Meridian Magazine : : Emergency Preparedness: BYU Hawaii was Ready for 6.6 Earthquake

BYU Hawaii was Ready for 6.6 Earthquake
By Carolyn Nicolaysen

Some events in life just take your breath away. One of those was Sunday as I returned from church. We normally check the headline news and then listen to BYU television while we prepare dinner, but on Sunday we were stopped short by news of a 6.6 earthquake in Hawaii.

This was so much more than just another “personal preparedness” object lesson. It was and is a real emergency for thousands of families, and comes just days after I spoke with officials at BYU Hawaii (along with other leaders at BYU Provo, BYU Idaho, and at Southern Virginia University) about their emergency preparedness plans. If I had a student at BYU Hawaii today I would be feeling really good, and here is why.

I spoke with Dr. William (Bill) Neal, Assistant to the President at BYU Hawaii on Thursday and was so encouraged by what I learned. BYU Hawaii has three shelters on campus. Two of those are designed to house members of the community of Laie. The other shelter is designed to house BYU students. This shelter has a generator and will be staffed 24-hours a day during an emergency by teams who work in eight-hour shifts.

Shelter teams, and many students and staff are trained in emergency care including CPR. The Shelter teams include a number of staffers, each with specific assignments:

1) A shelter manager directs shelter operations to ensure the needs of evacuees are met. This person also ensures that the building is being used as intended and that respect for others and appropriate behavior is maintained.

2) An administrative services coordinator directs the reception and registration of evacuees and maintains a system for checking evacuees in and out. These coordinators direct all clerical functions and recruit and assign volunteers.

3) A medical services coordinator directs basic first aid and nursing services at the shelter. Directing efforts to protect health and prevent the spread of infections and disease is another key responsibility. These coordinators supervise medical records and staff. Trained students and community volunteers work in designated medical areas under the coordinator’s direction.

4) A logistics coordinator directs the setup of the shelter, shelter procedures, and is responsible for the storing and distributions of supplies. These coordinators also maintain sanitation, security and safety. They set up and organize areas within the shelter as medical, sleeping and eating areas, and maintain security patrols to ensure the safety of the evacuees and their property.

5) A special services coordinator directs the operations within the sleeping area. These coordinators provide limited mental health services, direct the physically impaired or those with unique needs, direct childcare services, and arrange for recreation within the shelter.

6) A food services coordinator works with the Red Cross, BYUH and the Polynesian Cultural Center food services staff to provide food preparation. Food distribution areas and food supplies are also supervised and maintained by this coordinator. The American Red Cross is responsible for feeding evacuees and expects them to arrive with enough food for the first 72 hours. The student shelter site is supplied with food and water for the first 72 hours. However, the students are encouraged to have complete 72-hour kits including food and water, which they bring with them to the shelter.

BYU Hawaii conducts drills and workshops each year with the student body, simulating various emergencies. Isileli (Isi) Kongaika, vice president for Student Life and Dean of Students, says, “During the emergency drill we give some workshops on what students are expected to bring to the shelter. We think it is a great opportunity to apply the golden rule to love one another so they know that they may be asked to serve others as they are being served.”

Parents should review shelter rules, which are similar everywhere, with their students before they leave for school. “No pets, including fish, birds, reptiles,” means this: No Pets. If you listen to a radio you should plan to use headphones. Matches, lighters and candles are not allowed. No open flames. Shelters will provide sleeping areas but may not have bedding. Hopefully it is not an issue for any of our BYUH students — no alcohol, illegal drugs, or weapons are ever allowed.

The advice at BYU Idaho, BYU Provo, BYU Hawaii and Southern Virginia University was the same. “Tell students to bring a complete 72-hour kit with them to school.” As I write this I am listening to news of the earthquake in the background. I hear the phrase “they are on their own for 72 hours” from all emergency personnel being interviewed. Student 72-hour kits in a sturdy backpack or other easy-to-carry container should include:

1) Food and water for 72 hours (these should have a 5-year shelf life, or you, as a parent, should make sure the food and water are rotated every year).

2) Basic first aid kit.

3) Mylar emergency blanket.

4) Extra set of keys (apartment, car, locker, etc.).

5) Medications and prescriptions.

6) Prescription glasses or contact lenses, lens case and solution.

7) Personal hygiene products.

8) Flashlight and/or glow sticks.

9) AM-FM battery-operated radio.

10) Extra cash including small bills and coins (don’t expect ATMs to work).

11) Emergency information card with medical information (prescriptions, allergies, blood type), phone numbers for parents and other family members, phone numbers for doctor, dentist, optometrist, insurance company, apartment manager, credit card companies and others you may need to contact if you can’t get back into your home or apartment.

12) A copy of important documents such as passports, driver’s license, insurance papers, and bank accounts.

13) If your backpack is large enough, add a change of clothes and a camping pillow.

14) And “Last In, First Out”: A set of scriptures to comfort, teach, and inspire!

After speaking with officials at each LDS campus, I felt so encouraged about their preparation. I have only included information specific to BYU Hawaii because of Sunday’s developments, but I am just as impressed with the emergency plans of each of the other campuses. Hopefully soon we can review preparedness at the other schools, including readiness for a pandemic.

If you are a student or the parent of a student at another campus, I suggest you call the school’s safety office and ask about their emergency plan so you or your child can be prepared for an emergency, too. Maybe today, while others are recovering from an earthquake in Hawaii (and a blizzard in Buffalo), we can think of steps to be more prepared when what could happen, happens.