System Analysis of the URI Hurricane Preparedness Plan Rebecca Harlow

The Project: What is the current University of Rhode Island Hurricane Preparedness Plan? How can it be made better?

48 Hours Notice? What kind of warning would it take to make you leave? When would you leave?

System Study Interviewed: J. Kevin Culley Major Stephen Baker Director Safety and Risk Major Stephen Baker Head of URI Police Richard P. Horwitz Coordinator, RIDART(Disaster Animal Response Team) Lt. James Horoho Uniformed Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police Oversees all EMA day-to-day operations Nancy O. Dodge Town Manager of Block Island

Current Plan of Action Timeline 48 Hours 36 Hours 24 Hours 12 Hours Facilitate Outflow Of Students Prepare for Evacuation Police at Key Intersections Facilitate Inflow Of Evacuees Meet to discuss Plan of Action Decide to use Emergency Alert Issue Emergency Alert HRL Directors Run Tallies Get Tallies of Remaining Stu Gas Up Cars Decide message Emergency Alert Post Plan To Website Support Staff On 12h on/off Inform Remaining To go to Dorms Bunker into to Safe zones Weather Report Move Cars to High Ground Set up Call Center Develop Shelter Contingencies Equip Dorms w/generators Test Generators Notify Key Personnel Develop Food Contingencies Man Set up of Ryan Center Test Emergency Equipment Meet With Key Personnel Man Set up Power Village Continue to Man Shelter Meet to discuss Shelter situation Distribute Food Move Food to Shelters 48 Hours 36 Hours 24 Hours 12 Hours 6 Hours Storm Hits Timeline

Data Flow Diagram of URI's Disaster Plan Weather Report Initialize Plan 1 Request for Contact Information Storm Details URI Emergency Personnel Contact Info Contact Info Look up Instructions Retrieve Instructions D1 Emergency Personnel Database Preliminary Preparations 2 Directions Report of Preparation Status D2 Emergency Check Lists & Instructions

State & Federal Emergency Personnel Notification Details Faculty & Students Request for Persons in Need of Assisted Care Notification Process 3 Notification & Instruction Requested Info D3 Disability Service Database Evacuation Info Evacuation Instructions Request for contact information of subscribers Facilitation of Evacuation 4 Road Closures State & Federal Emergency Personnel Important Info Contact Information Instructions D4 Emergency Alert System Database 5

State & Federal Emergency Personnel Guidelines for Shelters Shelter Preparation 5 Shelter Info Community at Large Status of Storm Shelter Administration 6 Storm Information Supplies and Support Info Information about Post Disaster Recovery Status of Help On the Way

System Strengths Flexible Multi-Faceted Inclusive Able to be communicated

Plan Administrator Weaknesses Only Resides J. Kevin Culley’s Computer Not specific about who is involved in decision making process Only vague about traffic/food preparations Plan Administrator

The Great Escape You are in Ballentine Your phone rings It tells you to get out A storm is coming What direction will you go?

System Analyst's Recommendation Place plan on collaborative website like Google Docs Make accessible to all in positions of disaster -related authority Have each department add its own department specific plan

More Recommendations Plan a day of simulation Devote a day to testing the ability to contact personnel in plan Send a survey to students about what they would do in an evacuation

Questions? Hurricane ‘38 in Fall River Mass Hurricane Carol ‘54 Connecticut Shore