HU partners with law enforcement, EMS for emergency drill

April 24, 2019 |

Harding University conducted its 18th annual community-wide disaster drill Wednesday, April 24. This year’s exercise included a very brief campus-wide lock-down drill where all classes, offices and other campus areas reviewed and practiced the steps involved in securing their specific spaces in the case of an active threat.

Director of Public Safety Craig Russell acts as coordinator of each year’s exercise. “We always appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our local first responders but also departments across campus. This drill has sparked numerous conversations regarding how we could and should respond in a real life situation which is exactly what we want to accomplish with this exercise,” he said.

A number of schools and security professionals were on campus to observe the drill, including representatives from University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas Baptist College, University of Arkansas Community College Morrilton as well as some elementary and secondary school officials from the area and corporate security managers from the region.

Observers witnessed portions of the hands-on drill, including building-clearing exercises, emergency notifications, incident command and triage. They also were included in a debriefing Q&A session immediately following the hands-on portion of the drill where coordinators discussed tabletop scenarios.

Since 2002, the University has coordinated a disaster drill every spring to facilitate a test of its emergency notification system and processes, allow practice for emergency communications protocol for administrators, and measure the timeliness of community first responders. The University cooperates with area emergency personnel including Searcy Fire Department, Northstar Ambulance Service, Searcy Police Department, Unity Health Hospital, and White County Office of Emergency Services. Previously staged events include simulations of an earthquake, fire, hazardous waste, explosion and active shooter.

Several academic programs within the University such as nursing, physician assistant, pharmacy, athletic training and counseling coordinated student participation in the event. Health sciences students acted as medical staff on the scene to triage students acting as victims and utilizing specific injury scenarios. The University had nearly 200 participants.