About
Mission
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) supports and protects UTRGV’s mission by mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from all major emergencies/disasters across the University.
Objectives
- Provides emergency management oversight, coordination, and situational awareness to the broad and diverse group of university partners.
- Utilizes an integrated all-hazards, risk-based approach for mitigation, response, continuity of operations, recovery, and preparedness planning.
- Promotes a "culture of preparedness" among students and employees by improving awareness and comprehension of what to do before, during, and after major emergency and disaster incidents.
- Develop and implement strategies to achieve multidimensional and redundant emergency communication capabilities.
- Build local, state, national, and international partnerships with other entities that share a vested interest in the enrichment of higher education emergency management.
Engaging in a fully integrated, coordinated emergency management program provides the University several benefits including but not limited to the following:
- Protection of life, property, the environment, essential services, and critical facilities.
- Reduced vulnerability and exposure to future major emergency and disaster incidents.
- Diminished post-disaster economic hardships for both campuses and its community.
- Reduced short-term and long-term recovery and reconstruction costs.
- Quicker resumption of normal University functions, including teaching, healthcare, research, and service.
- Increased cooperation and communication within the community through the planning process, training, and exercising.
What we do:
- Maintain the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP).
- Oversee multiple notification methods to facilitate emergency communications, such as the Everbridge system.
- Ensure compliance with the National Incident Management System and other federal and state emergency management regulations.
- Participate in and conduct numerous exercises annually to empower participants, examine plans and equipment, and refine emergency decision making processes based on the evaluation of the results.
- Develop and implement outreach programs to promote emergency management awareness, confidence, and preparedness across the UTRGV community.