President's Adoption of Plan
I, President Harvey G. Stenger, endorse this plan and fully support its implementation. This plan is effective immediately and supersedes all previous editions.
[Signed document on file. Contact Emergency Management 607-777-3545 to view.]
Executive Summary
This Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is designed to provide Binghamton University with a management tool to facilitate a timely, effective, efficient and coordinated emergency response. It is based on integrating Binghamton University emergency response resources with those of other government emergency response agencies.
The CEMP uses the National Incident Management System - Incident Command System (NIMS ICS) for managing response to emergencies and disaster events and is intended to be fully NIMS compliant. The Incident Command System (ICS) is designed to be used for all types of emergencies and is applicable to small day-to-day emergency situations as well as large and complex disaster incidents. ICS provides a system for managing emergency operations involving a single agency within a single jurisdiction, multiple agencies within a single jurisdiction and multiple agencies from multiple jurisdictions.
The organizational structure of the ICS may not resemble the day-to-day organization of the University. Employees may report to other employees to whom they do not usually have a reporting relationship. Furthermore, as the severity of the incident increases, employee assignments may change in the ICS organizational structure. This means that an employee’s position in the ICS structure may change during the course of a single incident.
The CEMP consists of a basic plan (this document), emergency support functional annexes, hazard specific annexes and appendixes. The Basic Plan and subsequent annexes are based on an all-hazard approach and acknowledge that most responsibilities and functions performed during a major emergency are not hazard specific.
The CEMP is part of a larger integrated Emergency Management Program at Binghamton University that focuses on mitigation, recovery, preparedness and response activities. The Binghamton University Emergency Management Program is responsible for the overall development and maintenance of the CEMP.
The plan is based on the fact that the Binghamton University and local governments (e.g., Town of Vestal, City of Binghamton, Village of Johnson City and Broome County) have shared responsibility for emergency response and operations for emergencies that occur on Binghamton University property. Operations are designed to protect lives, stabilize the incident, minimize property damage, protect the environment, and provide for the continuation and restoration of critical services.
The plan provides a framework for emergency preparation, response and recovery efforts. Leadership, preparation, good judgment and common sense by personnel directing these efforts will determine the effectiveness of the overall emergency program. Given the nature of some emergency events, Unified Command or the Incident Commander may alter the plan for more effective response or to accomplish strategic priorities.
The guidelines and procedures included in this plan used the best information and planning assumptions available at the time of preparation. There is no guarantee of outcome or performance implied by this plan. In an emergency, resources may be overwhelmed and essential services may be delayed, inadequate or in extreme cases not be available at all. Deviation from these guidelines may be necessary given the facts of any particular situation.
Binghamton University Incident Management Structure
Binghamton University Policy Group
Provides direction in making strategic policy decisions for any incident that impacts the University's ability to perform its critical business functions. Activates, oversees and terminates the Incident Management Team's (IMT) response
Policy Group members:
- President
- Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Vice President for Student Affairs
- Vice President for Operations
- Vice President for Research
- Vice President for Advancement
Binghamton University Incident Management Team
Implements policy as determined by the Policy Group while managing the logistical, fiscal, planning, operational, safety and community issues related to an incident/emergency.
Incident Management Team Members (departments represented):
- University Police
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Division of Administration
- Division of Student Affairs
- Provost's Office
- Ombudsman's Office
- Dean of Student's Office
- Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
- Office of Communications and Marketing
- Off Campus College
- Residential Life
- Facilities Management
- Events Center
- Information Technology Services
- Campus Recreational Services
- Risk Management
Supplemental IMT Members
The list above is not “all inclusive” and can be modified based upon the nature, size and scope of the incident. Representatives from partner and stakeholder departments and organizations, as well as subject matter experts, may be invited to participate with the IMT based upon the needs of the incident.
Authority
The Binghamton University Incident Management Team is authorized, under the direction of the Policy Group, to make operational decisions on behalf of the institution during times of emergencies and critical incidents for the purpose of protecting lives, property and the environment.
Compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Binghamton University is committed to achieving and maintaining compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). To meet this objective, Binghamton University shall perform the following steps/tasks:
- Delegate NIMS compliance to a University staff member.
- The director of emergency management shall be responsible for Binghamton University’s compliance with NIMS.
- Utilize multiple measurement tools to ensure the Binghamton University emergency management
program and written emergency plans are meeting accepted best practices. The following
sources of information shall be used to determine best practices and shall be periodically
reviewed for changes and updates:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP)
- U.S. Department of Education “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center”
- State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration
- International Association of Emergency Managers University and College Caucus (IAEM UCC)
- Binghamton University shall support professional development through the attendance at trainings and conferences related to NIMS.
Adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
President's Message
It is hereby resolved by President Harvey G. Stenger that:
WHEREAS, In Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, the President directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, local and tribal governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity; and
WHEREAS, the collective input and guidance from all federal, state, local and tribal homeland security partners has been, and will continue to be, vital to the development, effective implementation and utilization of a comprehensive NIMS; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that all federal, state, local and tribal emergency management agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently provide the highest levels of incident management; and
WHEREAS, to facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management it is critical that federal, state, local and tribal organizations utilize standardized terminology; standardized organizational structures; uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning, training and exercising; comprehensive resource management; and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters; and
WHEREAS, the NIMS standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities and resources will improve the state's ability to utilize federal funding to enhance local and state agency readiness, maintain first responder safety and streamline incident management processes; and
WHEREAS, the Incident Command System components of NIMS are already an integral part of various incident management activities throughout the state, including all public safety and emergency response organizations training programs; and
WHEREAS, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission) recommended adoption of a standardized Incident Command System.
NOW THEREFORE, Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the State University of New York, I do hereby mandate the National Incident Management System be utilized for all incident management on the Binghamton University campus.
I further proclaim this to take effect immediately.
[Signed document on file. Contact Emergency Management 607-777-3545 to view.]
