A freak blizzard, a mentally ill and armed student, a record-breaking flood. No matter how idyllic a campus may feel, no matter how cocooned the ivory tower, disaster can strike. If a campus is unprepared, it comes like a sucker punch, potentially turning a crisis into a tragedy of unimagined proportions--and causing reverberations that will be…

It is essential that the traditional emergency management structure be used as a framework for higher education emergency planning. The four phases of emergency management should be reflected in the architecture of all planning efforts. These include "preparedness," "response," "mitigation," and "recovery."…

The responses of several college student activities programs to crises on campus (violence, civil unrest, and earthquake) are described. In each case, professionals responsible highlighted the importance of having a proactive emergency plan in place and rehearsed. Flexibility and clear thinking are also crucial ingredients. (MSE)

Preparation for college campus crises (natural disasters, violence or unrest) is discussed. Specific suggestions are made for three distinct areas of readiness: (1) response to the situation; (2) response to the students; and (3) personal response. (MSE)