Drexel Emergency Preparedness Program
One of the most important components of this program is the Drexel Emergency Preparedness Plan [PDF]. The plan identifies roles, behaviors, and communications in emergencies; calls for the formation of teams, structures training, and defines notifications for all three Drexel campuses; and is comprised of three components: preparedness and training, notification and action, and collaboration with partners.
Preparedness and Training
Drexel Emergency Response Team (DERT)
Building Emergency Response Team (BERT)
Emergency Preparedness Program Training Schedule
Notification and Action
DrexelAlert
Communications and Action Plan
Drexel Partners
Preparedness and Training
The Drexel Emergency Preparedness Program provides for the formation and training of the following teams:
Drexel Emergency Response Team (DERT)
DERT is a team of Drexel staff members with a flexible membership. Depending on the level of emergency, the team could expand or contract. DERT operates in the Incident Command System mode which is a part of the National Incident Management System. To learn more, please visit FEMA or NIMS.
Building Emergency Response Team (BERT)
BERT’s are building-specific crisis management action teams. Each team operates in an all-hazards approach to emergency management, as well as providing vital systems information for emergency responders to manage a crisis event as it unfolds.
BERT members are volunteers who are in charge of an area or floor of their building, where they assist in the evacuation of all occupants in case of a building emergency. The main focus of BERT is to help ensure that building evacuation is carried out as planned, occupants are directed to assigned assembly points and persons needing assistance to evacuate are helped.
The following is a list of some additional building emergency tasks:
Prepare an All Calamities Action Plan [PDF] in advance
Help ensure that building evacuation is performed as planned
Ensure area occupants are alerted when notified of an emergency and building alarm is not sounded(shelter-in-place)
Inform occupants of their duty to report to the assigned assembly area
Assist and/or direct occupants with limited mobility either to areas for assisted rescue or down stairs if they are able to negotiate stairway
Proceed to assembly area and account for personnel
Disseminate safety information within their respective areas
Notification and Action
DrexelAlert
Drexel University’s Emergency Notification System, DrexelAlert, is capable of emergency notification delivery to cell phones, voice mail, and email.
Communications and Action Plan
This component identifies how, by whom and when emergency notification (DrexelAlert) is delivered to the community and what actions should be taken by teams in various situations.
Drexel Partners
Drexel collaborates with the City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the University City Emergency Preparedness Steering Team (UCEPST).
The Department of Public Safety works collaboratively with the City Office of Emergency Management and took an active part in the development of the University City and Drexel University evacuation maps, as well as the University City High-Rise Building Evacuation Rallying Points Plan.
UCEPST was established in 2003 to improve coordination and address common needs of the major universities, hospitals, and various other organizations located in University City. UCEPST general membership meetings are conducted bi-monthly. There are four (4) subgroups that make up the general membership. Those groups are the Drill Group, the Process Implementation Team (PIT), the Five-Year Plan Group, and the University City Group, representing a collective of University City organizations and institutions. Each group meets separately to accomplish its objectives and share information with the rest of the UCEPST membership.
