AR 3505: Emergency Response Plan

Mt. Hood Community College has adopted an all-phases approach to emergency planning in accordance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) under Federal Emergency Management Agency. Specific procedures for Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery are located in the college’s Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP).

General information about the emergency preparedness, response, and evacuation procedures for the college are publicized each year as part of the college’s Clery Act compliance efforts, and that information is readily available on the college’s website.

The public safety department notifies all members of the campus community on an annual basis that they are required to notify the public safety department of any situation or incident on campus that involves a significant emergency or dangerous situation that may involve an immediate or ongoing threat to the health and safety of students and employees on campus. Public safety has the responsibility of responding to and summoning the necessary resources to mitigate, investigate, and document any situation that may cause a significant emergency or dangerous situation. In addition, public safety has a responsibility to respond to such incidents to determine if the situation does, in fact, pose a threat to the community. If that is the case, federal law requires that the institution immediately notify the campus community or the appropriate segments of the community that may be affected by the situation.

Employees are required to complete an annual review of the Emergency Operations Plan and associated procedures. Additional training for incident command staff may be required to fulfill the expectations for participation in response efforts. The Emergency Operations Plan is reviewed annually, and quarterly drills are conducted and evaluated to ensure effectiveness.

Upon confirmation or verification by the college that a legitimate emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees is occurring on campus, the college will determine the content of the message and will use some or all of the systems described below to communicate the threat to the campus community or to the appropriate segment of the community, if the threat is limited to a particular building or segment of the population. The college will, without delay, take into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system unless issuing a notification will, in the judgment of the first responders (including, but not limited to, college Incident Commander), compromise the efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

In the event of a serious incident that poses an immediate threat to members of the campus community, the college has various systems in place for communicating information quickly. Some or all of these methods of communication may be activated in the event of an immediate threat to the campus community. These methods of communication include Short Messaging Service (SMS), email, phone, social media, web, and other available forums. The college will post updates during a critical incident on the college web site at www.mhcc.edu. Individuals can call the college’s recorded information telephone line at 503-491-6422 for updates.

The college Public Information Officer will be responsible for the dissemination of emergency information to the larger community.

Approved: 8/29/23

References: Homeland Security Act of 2002;
National Fire Protection Association 1600;
Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5;
Executive Order S-2-05;
34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 668.46(b)(13), (e), and (g);
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and 29 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1910 et seq.;
NWCCU Standard 3.A.5
No Oregon statutory requirement.