On Nov. 22, the University Police Department at the University of Arkansas at Monticello hosted an earthquake tabletop exercise for the UAM Emergency Management Team, a diverse group of UAM personnel who play a critical role in the university’s emergency preparedness and response efforts.
The exercise, facilitated by Cpl. Gabriel West, police officer and emergency management specialist for the UPD, was a discussion-based training session designed to review roles, procedures and responses of various campus departments in the event of an earthquake, according to a news release.
During the session, participants worked through a simulated earthquake scenario, evaluating how they would respond to the crisis, coordinate resources and ensure the safety and well-being of the campus community.
West emphasized the importance of emergency training.
“UAM is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors that frequent campus,” West said. “Regularly testing the UAM Emergency Management Plan through evacuation exercises and scenarios designed to test UAM’s response capabilities to various hazards allows us to ensure the protection and resiliency of our community.”
The UPD conducts annual preparedness exercises that rotate through various emergency scenarios, including fires, natural disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes and active shooters.
Details: Cpl. Gabriel West at westg@uamont.edu or (870) 460-1083.