come from foreign or domestic sources and can include, but are not limited to, sabotage, bomb threats, or nuclear, chemical or biological attacks.
ACT OF VIOLENCE
All communities are susceptible to acts of violence from individuals or groups. A campus is an open community that could be the target of a violent act in many forms (i.e. active shooter, sexual assault, homicide, suicide, etc.)
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE:
Demonstrations, rallies, or other public gatherings of protest are generally well organized and peaceful, but could cause a disturbance to normal operations.
EXPLOSION:
Explosions can be caused by explosive devices, or they can result from processes involving hazardous materials or operations.
FIRE:
Fires can occur in buildings or involve vehicles, machinery or wooded areas on the campus grounds.
FLOODING:
Heavy rains can create a flooding condition in some basements or areas with poor drainage or runoff. Flooding can also occur from the failure of domestic water or sanitary sewer lines, water mains, sewer lines or storm drains. Binghamton University is in close proximity to the Susquehanna River and could be potentially impacted by severe flooding of the river.
FOOD BORNE ILLNESS:
The Binghamton University campus is host to many events and activities that serve food and is therefore susceptible to foodborne illness outbreak, if proper conditions are not established and monitored.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENT:
Hazardous materials are used in laboratories and industrial operations. An incident can occur from an accidental release of a material or an incident, such as fire or explosion in an area where hazardous materials are stored.
SEVERE STORM:
The region can sustain weather related storms, including snow and ice storms, tropical storms, hurricanes and Nor’easters.
UTILITY FAILURE:
Any major failure of an electrical, heating, cooling, ventilation, water, sanitary waste, security or fire alarm system can have an adverse effect on the operations at Binghamton University.
Binghamton University shall utilize the Homeland Security comprehensive Assessment Model (HLS-CAM™) to perform an all hazards assessment. In the past, methods of performing threat assessments, risks assessments, vulnerability assessments, security analysis, and security surveys existed, but few related to one another and definitions of each other often overlapped or were unclear. The HLS-CAM integrates assessments and prioritizing the order in which critical facilities and infrastructure were assessed.
The National Directorate Preparedness Coalition Initiative (NDPCI) created the HLS-CAM after recognizing the need for federal, state, county, local and private organizations charged with protecting citizens, facilities, and infrastructure from all hazards including terrorism and hostile criminal activity, to have a uniform, comprehensive, and holistic method of performing assessments.
The HLS-CAM complies with all four objectives of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and is an 'All Hazards' approach.
The HLS-CAM™ is a five part continuous process consisting of the following:
In January of 2008, Binghamton University was awarded a grant that provided training and equipment to utilize the HLS-CAM. Initial training took place in February, 2008 for approximately 25 university staff. Following the training, implementation of the HLS-CAM hazard assessment began and is expected to be complete by December, 2008. Management of the assessment will be a continuous effort once the initial version is complete.
The university’s Emergency Manager shall be responsible for completion of the initial hazard assessment as well as ongoing updates and management of the information.
The university’s hazard assessment shall remain confidential.
