The purpose of the Incident Command Annex is to manage, direct and control the University’s response to a major emergency.
In the unlikely event of a Level 3 campus emergency, certain emergency protocols shall be initiated to protect students, staff and members of the community. University personnel shall be prepared to contact local authorities, coordinate with local authorities and, as needed, provide support to local authorities in order to safely respond to and resolve the emergency. The University’s Public Safety Office, Facilities Operations Office and Office of Communications shall initially be primarily responsible for assisting local authorities.
Since the University’s Public Safety Office is staffed 24 hours per day (773-325-7777 at Lincoln Park and 312-362-8400 at Loop), the on-duty supervisor at the time of a major campus emergency has initial responsibility for contacting the appropriate external agencies for assistance and promptly notify the Director of Public Safety and/or the VP for Facility Operations. The Director of Public Safety or the VP for Facility Operations shall immediately notify the EERT.
The on-duty supervisor will assume the role of Campus Incident Commander until such time as the on-duty supervisor is relieved by higher authority. Until relieved, the on-duty supervisor will direct all available University resources to provide priority protection for life, safety and preservation of property.
Two specific areas have been identified to serve as official Emergency Operations Centers (EOC):
Loop Campus
6th floor Conference Room
14 E. Jackson Boulevard
OR
Concourse Area, DePaul Center
1 E. Jackson Blvd.
In communication with Public Safety Dispatch Center
Lincoln Park Campus
Public Safety/Housing Office
Located on the third floor of Centennial Hall
2345 N. Sheffield Avenue
OR
Arts & Letters Hall, Room 103 or 110
2315 N. Kenmore Ave.
In the event these EOCs are inaccessible or otherwise unavailable for use, an alternate location will be established and the location will be communicated to all parties.
The Incident Commander will inform the EERT and other key administrators as to which location they need to go to or if there is another alternate location they need to meet at.
Emergency supplies and equipment are available at each primary EOC identified.
The Incident Commander shall update and inform the EERT at their designated location as circumstances change.
As set forth in the Communications Annex (2.2), both phone and data networks may be unavailable on campus. In such a circumstance, staff will be dispatched from one or more of the University’s designated Command Centers to alert key leaders in each University facility. Those alerted will then be expected to alert others in their facility.
The Communications Annex also dictates that the Public Information Officer is charged with responsibility for distribution of information to the public and will act as a liaison between the EERT, Incident Command Staff, local authorities and public media outlets. The Public Information Officer will also designate a public information center.
The University’s Public Safety Office and Facilities Operations Office shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining significant events logs as well as ensuring the removal of dangerous debris, assuming the local authorities have authorized removal of such materials.