Importance of Planning for Any Type of Emergency on Campus

During the month of May, which was the 10th anniversary of the Emergency Responders' Forum - Resilience through Action, many teams across Campus participated in training and readiness exercises to help prepare for emergencies such as an active shooter or other violent action. The annual forum was an opportunity for all Campus responders and the Campus community to attend a half day of education and interactive dialogue focused on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

Should an emergency occur on Campus, Caltech is prepared to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In any emergency, the first priority is the safety and well-being of the Campus community.

The Caltech Campus Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is the Institute's operational guide for responding to any emergency. All individuals have a responsibility to be familiar with emergency response procedures outlined in the Emergency Response Guide, a red flip chart that is located in workspaces throughout Campus. A new version, printed and distributed this spring, is available online at www.emergencypreparedness.caltech.edu.

The Crisis Management Council is a Campus advisory group that provides guidance to Environment Health and Safety's Emergency Preparedness and Continuity Program. Five working groups are tasked with developing plans and procedures in the following functional areas: Communications, Critical Infrastructure, Human Factors, Exercises and Drills, and Outreach and Education. The Council meets monthly and participates throughout the year in activities aimed to further the effectiveness of emergency management at Caltech.

A key Institute document is the Caltech Violence Prevention Policy. As stated in the Policy, "Caltech provides a safe and secure environment for all members of the Caltech community, including faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, students and third parties, including minors, by maintaining an environment of respect, providing conflict resolution processes, and by establishing preventative measures as well as providing assistance and support to victims."

A number of organizations on Campus are available to assist and consult with those who may be dealing with emergencies or other work-related matters:

• Campus Security develops programs to inform the community about security procedures and practices and to encourage the Campus community to be responsible for their own safety and that of others. Security also provides personal safety and property security tips on an ongoing basis through security bulletins distributed via email, hard copy, and on the Security website, http://security.caltech.edu/. Campus Security can also be contacted through the Everbridge mobile app which allows Campus community members to immediately report an emergency or suspicious activity via text to the Security dispatcher and has an option to include a photo with the message.
• The Caltech Staff and Faculty Consultation Center (SFCC) provides professional and confidential consultation to active faculty, staff, postdocs and their families or domestic partners. The SFCC is staffed by skilled mental health professionals with extensive experience in assisting employees and their families to balance the complex demands of work and personal life, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, parenting, elder care, work-related stress, and communication challenges with supervisors, employees, or co-workers.
• Student Wellness Services provides primary medical care, counseling services, and occupational therapy to the Caltech student community. Services are confidential, and free of charge to enrolled students. Students can consult about a range of health concerns, as well as access crisis counseling support after hours and on weekends by calling the main Counseling Services line, x8331, and pressing "2." Faculty, staff, and other community members may also consult about how to best support a student or refer to professional services. Student Wellness Services also offers a range of training, outreach, and workshops on topics related to health and emotional well-being. More information can be found at wellness.caltech.edu
• The Caltech CARE Team is a multidisciplinary group of professional staff from key areas of the Institute. Each member brings knowledge and expertise in fields including mental health, crisis intervention, student development, staff and faculty consultation, campus security, academic support, and residential life. The CARE Team also offers training on suicide prevention, classroom management, and Mental Health First Aid. In addition, the CARE Team is dedicated to ongoing professional development and training related to collegiate mental health, violence risk assessment, and best practices for behavioral intervention teams. Referrals can be made at caltechcares.caltech.edu, or by sending an email to [email protected].

We encourage everyone to download the Everbridge App. You'll receive Caltech Alerts and, as noted above, you can text or send relevant pictures to Campus Security in the event of an incident or emergency. Download instructions are provided at [email protected]or https://security.caltech.edu.

You can contact the following resources during emergencies or for specific questions:

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Dial x5000 [(626) 395- 5000] for all emergencies; Dial x4701 for non-emergency Security

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SAFETY / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Dial x6727 from 8am - 5pm Monday-Friday; Dial x5000 for 24 hour Emergency On-Call

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Dial x4717 for 24 hour Service Center

STAFF AND FACULTY CONSULTATION CENTER

Dial x8360 for Non Emergency; Dial x5000 for Emergency

STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES

Dial x8331 for Non Emergency; Dial x5000 for Emergency

After-hours crisis support: Dial x8331, press "2"

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-877-727-4747

Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741-741