Emergency Preparedness Resources

Malibu Bluffs Fire – January 2007

Members of the Pepperdine community should be aware of all of the resources the University has made available regarding emergency preparedness. The Office of Insurance & Risk, the Department of Public Safety, and the University’s Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), in cooperation with many other departments, work to ensure that Pepperdine is prepared for emergencies when they impact any of the institution’s students, faculty, staff, schools or locations.

Pepperdine’s administration considers protecting its students, faculty, staff, and resources as a serious responsibility. The University prudently expends resources to ensure that it is as prepared as possible to respond to domestic or international emergencies that may impact the institution.

When crises impact other schools—be it Hurricane Katrina, a flu epidemic, or a wildfire—Pepperdine studies the event, then updates and improves its plans, realizing that preparation is never complete. Emergency preparedness is an on-going responsibility and there is always more to learn. Drills are conducted regularly to ensure the excellence of all facets of a planned response are appropriate. Part of that on-going preparedness is educating faculty, staff, and students regarding how to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies.

See Pepperdine’s emergency response plans in action during the October 2007 wildfire.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS

Surviving an Active Shooter Event

There are three best practices for surviving an active shooter event: Run, Hide, or Fight.  A training video entitled “Shots Fired on Campus” demonstrates the best practices for surviving an active shooter situation. This 20-minute training video is available through WaveNet by clicking on the Surviving an Active Shooter link in the Emergency Preparedness box in the upper right corner. More information on surviving an active shooter »

Reporting a Person of Concern

One of the best ways to reduce violence is to report threats and potential threats as soon as they occur. If an individual is aware of someone who poses an imminent threat to a member or members of the University community, contact the Department of Public Safety immediately at (310) 506-4441. If an individual is located at a graduate campus and believes imminent danger is likely, please contact 911 immediately and then contact the Department of Public Safety. If the potential harm is not imminent, but someone’s behavior seems threatening or seems like it could lead to harm to the individual or to the community, please report the concern to the Department of Public Safety, the appropriate Dean’s Office, or Human Resources. More information on how to report a threat »

Emergency Response Team (ERT)

The ERT is a group of faculty and staff volunteers who assist with building evacuations and emergency communications plans during regular business hours. Each workplace on campus has a designated ERT member assigned to help disseminate emergency preparedness information to co-workers, such as locations of fire extinguishers, best practices for building evacuations, and emergency staging locations. Ask a supervisor or contact the Office of Insurance & Risk to find out more regarding the ERT program.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)aed1

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable, self-contained device used to restart an individual’s stopped heart rhythm during a medical emergency. AEDs are located on the Malibu campus at a variety of fixed locations and at each graduate campus. Please contact an ERT member or the Office of Insurance & Risk for more information or training regarding the use of AEDs.

International Travel & International SOS (ISOS)

Whether traveling abroad as part of a University international program, a Project Serve trip, or for other work related matters, Pepperdine encourages its community members to remain safe. To that end, please review the “Safe Passage” video available through WaveNet by clicking on the International Travel Safety link in the Emergency Preparedness box in the upper right corner. While this video may include portions that do not pertain to all trip itineraries, it does provide helpful information for best practices and tips on how to prepare for travel abroad.

isosAdditionally, Pepperdine partners with International SOS, a leading medical and travel security assistance provider. International SOS works with the majority of the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and 200+ colleges and universities. ISOS is ready to assist individuals on multiple fronts while traveling, whether they have questions, become seriously ill abroad, or need help due to a lost or stolen wallet. Support is available from any International SOS 24-hour assistance center via telephone or through the ISOS smart phone assistance app.

Lastly, Pepperdine’s International Travel Policy requires all international University travel, whether for work, for educational purposes, or organized by the University, to be logged in International SOS’s Travel Tracker. Individuals may log their travel through the ISOS MyTrips system. Instructions are available through WaveNet by clicking on the International SOS link in the Emergency Preparedness box in the upper right corner.

Emergency Preparedness Guide

The Emergency Preparedness Guide (available through WaveNet by clicking on the Emergency Preparedness Guide link in the Emergency Preparedness box in the upper right corner) covers basic emergency preparedness information for various dangerous or unusual situations an individual may encounter, from rip currents to wildlife to man-made disasters.

COMMUNICATING EMERGENCIES

It is vitally important that emergency situations involving the University community are reported in the most accurate and timely manner to both emergency responders and members of the Pepperdine community who may be impacted by the incident.

Reporting an Emergency

Call 911, then contact the Department of Public Safety Dispatch Center at (310) 506-4441 (x4441 from a campus phone). This emergency extension is monitored 24 hours a day.

For the Malibu campus, Public Safety will coordinate an escort for off-campus responders and direct them to the specific building or location on campus where an emergency is reported.

For all non-Malibu campus incidents, Public Safety will alert the University’s administration.

Additional Public Safety Phone Numbers

RECEIVING EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Depending upon the nature of the emergent situation, students, faculty, and staff will receive information through one of the following channels: Everbridge Mass Notification, the LiveSafe App, the Emergency Information website, or University communication from co-workers, supervisors, or Emergency Response Team (ERT) members. Generally, when community members are aware of an emergency, the latest information should be actively sought from the University resources listed below.

Everbridge Mass Notificationeverbridge

Everbridge Mass Notification emergency communication system allows the University to send messages directly to community members via e-mail; SMS/text message; cell, office, and home telephones; and to designated emergency contacts. Everbridge Mass Notification will only be used for life safety emergencies and periodic testing.

The system is dependent upon the contact information provided by each individual in the WaveNet Portal. Instructions for how to enter your contact information are available here.

LiveSafe Applivesafe

The LiveSafe app is designed to improve communication between University community members and Public Safety. It enables individuals to discreetly call 9-1-1 as well as connect to Public Safety at the touch of a button. Other features include SafeWalk, SafeRide, and SafeMap. The app also includes Pepperdine’s emergency preparedness information, so emergency response information and contact information for key University services is readily available. Learn more »

Emergency Information Website: http://emergency.pepperdine.edu

This website functions as an informational blog for the University during emergencies. Information and decisions affecting the University community are posted on this site in real time by the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC). The Web page also lists best practice instructions for incidents ranging from personal medical emergencies to earthquakes, fires, and power outages. All members of the University community should review these best practices prior to an actual event to understand how best to be prepared.

Emergency Hotline

Pepperdine’s toll-free emergency hotline number is (888) 286-5659. This hotline plays a recorded message, which is updated during emergencies by the EOC.

PERSONAL PLANNING FOR CAR AND HOME

Pepperdine encourages each member of the University community to create an emergency plan with his/her family. Thinking through various types of emergency scenarios in advance allows for a calmer and more organized response when a crisis occurs.

Emergency Supplies for the Car and Home

  • Information on best practices for supplies to keep readily available at home or in the car is listed on the Emergency Information Page.
  • Pepperdine Personal Emergency Kits are available from the Office of Insurance & Risk at a subsidized price of $25.
    • The temperature-stable kits include a 3-day supply of food and water, a basic first aid kit, a crank flashlight/radio, multi-purpose tissues, and a glow stick in a custom Pepperdine University bag. Please call (310) 506-4410 to order, or for additional information.
  • Additional information regarding supplies to consider for home and car—such as food bars, emergency water, or medical supplies—and recommendations regarding vendors that distribute them are available by contacting the Office of Insurance & Risk.
  • Consider obtaining a recurring three-month supply of necessary prescription medications to have on hand at home.

Additional Phone Numbers