Disaster-Resistant University Program

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Scope of Work

I. Planning Process

The process for developing and implementing the Disaster Resistant University (DRU) Hazard Mitigation Plans for the participating Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) universities will commence with each university agreeing to participate in the process and pledging to adopt the mitigation plan upon its completion. Each participating university will select appropriate personnel to direct and oversee the hazard mitigation planning process on their respective campuses. In addition to the university staff and graduate students selected on each campus to shepherd this mitigation planning effort, in-kind university resources (secretarial, printing, transportation, etc.) will also be made available. Some personnel expenses (wages, benefits, and overhead) will also be supplied in-kind by each university.

Next, key individuals and organizations on each campus, and other stakeholders in the communities in which these campuses lie, will be identified for inclusion in the planning process. On each campus a hazard mitigation committee selected from the key individuals and area stakeholders will be formed. This committee may include, but not be limited to, the following individuals and organizations:

University Representatives
Office of the President
Vice President for Student Life
Vice President for Administration and Finance
Facilities Planning Office
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Institutional Research and Assessment
Media and Public Relations
Office of Information Technology
Telecommunications Center
University Foundations
University Fire Inspectors
Physical Plant
University Police
Health and Safety
Various Relevant Academic Units

Community Representatives
Police Departments
Fire Departments
Planning and Development Organizations
Emergency Coordinators
Sheriffs Departments
Planning and Development Districts
Volunteer Organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.)
Mayors and Boards of Supervisors.

II. Risk Assessment

The committee assembled on each campus will identify the risks and vulnerabilities, critical buildings and infrastructure, disaster preparations and plans, area disaster response resources, and past hazard mitigation plans on their respective campuses. Following the identification of critical assets, hazards, and resources, an orientation meeting and hazard mitigation planning workshop will be conducted by the designated individuals on each campus, with the assistance of the Emergency and Fire Safety Coordinator from the IHL Board Office. The state Hazard Mitigation Officer will be invited to attend these orientation meetings. Although these meetings will not be closed meetings, there will be no public announcement or invitation to the press or public for these initial meetings.

In the next phase a Risk Assessment will be conducted on each campus and potential hazards impacting the campus will be identified and profiled in detail. Assets, particularly buildings, critical infrastructure, and research, which could be damaged or destroyed by an identified hazard will be cataloged and probable loss amount estimated. In the Risk Assessment process, mission critical assets will be identified. Historical hazard related data will be collected from various secondary sources and used to prioritize hazards. University records, national weather service and seismic data, government archives, and other sources will be used during the Risk Assessment phase. The goal of the Risk Assessment phase will be to compile a list of hazard mitigation measures for each campus.

III. Mitigation Planning

After the Risk Assessment has been completed, feasibility of hazard mitigation will be addressed. Feasibility of mitigation projects will be based on factors including, but not limited to:
 
Risk exposure (potential loss if not protected)
Cost effectiveness,
Impact on human health and welfare, and
Economic impact to the university and the local community.

The list of mitigation measures identified in the Risk Assessment phase will be prioritized based on the additional information provided by the feasibility study. Hazard mitigation projects producing the greatest improvements in human health and welfare per dollar of financial costs will be given the highest priority. Those with minimal improvements in welfare or with extremely low benefit to cost ratios will be given low priority. These priority determinations will be made by the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee on each campus. Ultimately, the final approval and implementation of the Campus Hazard Mitigation Plan will rest with the president of each university.

IV. Public Meetings and Public Input

Throughout the entire hazard mitigation planning process the General Public will be invited to participate. Furthermore, information pertaining to the process will be disseminated to the public through local news media as the planning process progresses. Public input is considered an essential ingredient in each plan's evolution. At least four public meetings will be held in the counties in which the campuses lie and/or the communities surrounding each campus. At each public meeting, copies of the hazard mitigation planning document, as it exists at that time, will be made available to the public. Copies of the hazard mitigation planning document will be sent electronically or by mail to the appropriate state and federal agencies.

Because a hazard mitigation plan is a "living" document, each university's Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee must review and update their campus plan frequently. An update of each university's Hazard Mitigation Plan, consistent with FEMA requirements, will be conducted every five years after completion of the initial plan.