Definitions of Types of Emergencies

Emergency Defined

A combination of circumstances resulting in a state that calls for immediate action. Such  circumstances can cause death or significant injuries to people, disrupt operations, cause physical  or environmental damage, or threaten the university’s reputation or financial stability.  

The CLT is responsible for making decisions to resolve the major disaster or emergency.  University personnel at the site of the emergency are responsible for those immediate emergency  decisions necessary to protect life and property and to stabilize the situation until the CLT has  convened. Designated essential emergency personnel must remain or arrive on campus to  respond to disasters and major emergencies.  

There are three emergency classifications which are as follows: 

Critical Incident  

 A Critical Incident is a minor emergency or critical incident that will not seriously affect the  overall functioning of the institution but has the potential to require more resources than the  responding department has available (e.g. single injury, small and easily contained fire.) This  incident will only be declared if the situation has the potential of escalating to a higher  classification; this determination to elevate will be made by the Commander of the Department  of Public Safety, Director of Residence Life and Housing, and/or Director of Facilities in  addition to individual Crisis Leadership Team members.  

The primary decision-making responsibility rests with the department that would normally  handle the situation. No university-wide action is required.  

Emergency  

  An emergency is a potential or actual situation that requires a major response and the significant  commitment of resources from several university departments or units but will still be within the  capabilities of the university to control (i.e. student with bacterial meningitis, bomb threat,  utilities failure, public relations crisis). Such emergencies may involve outside agencies  responding to give specialized assistance; this determination to elevate will be made by the  president or Crisis Leadership Team chairs.  

The initial decision-making responsibility rests with the department that would normally handle  the situation, but also requires a cooperative effort with departments that are responding if  support is required. The CLT is notified in most instances and will assume responsibility of  primary decision making if the situation warrants it; the decision whether the CLT will assume  responsibility will be made by the president or Crisis Leadership Team chairs. 

Disaster or Major Emergency  

A Disaster or Major Emergency is a major emergency, major crisis or disaster that may bring  destruction of property or loss of life and requires an extensive response and commitment of  resources from many departments/units and usually requires outside assistance. It also is an event  or activity with the potential to negatively affect the reputation or credibility of the university or  seriously impair of halt the normal operations of the university.

This classification will be made  by the president or Crisis Leadership Team chairs.