Definition of Disaster
The UT Health Science Center Handbook of Operating Procedures defines a physical disaster as involving potential property damage and possible safety threat to persons. (http://www.uthscsa.edu/hop2000/8.3.2.pdf) For purposes of this plan, a disaster is defined as an unexpected, adverse event that damages the Library’s facilities or systems and/or substantially diminishes the Library’s ability to offer its usual resources and services. Disasters may be large events that everyone on site quickly notices (e.g. fire, tornado, explosion, flood), or more minor events (e.g., slow leak of water) – of little or no danger to persons and perhaps not quickly noticed – that still can cause great harm to the Library.
Emergencies include life-threatening situations, fire, explosions, severe weather, loss of electric power, accidents and medical problems.
Non-emergency situations that may warrant action include loss of network connectivity, unruly persons, discovery of vandalism, theft, mutilation, assault or harassment, and other criminal activity. Loss of telephone service to the campus is an emergency situation if the 911 line is unavailable. In general, it is at the discretion of the supervisor on duty to determine whether UT Police should be called or other actions should be taken.
Library Administration Chain of Command
Executive Director of Libraries
Director of Library and Outreach Services
Director of Library Technology and Historical Collections
Head of Collection Resources
Office Manager
General Plan of Action in Case of a Disaster
- Call University Police at 911 or 567-2800
- Evacuate the library if lives are in danger
- Contact the Library Administration Chain of Command listed above
- The Disaster Team Leader will contact members of the Disaster Team.
Table of Contents
Library Disaster Team Members
Procedures for Campus Emergency Situations
Emergency Building Evacuation Procedures
Policies for Emergency Closure
Emergency and Recovery Contact Information
UT Health Science Center Disaster Support
Procedures for Non-Emergency Safety or Security Situations
Appendices
Appendix 1 Briscoe Library Floor Maps
Appendix 2 Emergency Evacuation Team
Appendix 3 Priority List of Collections, Administrative Records and Equipment (not publicly available)
Appendix 4 Emergency Salvage of Wet Books and Records
Appendix 5 Packing and Removal of Wet Library Materials
Appendix 6 Departmental Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Distribution of the Disaster Plan
- Each member of the Disaster Team, as well as the Executive Director of Libraries, will have a personal copy of the full plan to be kept at home.
- A current, electronic copy of the plan will be on the Library’s website at http://library.uthscsa.edu/2012/03/d-plan-overview/.
- A pocket guide (maintained by Susan Hunnicutt) will be distributed to the Library Executive Committee.
- A Business Continuity Plan is reviewed annually and updated as needed by Susan Hunnicutt.
The Disaster Plan will be updated annually as:
The Disaster Team evolves
New procedures are developed
The supply list is modified
The Library’s physical space changes
Different disasters or recovery methods are identified.
Updated by Jonquil Feldman, March 26, 2012
