Emergency Preparedness
Meharry Medical College (MMC) maintains a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) designed to safeguard our campus community and support a rapid return to normal operations following any type of emergency.
Our plan identifies potential emergencies and provides the necessary steps to ensure safety, communication, and recovery. The EPP outlines specific response procedures for a variety of situations, including building evacuations, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, inclement weather, explosions or aircraft crashes, hostage situations, bomb threats or suspicious mail packages, water losses or contamination, food poisoning, chemical spills or contamination, violent crimes or active shooter incidents, bioterrorism, and civil disorders.
Response Roles and Resources
In addition to the EPP, MMC maintains designated emergency personnel and resources to support safety and recovery efforts:
Emergency Coordinators
Faculty are encouraged to volunteer as Emergency Coordinators in their buildings or areas. Coordinators play a vital role in implementing emergency procedures, supporting colleagues during incidents, and helping ensure the safety of the entire campus community. Your presence helps ensure that each part of the campus receives timely guidance during an emergency.
Emergency Response Team
This team consists of trained personnel responsible for coordinating emergency actions, making key decisions, and directing campus response efforts. They serve as the central point of contact during any significant incident and provide guidance to faculty, staff, and students.
Emergency Assembly Points
These are pre-identified safe locations where faculty, staff, and students should gather after evacuating a building. Assembly points provide a centralized area for accounting for personnel and coordinating further instructions or assistance.
Tornado Shelter Locations
Interior spaces throughout campus have been designated to offer the highest level of protection during severe weather events. Faculty and staff should familiarize themselves with the nearest tornado shelters to ensure rapid access during a tornado warning.
These roles and resources exist to complement the EPP, ensuring faculty, staff, and students have both procedural guidance and accessible support in any emergency situation. Faculty and staff are encouraged to review both the EPP and the associated response roles regularly. Awareness and preparation are essential for maintaining a safe and resilient campus community.