Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-2011

Abstract

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington has a FEMA approved hazard mitigation plan for our institution. This coupled with its commitment to disaster preparedness and resilience as

demonstrated by its earlier designation as a disaster resistant university by FEMA as well as National Weather Service designations as a Storm Ready university positions UNCW as an institution of higher learning that emphasizes the importance of emergency management.

The progress in areas of disaster resilience and preparedness is an offshoot of necessity in many cases and later choice as institutional priorities shifted. During the period between 1996 and 2001 no less than five major hurricanes made landfall within 60 miles of UNCW. This experience as well as natural hazards assessment resulted in a very hurricane centered emergency management program.

More recent events locally as well as a nationally have refocused our efforts to other natural and manmade hazards such as an active shooter or act of terrorism, as well as, pandemic influenza and additional natural hazards, especially flooding. This has resulted in a shift in priorities for the program as well as the mitigation plan. The good news is that the much of the items identified are transferable to an all-hazards approach, as well as hurricanes. A few of these are

- Emergency Notification

- Storm Water master planning

- Interoperable and multi layered communications

- Continuity of Operations Planning

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