Readiness Levels
The University will use a graduated emergency response posture which conforms to the four-tier system of readiness levels of local jurisdictions, and the State of Texas. These levels are used to communicate the University’s state of readiness to internal and external response partners. As the potential severity of the incident or the demand on University resources grows, emergency response and coordination activities will increase to meet the demands. In addition, this approach is used for assessing activation of the campus UHVEM.
Level IV: Normal Readiness
A Level 4 incident describes localized campus incidents that may quickly be resolved with internal resources and/or limited assistance from the external responders. The incident may only affect a single, localized area of the campus, and most normal University operations are not disrupted.
Level III: Increased Readiness
A Level 3 incident refers to a situation that presents a greater potential threat than “Level 4”, but poses no immediate threat to life and/or property. A Level 3 may be implemented for planning of large events, gatherings, high-level dignitary presence; or an incident or situation in which threatening conditions “may” or “may never” cause adverse effects.
Level II: High Readiness
A Level 2 incident refers to a situation with a significant potential and possibility of causing adverse effects to life and/or property. A Level 2 may be implemented during monitoring of large events, or a situation or event in which threatening conditions have developed, but which have not yet caused adverse effects.
Level I: Maximum Readiness
A Level 1 incident is an emergency or disaster that is imminent or already impacted a large portion or all of the campus community requiring a broad array of university departments and outside agencies to respond.