For nearly two decades, the UW has developed and continually refines a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) in order to be prepared before, during, and following a major emergency or disaster that could impact the core operations of the university.
As the general road map by which the University would respond, organize and recover from all-hazards and threats (natural, technological and human-caused), this plan is intended to minimize the impacts of emergencies and disasters and ensure that people and property are well protected.
The CEMP guides how the UW collects critical incident and event information, analyzes the situation, forms a standard process for response and develops a coordinated system-wide effective response.
The UW’s all-Hazards Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is updated triennially (every 3 years) with input from university departments and units, local and regional stakeholders as well as interested members of the general public.
The format of the plan follows national best practices utilizing a modified Incident Command System (ICS) structure by which the university re-organizes its normal decision-making structure in order to facilitate more rapid situational assessment and decision-making when in a crisis.