The Emergency Management Plan has been designed to provide direction for the university during an emergency situation. While the plan does not cover every conceivable situation, it does supply the basic procedural guidelines necessary to cope with most emergencies.
Emergency response operations will be conducted within the framework of these guidelines:
- Authority to Declare a Campus State of Emergency
- Procedure for Response
- Actions and Decisions at the Scene of the Incident
Authority to Declare a Campus State of Emergency
With any crisis situation it is understood that a state of emergency may need to be declared. The authority to declare a campus state of emergency rests with the chancellor or designee; in most cases, the Provost will be the designee if the Chancellor is unavailable.
UA Little Rock Police Department is authorized to issue emergency messages in crisis situations requiring an immediate response without consulting the administration. UA Little Rock Police Department will take appropriate steps to respond to the crisis situation in a timely manner. The ranking officer on duty has the authority to cause the emergency alert message(s) to be sent and to determine the content and scope of the message.
The UA Little Rock Police Department director or ranking officer in charge, as soon as it is practical, shall consult with university administration regarding the incident and the possible need for a declaration of a campus state of emergency.
If a campus state of emergency is declared, it may become necessary to restrict access to specific areas on campus to authorized individuals. Only those authorized individuals who have been assigned emergency or resource duties will be allowed to enter the area or building affected by the event.
Procedure for Response
Faculty, staff, and students report emergencies by dialing 501-916-3400 or 911. When calling 911, tell the operator you are on the UA Little Rock Campus and ask them to call UA Little Rock Police Department. UA Little Rock Police Department will notify all other emergency and/or resource units.
In the event of an emergency or a disaster, UA Little Rock Police Department has primary responsibility for an immediate response and shall cooperate and coordinate with official emergency response authorities and university administration, in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Actions and Decisions at the Scene of the Incident
- UA Little Rock emergency responders will utilize the Incident Command System at all emergency response scenes. The Unified Command System will be employed at those scenes requiring a response from multiple agencies. All personnel will receive NIMS training.
- UA Little Rock Police Department headquarters serves as the primary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the university during an emergency event. All outside information flows into this area and out to the scene of the event.
- UA Little Rock Police Department or designee will contact university administration as to the extent of damage or seriousness of the incident and recommend whether the Emergency Event Support Center (EESC) should be placed into operation. The EESC shall be located away from the event scene and UA Little Rock Police Department Headquarters.
- The Director of the UA Little Rock Police Department or designee is in charge at the scene of the event unless such responsibility is transferred to another unit; for example, the Fire Department in the event of a fire or HAZMAT incident. When the situation is brought under control, responsibility is transferred back to the university.
- Decisions to close and evacuate a building or to isolate an area immediately after an incident may be made by the Fire Department, UA Little Rock Police Department, or the Incident Commander during a tactical situation.
- Decisions to reoccupy a building will be made by those authorities or the Emergency Response Team. The primary consideration for reoccupying will be the safety of the occupants can be assured.
