Public Safety Update Presentation to University Senate September

Public Safety Update Presentation to University Senate September 23, 2011

Updates on… • Emergency Preparedness • Role of Housing Officers • Passenger Van Fleet

• Process for signing up has been automated.

Results Incoming Class Year # of Freshmen Signing Up 2008 918 (56%) 2009 1, 143 (69%) 2010 1, 213 (74%) 2011 1, 532 (93%)

Emergency Management Group Role • Emergency Management Group met on August 26 th to discuss possible impact and priorities. – Two additional conference calls leading up to the storm & one post-storm call. – Nova Alert used to update EMG during storm. • Seven alerts sent throughout storm updating EMG regarding conditions on campus.

Preparedness Priorities • Emergency Communications – – With students and emergency responders • Continuing to supply food and water for oncampus residents • Preparing the campus in advance to mitigate damage.

Communications • One phone line in Public Safety that is independent of the University phone system • Established two-way radio communications with one RA in each residence hall • Established radio communication with Radnor PD.

Facilities Preparation • • • • • Gutters and drains were cleaned and snaked on problem buildings. Storm drains were checked. Plumbers gathered pumps and hoses and put them in stores area. Lg. pump was checked and gassed up. Building generators were checked and fueled. Portable generators were moved , put in place and temporary line run to two dining halls. ( Dougherty and Donahue) Storeroom had supply of batteries on hand. Pump house fuel tank and all generator tanks were topped off. Outside furniture was either secured or brought indoors. Stocked up on plywood, plastic and duct tape for windows. Checked flat roofs for any loose debris and cleared off any that was found. Chained and secured satellite dishes. Checked and secured all roof hatches and doors. Had all vehicles gassed up and gas cans filled. Made sure vehicles were not parked under trees. Made sure dumpsters were chained or secured. Made sure recycle bins secured or stored.

Dining Preparedness • Emergency Generators Pre-Positioned at Dougherty and Donahue. • 3 -4 day supply of food prepared. • Extra paper products • Dining services committed to keeping halls open, but with limited (cold) menu offerings contingent on the availability of electricity and potable water.

Collaboration with Radnor • Meeting with Radnor Township officials in collaborative effort. • Police • Radnor & Bryn Mawr Fire • Public Works • Township Administration • Code Enforcement • Cabrini, Eastern, Valley Forge.

Staffing During Storm • 27 Public Safety Officers on campus during storm. – 7 additional officers in hotel rooms • 12 Custodians on during overnight hours • 12 additional on Sunday • 12 Facilities Tradesmen

Command Control During Storm • Weather conditions monitored throughout night. • Nova Alerts Issued • Conditions assessed • Staff Re-deployed.

Alerts Issued • Saturday, 8/27 @ 10: 27 AM – VU Hurricane Irene preparation update available at www. villanova. edu. • Saturday, 8/27 @ 8: 53 PM – Flood warning has been issued. Take shelter immediately until storm all clear is issued. • Saturday, 8/27 @ 10: 25 PM – A tornado warning has been issued for the VU area until 11: 00 PM. Take shelter immediately.

Alerts Issued Cont…. • Saturday, 8/27 @ 11: 35 PM – Tornado watch remains in effect until 5 AM. Wind and heavy rain will continue thru the night. Stay inside. • Sunday, 8/28 @ 9: 36 AM – Storm Update Available at www. villanova. edu • Sunday, 8/28 @ 6: 00 PM – Final storm update and all clear. Visit www. villanova. edu for more info.

Injuries • Three students injured – Two ‘mud sliding’ • One required 31 stitches and tore a ligament • One twisted her ankle – One fell on wet lobby floor in residence hall.

• North Ithan Avenue at County Line flooded intermittently. • South Ithan Avenue flooded at SEPTA overpass • Loss of power to Lancaster Avenue properties • Generator moved to power Moriarity. • Downed Tree on S. Ithan Storm Impact

Additional Storm Impact • Water in Stanford and St. Mary’s Clogged Drain at HSB

Redefining the Role of the Housing Officer

Overview of Changes • • • Shift in focus from desk attendant to security Coverage increased from 11 to 13 buildings Hours moved to 9 PM to 5 AM Officers no longer stationed at fixed locations No longer one officer per building

OLD SOP A Housing Officer is posted at the main card reader entrance to some co-ed and all female residence halls. He/She is there to supplement the card reader system. Their primary duties are to ensure only Villanova University students enter the building, by verifying the students through a valid Wild. Card. NEW SOP A Housing Officer is assigned to an area consisting of one or two residence halls on South and Main campus. He/She is there to monitor activity in and around their assigned residence hall(s) and to be on the lookout for safety and security hazards. Housing officers visually inspect for propped doors and windows, as well as signs that the security of the building has been breached or that unsafe conditions exist. They also identify and register the entry of Officers should be conducting foot patrols of any visitors, when the visitor is accompanied interior common areas and the building’s by a Villanova student. exterior. At the same time, officers may ask for ID from any individual in or around a residence hall whose actions or appearance are suspicious. Officers will position themselves in such a Officers will continue to conduct exterior and way as to strictly control access to the hall. interior building checks throughout their shift. Officers will pay particular attention to areas of high activity, areas known for breaches of security, or policy violations. Officers will respond to requests from dispatch to check on propped door alarms received in the Communications Center. Officers will similarly position themselves at Officers will assist and support students and the end of visitation hours to identify exiting residence life staff in courteous and males. professional manner. Officers will be on the lookout for injured or ill students and will provide aid consistent with their level of training until additional

Rationale for changes • Limited value of enforcing visitation rules • Recognition that perils to residence hall students lie outside the building’s walls. • Able to cover more halls, (13 vs. 11) picking up St. Mary’s and Simpson • Layout of lobbies not conducive to funneling people past the officer’s desk. • Volume of traffic made it impossible to check ID’s against building rosters.

Officer Initiated Activities August 14 th to September 19 th

Passenger Van Fleet

Background

Description of How the Van Fleet Will Operate

Recent Developments