ByGeorge! Online

March 4, 2003

Preparedness Planning Continues at GW

By Greg Licamele

GW continues its efforts to plan for the safety of the University community by evaluating existing plans, meeting with government officials, and informing the campus of the latest information, said John Petrie, assistant vice president for public safety and emergency management.

“We intend to keep people updated with what is going on and to keep the University Police Department (UPD) on heightened awareness,” Petrie said. “We ask everyone to be aware of their surroundings and if something is in an unusual place, then report it to UPD.”

Petrie noted that GW’s status remains “normal,” meaning GW is open and maintaining its usual schedule.

“That is appropriate during an ‘orange alert’ if everyone understands that the city of New York has been at the ‘orange level’ since Sept. 11, 2001, and it is fully functioning, which is just what we should be planning to do,” Petrie said.

Planning in response to the nation’s heightened alert level continues at GW, but also in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Petrie said the consortium is planning ways to support one another’s students if the need arises. He also cited the opportunity D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey offered to the consortium for a member to be present in the city’s command center during an emergency situation.

“It’s an opportunity for someone who thinks about things that affect a university community to make points that are important as MPD makes decisions,” Petrie said.

Petrie referred the GW community to the GW Campus Advisories Web site (www.gwu.edu/~gwalert) for the latest information and resources, including the incident and preparedness manual the University has refined over the last year.

 

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