Felicia Yeh, Roz Anderson, Briget Livingston, & Karen McMullen University of South Carolina, School of Medicine Library

Maximize Preparedness, Minimize Damages: a successful grant-funded disaster planning project

MOCK DISASTER TRAINING

RESULTS/OUTCOME

Within the 18-month disaster planning process, the following activities were held: conducted library building survey and risk assessment to identify areas of risks and hazards (with the assistance from the Facilities Management staff and the consultants) established procedures and systems to mitigate potential risks determined collection priorities developed procedures for quick response to limit damage to collections created the emergency flip chart and distributed copies to all staff installed four panic buttons and a peep hole at the door of the back entrance to reinforce Library’s security purchased and organized emergency supplies completed four staff training sessions: personal safety (conducted by the staff from the University’s Police Department), fire safety (conducted by the staff from the University’s Fire Department), hurricane preparedness (conducted by the consultants), and the hands-on mock disaster training (conducted by the consultants) developed the disaster plan

DOCUMENTATION

Emergency supplies Hard-wired panic button Wireless panic button

PURPOSE

This poster describes the disaster preparedness planning process in a small academic health sciences library.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A Disaster Plan Task Force was formed to plan and carry out the disaster plan project. The Library was in need of a comprehensive disaster plan to ensure staff preparedness in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. This project spans from January 2007 to June 2008, and includes the hiring of two consultants to provide guidance and training in disaster planning and recovery.

SETTING

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library is a small medical library in a community-based medical school with 15 full-time staff members. The Library was awarded a $4,500 grant by the National Endowment of Humanity (NEH) to support the development of a disaster plan for the School of Medicine Library.

EVALUATION

A Disaster Plan Task Force was formed to plan and carry out the disaster plan project. The Library was in need of a comprehensive disaster plan to ensure staff preparedness in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. This project spans from January 2007 toJune 2008, and includes the hiring of two consultants to provide guidance and training in disaster planning and recovery.