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Situation and Assumptions

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in the Town of Chapel Hill in Orange County, North Carolina and is adjacent to UNC Medical Center, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Orange County. With a community of more than 50,000 students and employees, the University is the largest employer in the county and has a diverse campus with state-of-the-art facilities serving biomedical research, educational and student housing needs, and many other functions.

The University understands that an emergency or disaster may occur, with little or no warning, at any time. The University recognizes that emergency or disaster situations are dynamic and complex, therefore existing operational plans must be flexible and may require adaptation in order to meet the requirements of the situation.

The University is exposed to a multitude of hazards; any of which could disrupt the community, cause damage to property, and cause injury or casualties. These hazards include, but are not limited to:

  • Adverse Weather and Natural Disasters
  • Technological or Human-Caused Disasters
  • Acts of Violence and/or Civil Disorder/Unrest
  • Fire
  • Power and Utility Failures and Emergencies
  • Public Health Emergencies

Any of the above incidents will require the University to coordinate operations and resources and may:

  • Occur at any time and with little or no warning
  • Cross between the five mission areas of Emergency Management
  • Result in significant impact to persons; including injury, displacement, and death
  • Result in significant impact to infrastructure and property; including property loss, disruption of essential services and utilities, and damage to the environment
  • Require prolonged and sustained emergency operations, coordination, and support activities

As the University is situated within the Town of Chapel Hill, it is possible that incidents occurring primarily within the University could affect the surrounding community. Therefore, it is critical that the University prepare for and carry out disaster response and initial recovery operations in conjunction with local partners. The University’s Campus Safety Units maintain relationships with their counterparts in the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, and the State of North Carolina, as well as with Emergency Management Programs at other Institutions of Higher Education within the UNC System, the Research Triangle Park area, the Atlantic Coast Conference, and across the nation. These relationships can be utilized to provide additional expertise and experience, both to and from the University, in the planning and preparation process as well as during an emergency or disaster.

Further, the University recognizes that its primary limitation in emergency operations is that the University is dependent on external partners for certain emergency capabilities. For example, the University relies on support from Chapel Hill and Orange County for initial and supplementary emergency resources during fire and emergency medical incidents. As these resources also have a responsibility to serve the community beyond the University, the University recognizes that they may be overwhelmed by a major incident on campus, particularly if that incident also affects the surrounding community. As such, the University, Chapel Hill, and Orange County maintain a strong working relationship with each other and with the surrounding counties and localities in order to effectively support each other and their communities.

The following assumptions are those that the University’s Emergency Management Program considers as fact for planning purposes and to execute the EOP. These assumptions indicate areas where adjustments to the plan may be necessary as the incident develops.

  • Any incident, individually or in combination with other incidents, may cause a significant impact on the operation or activities of the University. As incidents will vary in size and intensity, planning efforts are made as general as possible in order to provide Emergency Management Officials with sufficient latitude in their command and coordination of the University’s response.
  • University Officials will implement all five mission areas of emergency management to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency operations. The University may follow the advice of local, state, and federal authorities when larger incidents arise (such as evacuations, terroristic threats, etc.), but reserves the right to make independent decisions beyond these authorities where consistent with applicable laws.
  • University Officials will take reasonable measures to responsibly conduct disaster operations and commit all available resources to saving lives and minimizing personal injury and property damage.
  • It is the responsibility of officials under the plan to take reasonable measures to save lives, protect property, relieve human suffering, sustain survivors, protect the environment, and initiate the recovery process.
  • All business units with responsibilities in the plan will be familiar with and support the EOP. Specific units may maintain specific emergency response plans relevant to their areas of operation, provided that any and all plans are consistent with the procedures, expectations, guidelines, and concepts established in the plan. These units are also responsible for ensuring that their personnel are trained and capable of carrying out their responsibilities as established in the plan and in any subsequent unit-driven plans.
  • Emergency Support Functions performed by individuals and business units will generally parallel their normal day-to-day functions though personnel may be reassigned if needed.
  • Execution of emergency response and recovery activity outlined in the plan includes collaboration with campus units that may not be listed in the plan. In particular, Campus Safety officials work in partnership with The Office of Human Resources and Office of University Counsel, who provide support based on their area of expertise, as needed.
  • All business units with responsibilities in the EOP will utilize the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) specific to their operation to ensure essential functions are continued in an emergency or disaster.
  • Disasters can overwhelm the University’s resources and business units should have processes in place to augment standard resources when they are stressed by emerging incidents and threats.
  • When the University’s resources are determined to be insufficient, the University will require assistance from response organizations and departments from the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, the State of North Carolina, other UNC System Institutions, the Federal Government, and appropriate Non-Governmental Organizations.
    • When provided, assistance from other organizations, departments, and agencies will supplement, not substitute, the University’s resources and efforts.