What is emergency management?

Emergency management for Lindenwood University involves the development and implementation of plans, procedures, and resources to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and visitors during emergencies or disasters. Given the diverse nature of activities and facilities on campus, emergency management efforts are comprehensive and multifaceted. Here are some key aspects:

• Emergency Preparedness Planning: Lindenwood has developed emergency plans that outline procedures for various types of emergencies, including natural disasters (such as tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes), technological hazards (such as power outages or cyber-attacks), medical emergencies, and security threats (such as active shooter or terrorism). These plans cover evacuation procedures, sheltering protocols, communication strategies, and roles and responsibilities of personnel and first responders.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Lindenwood conducts risk assessments to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities on campus. Based on these assessments, Lindenwood has implemented mitigation measures to reduce risks, such as implementing campus-wide alert systems, and developing continuity of operations plans.
• Training and Education: Lindenwood provides training, exercises and education to faculty, staff, and students on emergency procedures, including active shooter training (4Es), and awareness campaigns about potential hazards and how to respond to them.
• Emergency Communication: Lindenwood established communication systems to quickly disseminate emergency notifications and instructions to the campus community. This may include text messages, emails, social media alerts, computer monitor alert system (ALERTUS), and radios.
• Coordination and Collaboration: Lindenwood works closely with local and regional emergency management agencies, law enforcement, fire departments, and other stakeholders to ensure a coordinated response to emergencies. Lindenwood also collaborates with neighboring institutions to share resources and support one another during crises and recovery.
• Response and Recovery: In the event of an emergency, Lindenwood activates their emergency response plans and mobilizes resources to address the situation. This may involve assistance and security personnel, coordinating with emergency responders, providing medical assistance, and facilitating the evacuation or sheltering of individuals as needed. After the immediate threat has passed, Lindenwood engages in recovery efforts to restore normal operations, provide support to affected individuals, and assess lessons learned for future improvements.

Lindenwood University aims to create a safer and resilient campus environment where the community can effectively respond to and recover from emergencies while minimizing disruptions to academic activities and campus life.