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Emergency Management

Building a safer, more resilient campus through emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Emergency Management

Emergency Management oversees emergency planning for all Penn State locations. Responsibilities include:

  • Developing and testing the Emergency Operations Plan
  • Coordinating preparedness, response, and recovery efforts
  • Educating the community on safety best practices
  • Conducting emergency drills and exercises
  • Managing emergency notifications and the Emergency Operations Center
  • Supporting campuses during declared emergencies
  • Managing the PSUAlert notification system

Contacting Emergency Mgmt

Brian Bittner, Emergency Management Director, (814) 867-3430
Alexandra Craige, Senior Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator (University Park)
Eric Morgan, Emergency Management Coordinator (Western District)
Dan Spencer, Emergency Management Coordinator (Eastern District)

Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
University Police and Public Safety - Emergency Management
8 University Drive, University Support Building 1, Suite 104
University Park, PA 16802

Emergency Preparedness

Successful planning is the best way to prevent further disaster during an emergency. Whether you are at class, home or at the office, it's important to have a plan. The Emergency Management Office recommends viewing the federal and state government's tips and tactics for developing your emergency plan and being prepared.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)

Penn State's Emergency Action Guides

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Bomb Threat Checklist

Emergency Action Guides

Developed by University Police and Public Safety, Penn State's Emergency Action Guides outline recommended actions for incidents such as fires, severe weather, medical emergencies, active threats, hazardous material releases, and other campus emergencies. By understanding these response procedures in advance, students, employees, and visitors can be better prepared to protect themselves and assist others when seconds matter.

Continuity Planning

Creating a continuity plan is essential for your unit or office. Having a plan helps your office continue its business uninterrupted after an emergency or disaster. A situation can affect anything from the compromising of confidential work to staffing, and it's important to be prepared for all possible outcomes. Maintaining a plan keeps your unit's vital attributes safe, secure, and in operation.

If you do not have a continuity plan, contact the Emergency Management Office to help you develop one. All University departments on all campuses are required to develop Business Continuity Plan(s) for their offices.

Exercises/Drills

Penn State participates in a variety of emergency exercises and drills throughout the year that involve key leadership and stakeholders at the University. We use four types of exercises that are consistent with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

The following can be facilitated with your college, department, or unit.

  • Drills - This is a coordinated and supervised exercise used to test a single specific operation or function. It involves deployment of equipment and personnel.
     
  • Tabletop Exercise - This is a facilitated group analysis of an emergency situation in an informal stress-free environment. It is designed for examination of operational plans, problem identification, and in-depth problem solving
    .
  • Functional Exercise - This is a fully simulated interactive exercise that tests the capability of an organization to respond to a simulated event. It takes place in the Emergency Operations Center and focuses on coordination of multiple functions or organizations. This exercise strives for realism and is short of actually deploying equipment and personnel.

    Full-Scale Exercise - This is a simulated emergency event, as close to reality as possible. It involves all emergency response functions and requires full deployment of equipment and personnel. (To note, planning efforts for this type of an exercise would take approximately 12 months, from the start to final execution.)

    Clery Exercise - This is a year exercise completed with all campuses. The exercises are conducted with campus leadership, as well as their crisis management team to practice emergency situations that fall under the Clery Act. The exercise also generates a physical test of the emergency notification system known as PSUAlert.

Email the Emergency Management Office if your unit is interested in conducting a drill or exercise.

Other Training Sites

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) training page offers information on training, drills, and emergency management.

Penn State Environmental Health & Safety offers training and emergency information.

University Police also offers training exercises and courses on safety, security, and self-defense.