Emergency exercise brings rapid, coordinated response

UB’s Emergency Management department, in collaboration with multiple university units and local, state and federal emergency responders, delivered a rapid and effective response and recovery to a full-scale campus emergency exercise.

The exercise activities took place from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and in Gratwick Basic Science Building at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, 99 High St. on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC).

 “The exercise simulated a report of an explosion on the loading dock of the Jacobs School, with police responders pursuing two suspects,” said Jay Roorbach, UB’s senior emergency planning coordinator. “The scenario also presented multiple victims with injuries who were part of the EMT component of the activity.

“This was a successful exercise of our ability to interoperate on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus with other emergency response agencies,” he said.

“There are many things that responders can anticipate and plan for, and many others that they cannot,” said Joshua B. Sticht, deputy chief, University Police, who also served as a co-director of the exercise.

“We plan exercises to include EMT because we know that if something like this exercise scenario occurs, we are going to have to do that,” Sticht said.

UB units participating in the exercise included University Police; Emergency Management; Environment, Health and Safety; University Communications; and the Incident Management Team.

Local agencies who took part in the exercise included American Medical Response, Buffalo Fire Department, Buffalo Police Department, Erie County Emergency Services, Erie County Department of Health, Kaleida Health (Buffalo General Medical Center and Oishei Children’s Hospital), Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, BNMC and the FBI.

“We had more than 15 agencies participate in the exercise,” said Roorbach. “We were pleased that every agency that signed on to work with us showed up. There were many actor volunteers who participated with us as well.

“Such a strong turnout makes a big difference in our ability to continue building partnerships and strengthening multi-agency coordination,” he said. “I want to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to everyone who participated.”

Roorbach also extended his thanks to members of the UB Incident Management Team, a group of senior leaders who coordinate resource management at the university level on a wide range of critical issues during a crisis.

“There was active participation between several members of the university’s executive leadership and the Incident Management Team,” he said. “The role played by this group is vital to the success of emergency planning, response and recovery at UB.”

Goals of the exercise included simulating activation of the university’s crisis response plan, evaluating communications between multiple law enforcement and emergency responders, and assessing coordination of on-scene response and resource management.

An innovative component of this year’s exercise focused on collaboration between University Communications and communications professionals representing BNMC institutions.

“During the exercise, University Communications worked together with public information officers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaleida Health, BNMC and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office to develop a mutual public information strategy during a crisis,” said John DellaContrada, interim vice president for university communications.

“Keeping UB students, concerned parents, faculty, staff and other stakeholders informed with accurate, up-to-date information during a major emergency is a top priority for the university,” he said.

“During the exercise, we were able to test and improve upon UB’s crisis-communications plans, procedures and messaging. Working side by side with colleagues, as you respond together to a large-scale simulated incident, is an incredibly helpful and mutually beneficial way to prepare for a real-life emergency,” DellaContrada said.

Annie Deck-Miller, senior media relations manager for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the exercise provided “a great opportunity for all of us to come together just as we would if a real emergency happened.”

“Our teams know we have to be prepared to provide great care under all circumstances, and it’s good to think through some of the questions and issues that could arise so we can be as effective as possible if we’re faced with real-life scenarios,” she said.

Sarah Warner, director of marketing and communications for the BNMC, noted that for many years, the BNMC has facilitated a Campus Public Safety Council to enhance coordination and share information across public safety agencies and community partners.

“We pride ourselves on working together to ensure a welcoming and safe environment, and it is important that our partners are prepared for emergency situations, however unlikely they are to occur,” she said. “UB did a tremendous job in coordinating this emergency exercise and helping prepare our public safety agencies and hospitals for such an event.”

Tim Kornacki, director of emergency management for Kaleida Health, added that as the largest health care provider in Western New York, “it is incumbent on us to be as prepared as possible for any and all scenarios.”

“A mass casualty incident of this magnitude is something we rarely to never see; consequently, it is important we train our staff on the elements of scene stability, controlled access to our campus and disaster victim triage,” Kornacki said.

“This exercise took place on a medical campus,” Roorbach said, “but a lot of the principles can be applied to other large-scale emergencies where we have to work together with our fire and EMT partners as well.

“These types of incidents have demonstrated that quick, coordinated response of staff, law enforcement and local first responders has a significant impact on the number of potential fatalities and injuries,” he said.

“One of our goals is to practice and make mistakes when lives aren’t at stake.”