Office of Emergency Management
Mission
The WVU Office of Emergency Management leads the University’s preparedness and planning efforts. This includes Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery within the University community, and local, state, and federal emergency agencies.
Vision
We will provide world-class preparedness of the entire West Virginia University community through strong leadership, collaborations, effective communication, and continuous improvement.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Office of Emergency Management was developed within the University Police in October 2007 and charged with overseeing the emergency preparedness and planning activities on of our University. The office is tasked with the oversight of the University’s “All Hazards” Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), individual Building Emergency Plans (BEP), and Special Event Plans that will be used during normal operations and in the event a natural disaster or a human-made incident that strikes the campus.
Our goal is to provide a means to utilize all available resources to
PREVENT crises and MITIGATE loss of life and damage.
PREPARE for potential emergencies whenever possible and deal efficiently with the effects of inevitable events,
RESPOND to save lives and protect property, and promote a means to
RECOVER mission critical operations.
PHILOSOPHY OF OPERATIONS
Prevention is the actions(s) institutions take to decrease the likelihood that an event or crisis will occur. Mitigation is the action(s) institutions take to eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage related to an event(s) that cannot be prevented.
Preparedness activities, programs, and systems are those that exist prior to an emergency incident and are used to support and enhance response to an emergency incident. Planning, training, exercising, and communications are among the activities conducted under this phase.
Response means activities and programs designed to address the immediate and short-term effects of the onset of an emergency incident. Response operations are designed to reduce casualties and damage and to speed recovery back to normal business and academic operations. Response activities include direction and control, warning, evacuation, other similar operations and appropriate communications.
Recovery is the phase that involves restoring systems to normal status. Short-term recovery actions are undertaken to assess damage and return vital systems to minimum operating standards; long-term recovery actions may continue indefinitely but are intended to restore facilities and systems to full capacity.