Emergency Operations Center and Communications Procedure

Purpose: To outline emergency response and communication plan in the event of at crisis at Pittsburg State University.

Applies to: All visitors, students, faculty, and staff at Pittsburg State University.

Procedure:

Emergency Operations Center

The President’s Office, 207 Russ Hall, or a designated alternate site, preferably on campus, will be the primary location for emergency operations.

Emergency Communications

External Communications

The President or the established designee will be the official spokesperson for the university in the event of a critical incident invoking a crisis. The Office of Creative and Strategic Communications, 106 Russ Hall, 620-235-6177, will issue all press releases for the university and handle all media inquiries and press conferences. If contacted by the media, please do not volunteer information, please decline requests for interviews until you have spoken with the Office of Creative and Strategic Communications, and refer all questions to the Office of Creative and Strategic Communications. The Director of Government and Community Relations, in concert with the Office of Creative and Strategic Communications, will interface with key government officials.

Internal Communications

The Office of the President and the five Vice Presidents will be responsible for communicating key information to students, faculty and staff in their administrative areas according to their established mechanisms of official communication. Official communications may take the form of e-mail, phone, person-to-person, and/or other media. Please remain alert for continuing information. If necessary, a press conference will be held or press releases will be distributed for widespread communications. Privacy of individuals in emergency situations will be guarded to the extent possible.