University Unit Emergency Plans

All University Units are required to have Emergency Response Plans and Continuity of Operations Plans. Some University Units may also need additional or more specific plans. At a minimum, all plans must address the following items:

Preparing for emergency events; updating notification trees, identifying and stocking emergency supplies, etc.;
Evacuating and sheltering-in-place procedures in an emergency and for response to fires, bomb threats, chemical spills, hurricanes, etc.;
Assessing damage to facilities, equipment, and resources; and
Activating continuity of operations plans and performing mission essential functions either at the primary or an alternate site.

All units are required to review and revise their plans at least once a year. Plan review should also occur as a result of, but is not limited to, the following circumstances:

Organizational restructuring within the Unit or that affects the Unit, such as University-wide reorganization (this includes changes in Unit name);
Changes in personnel or assigned responsibilities; and
Changes in Unit facilities (this includes location or layout)

Please adhere to the Procurement regulations regarding the procurement of resources for Units. Some items recommended within the plan address individual preparedness and expense. Contact the Procurement Department with any questions related to purchasing.

Click any of the following links to access more information, including guidance documents and templates.

Unit Plan Submissions

Unit Emergency Response Plan

The FAU Unit Emergency Response Plan(s) (UERP) coordinate university resources to assist in mitigating and preparing for different types of hazard-specific emergencies that could affect unit personnel or facility/location and to deal efficiently with the effects of these events when they do occur; to respond to save and protect lives and protect infrastructure, resources, and the environment; to promote a means to continue critical functions and essential services and recover and resume normal operations. This plan will be activated as appropriate for emergencies involving operations occurring under the auspices of the University regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Please email em@fau.edu for the UERP template.

Unit Continuity of Operations Plan

To accomplish the University’s mission, Florida Atlantic University must ensure its operations are performed with minimal disruption during all-hazards emergencies or other situations that may interrupt normal operations. The purpose of the Unit Continuity of Operations Plan (UCOOP) is to provide the framework for Florida Atlantic University to continue or rapidly restore department-wide

Essential Functions in the event of an emergency t hat affects daily operations.

The Essential Functions Section identifies activities that may not sustain an interruption of more than 30 days without causing the University to operate at its typical level. The UCOOP is designed to maintain essential unit functions until normal operations can be restored following an emergency or other incidents. It addresses the following disruptions to normal operations:

Loss of a facility, access to a facility , or loss of a portion of a facility
Loss of services due to a reduced workforce
Loss of services due to equipment or utility failure

The UCOOP identifies and addresses the following Unit-specific information, such as Description of the Unit, Critical Resources, Essential Functions Reconstruction, Plan Maintenance, Testing, Training, and Exercise, and Annexes.

All FAU Units must create and maintain a Unit Continuity of Operations Plan (UCOOP), which should be updated annually to reflect changes to pertinent unit information as appropriate. University Policy 1.14 sets the expectations for all emergency management efforts at the University.

Unit planning is administered and recorded through the Department of Emergency Management. A Unit’s plan is available only to those individuals with access approved by Department/Division heads and granted by the Department of Emergency Management. In addition to storing the UCOOP with the Department of Emergency Management, departments should distribute the UCOOP to all personnel and maintain an electronic and hard copy of their UCOOP.

Please email em@fau.edu for the UCOOP template.

Unit Level Planning Resources

There are several resources to assist Unit Supervisors or designees in effectively developing, refining, and evaluating unit-level planning pictures. Below are some of the resources we encourage you to take advantage of:

FAU Department of Emergency Management Resources:

One-on-One Unit Planning Meeting: On a first-come, first-served basis, the Department of Emergency Management will conduct individual unit-specific planning meetings to assist you in the development of your Unit Emergency Response Plan (UERP) and/or Unit Continuity of Operations Plan (UCOOP). To request a planning session, please complete the following form: Request for One-on-One Unit Planning Session.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Resources:

The following are additional resources that may assist you in gaining an introduction and overview of continuity of operations.

FEMA Introduction to Continuity Course (IS 1300)

For all EMERGENCY CALLS dial 9-1-1

Contact Us

Campus Operations Building
(69) Boca Raton Campus

Email: em@fau.edu