On January 13, the University will be preparing for a disaster. Luckily, this disaster is not real.
As part of a safety-training program, University safety officials simulate one on campus disaster every year.
“We basically build on a scenario and consider all the risks that would be involved if it were to actually happen so that we can be prepared in the event of true emergency,” Katina M. Blue, director of business continuity and disaster recovery, said.
This year, safety officials have chosen a train derailing as the disaster. The event is called Operation Red Rail. According to Blue, this particular event was chosen because of the train that runs directly through the University’s campus. Although a train has never derailed on campus in the past, officials want to be prepared in the event that it does happen.
“Preparedness is a continuous thing that you have to practice constantly. In an emergency situation we want a sense of urgency, not panic. Drills like this one help us with that because it allows us to practice all of the procedures that would need to take place,” Blue said.
The exercise will be taking place sometime between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The event will be taking place in close quarters, with first responders and the emergency operations group in attendance, according to Blue.
“We want campus to know we strive to be prepared. Our roles and response to this simulation will present a unified approach. Our students should be confident in the University in the event of a disaster; thanks to exercises like these, we are able to be prepared and diligent,” Blue said.
The event is going to be as realistic as possible. The safety officials in charge of the simulation have enlisted students from the University’s theater department to help with the exercise. Actors will participate by playing roles of a concerned student or parent that calls into the Emergency Operations Center about the train accident.
“We chose something that we consider to be a risk or threat and run these exercises to simulate how response and prioritizing functions of our response. Keeping the simulation realistic is important,” Blue said.
Matthew White, a sophomore in computer science, says that the emergency simulation will benefit students in more ways than one.
“A lot of people really believe that our campus is a safe place to be, but the fact is that anything could happen. It’s a big open area, it’s open to the public, and a lot of potentially dangerous things could happen. This is definitely a good thing for students to know about and to prepare for,” White said.
Although a train derailing would be a very potentially dangerous situation on campus, White believes that there are other events that could affect campus in a more drastic manner.
“Disasters like that probably do happen, but I feel as though we should be preparing for something bigger. Armed robbery, for example. If someone tried to hold up a C-Store on campus or something like that, I don’t know how many people would know how to react,” White said.
Student media has been assisting with this event as much as possible, according to Blue. There will be simulated reporting happening during the exercise through the Technician as well as the assistance of WKNC, the University’s radio station.
“Student media has been helpful in assisting us. It really helps the whole process when students get involved,” Blue said.
