SECTION 2: PURPOSE, SCOPE, SITUATION & ASSUMPTIONS

A. PURPOSE

The EOP describes the university’s emergency response organization and assigns responsibilities for various emergency tasks. The EOP framework enables the university to manage cascading impacts and multiple incidents and to develop the understanding necessary to prevent or mitigate subsequent events. The EOP also authorizes MSU entities to act quickly in an emergency and to work in conjunction with local, state, and federal emergency agencies as required to provide support to or accept support from those agencies during an emergency. The EOP provides a structure for coordinating preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by MSU personnel and resources.

The EOP is a collection of dynamic components rather than a single document. These components include the basic plan, a set of plan appendices and eventually a series of functional and hazard-specific annexes. Together, all of these components coordinate to form a unified EOP, which can be employed in its entirety or in part to respond to and manage emergencies that may impact MSU.

The BASIC PLAN provides the overarching framework for emergency management activities at MSU. It details how MSU will prepare for and manage emergencies from an organizational and administrative perspective. The elements described in the Basic Plan are intended to be flexible for implementation during any hazard that may affect the university.

The PLAN APPENDICES document how the plan is distributed and revised over time, the emergency management structure and organization at MSU and other important information.

The FUNCTIONAL ANNEXES detail the actions and responsibilities anticipated in specific functional areas that may be activated in response to an emergency. The Functional Annexes are intended to supplement the Basic Plan by identifying roles and responsibilities in terms of specific functions that may be necessary to support an emergency response requiring use of this EOP. Functional Annexes expand upon, but do not repeat, information contained in the Basic Plan.

The HAZARD-SPECIFIC ANNEXES detail specific actions and responsibilities university departments and external partner agencies and organizations may take in response to specific types of hazards or situations that may affect MSU. These annexes are intended to supplement the Basic Plan and Functional Annexes. Included in the Hazard-Specific Annexes are considerations applicable to the identified hazard or threat beyond the general actions identified in the EOP Basic Plan and/or Functional Annexes. Hazard-Specific Annexes are intended to be developed for types of emergency situations for which MSU is at the greatest risk or has the highest probability of encountering.

B. SCOPE

This EOP is designed to address natural and human-caused hazards that could adversely affect the university. It covers the full range of complex and constantly changing requirements in anticipation of or in response to threats of or actual disasters and emergencies. It describes the fundamental policies, strategies, and general concept of operations to be used to control the emergency or disaster from its onset through the recovery phase.

This EOP applies to all MSU-owned property and assets within Gallatin County and to all university personnel participating in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This EOP is also recognizes external partner agencies and organizations that may be requested to provide assistance or conduct operations in the context of actual or potential emergencies at MSU. Since an incident or event affecting MSU may also impact the surrounding community, the EOP shall also support the emergency efforts of Gallatin County and the City of Bozeman.

It is the responsibility of all MSU department personnel to read and understand the EOP; to integrate their departmental procedures and emergency management activities in support of the EOP; and to participate in training exercises. The Emergency Management Coordinator is available to assist, consult, and help coordinate emergency operations planning at the college, department or unit level upon request.

The EOP outlines the expectations for university personnel; roles and responsibilities; direction and control systems; internal and external communications; and training and maintenance of the Plan.

C. SITUATION OVERVIEW

Due to its geographic location, high-profile status as a research intensive higher education institution, and the breadth and scope of functions it performs, MSU is vulnerable to a variety of hazards, which could cause complex emergency situations. Various hazards and resulting emergencies pose potential threats that could disrupt the university’s mission, operations, and reputation.

Taking into consideration the many unique elements of the university, this EOP was developed to address emergency preparedness through prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery; and, it outlines, authorizes, and implements the university’s structure for coordination activities during all phases of an emergency using an all-hazards approach. Experience shows that when an organization has a clear plan and protocols in place and follows them in a crisis, they are less likely to panic, to omit key people from the process, to miss important steps in the organizational response, to waste time, or to make rash judgments in the moment when nerves are frayed, people are overstressed, or tensions are running high.

MSU will work to protect life, property, and the environment from the effects of emergencies by providing a holistic, resilient approach through prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. While developing programs and activities in these areas, the university will incorporate principles described in the National Preparedness Goal and associated frameworks articulated by FEMA, and preparedness will occur within the five mission areas outlined in Homeland Security Presidential Policy Directive (HSPD)-8: National Preparedness: prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Overall preparedness activities consist of actions that will improve or enhance emergency response such as training and exercises. MSU will prepare for emergencies by creating and maintaining emergency plans and procedures to accomplish the tasks associated with an emergency response. Plans and procedures will allow MSU departments and offices to integrate their individual capabilities into the university-wide emergency response and recovery effort. Departments and offices will validate their readiness for an emergency through internal drills and participation in university and community exercises and training. The City of Bozeman and Gallatin County will also be encouraged to participate in university exercises. Exercise results will be documented and recommendations implemented to
improve the university’s preparedness for an emergency. The university will revise this EOP based on ongoing planning and the results of exercises.

MSU, the state’s largest university, is located within Gallatin County and partially within the city limits of Bozeman. MSU’s students, faculty, staff and visitors comprise a daily population of 14,000 to 18,000 throughout the academic year. Special events can attract from 6,000 to 20,000 spectators on a regular basis.

MSU consists of approximately 60 major buildings including academic buildings, residence halls, research buildings and sports facilities which comprise over 4.5 million sf with a total replacement value of over ~$1 billion. Central campus utilities are served through an underground utility tunnel network comprised of ~8,000 lineal feet of main and lateral tunnels. MSU owns, operates, maintains and distributes its own utility systems including primary electricity, natural gas, steam and condensate, water and sewer, and communications and data systems.

MSU’s residence hall facilities and other campus housing serve ~4000 on-campus residents. MSU constituents include a mix of Montana residents, out of state students, international students and an increasing American Indian student population.

Organizationally, MSU consists of over 100 individual departments and business entities, each having specific roles vital to the instructional,research and residence functions of the university. As the state’s Land Grant institution, MSU’s agricultural and outreach missions impact the entire state both economically and culturally. MSU is one of the top 100 research institutions in the country with annual research expenditures in excess of $100 million.

MSU is situated on ~950 acres of land at 4900 ft elevation in a seismically active area of the northern Rocky Mountains approximately 60 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Weather exposures range from potentially severe cold and heavy snowfalls in winter to summer highs in the low 100°s with potentially severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail. Most of the occupied areas of campus are outside the 100-year flood zone and not susceptible to flooding.

MSU is bordered on the north and east by residential areas of the city of Bozeman and on the west by more open agricultural uses that are slowly transitioning due to increasing development. Area interstate highways, railroads, and rivers are several miles north of the campus. The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, serving both scheduled carriers and private aircraft, is located 10 miles to the northwest and major approach/departure routes do not cross over the university.

MSU operates its own statutorily authorized police department comprised of 20 state-certified, sworn personnel, on a 24/7/365 basis. MSU PD operates the campus 911 center. MSU maintains a Mutual Aid/MOU with the City of Bozeman which authorizes MSU PD to operate within all city jurisdictions. Other local law enforcement resources include Bozeman City PD, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, and several regional federal agencies. MSU is served by City of Bozeman Fire Station #2, located approximately 1.5 miles from the campus core. Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, located approximately 3 miles east of campus, serves MSU, the surrounding community and the region.

MSU is dependent on outside agencies for resources such as City Fire Department services; critical public utilities; mass care and hospital emergency services; CBRNE detection, remediation and disposal; and, special tactical response needs.

D. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS

MSU’s EOP is based on the following planning assumptions and conditions:

  • Incidents will typically be handled at the lowest level possible – e.g., organizationally, by jurisdiction, geographically, etc.;
  • In many cases, MSU PD will assume Incident Command responsibilities, depending on the type of emergency. Incident management activities will be conducted in accordance with the National Incident Management System, as adapted to meet MSU’s specific environment;
  • It is possible for a major disaster to occur at any time and any place in or near the university. While in some cases, timely dissemination of warnings and increased readiness measures may be possible, many disasters occur with little or no warning;
  • University officials and representatives recognize and understand their responsibilities for the safety and welfare of students, faculty, staff and visitors; and they embrace their responsibilities in the implementation of this EOP;
  • Any employee of MSU may be tasked by this EOP and is obligated to respond accordingly;
  • MSU employees tasked with MSU emergency responsibilities may need to attend to the immediate safety of their own families in the early stages of a wide spread emergency;
  • External resources can be requested to assist the university if the nature of the incident goes beyond or overwhelms the capacity of MSU’s resources;
  • Local emergency response resources, including City of Bozeman police and fire support, will be available in emergency situations affecting the university; although in a community-wide disaster, those resources may be constrained;
  • Effective implementation and proper understanding of this EOP through periodic training and exercises will enhance MSU’s ability to respond during an emergency;
  • Hazardous conditions may continue for some time following a major disaster thereby increasing the risk of casualties or fatalities;
  • Emergencies on the MSU campus may invoke responses from multiple departments and agencies including, but not limited to: University Police; Office of Emergency Management; Safety & Risk Management; Facilities Services; Auxiliaries Services; Communications Services; Counseling Services; private sector first responders; and appropriate city, county, state and federal agencies;
  •  The Swingle Student Health Center is a student-funded, ambulatory care facility with no emergency room and is not equipped to receive casualties from a major incident. While some health professionals from the Student Health Center might be able to respond to an incident, casualties will be transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital;
  • Depending on the type of threat or emergency, it is possible that any combination of the following consequences may be encountered:
  • Death, injury or illness of people and/or animals;
  • Interruption or disruption of area transportation services; communications networks; university business activities; and/or utilities and other essential services;
  • Convergence of large numbers of people at incident scenes, central locations, shelters, etc.;
  •  Support for people requiring evacuation, shelter, feeding, or other emergency assistance;
  • Contamination of food and/or water sources;
  • Potential for civil unrest or disorder, including looting, riot/mob behavior, violence, etc.;
  • The need for university response personnel to tend to the immediate needs of their own families in the initial stages of a major disaster affecting the community; and
  • Significant structural damage and continuing associated risks.
  • Daily operations that do not contribute directly to the university’s response to an emergency may be suspended for the duration of any emergency and those operational resources may be re-directed to support the emergency response;
  • During an emergency, the university should expect to receive a high volume of communications seeking information regarding the welfare of students and employees from concerned parents, relatives, spouses, friends, etc., as well as news media. A significant surge
    in the number of emails and phone calls could quickly exceed system capabilities; and
  • MSU will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires that emergency procedures enable people with disabilities to evacuate and participate in all emergency and disaster-related programs together with their service animals.