Newspaper: Suburban News
Date: June 9, 2004

Disaster Prep - College Misericordia to Become National Model for Security Program

The concept for "Ready Campus" was the result of a conversation between College Misericordia President, Dr. Michael MacDowell (pictured) and Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security Director Keith Martin in early 2003. College Misericordia will become the project's national model.

"Four years ago, a program like this never could have been initiated", stated College Misericordia President, Dr. Michael MacDowell. "But, since September 11 (2001), institutions like this, and individuals like those represented here today, want to be of help..."

READY CAMPUS
On Wednesday, June 2, a press conference was held at College Misericordia, announcing a project called "Ready Campus". Facilitated by a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the project will enable Pennsylvania's colleges and universities, and communities to unite in preparation for, or in response to, regional or national emergencies. A group of planners from state, federal and local organizations and agencies had a hand in the development of the project.

Representatives in attendance at the press conference included Scott Kelberg, Office of Domestic Preparedness, US Department of Justice; David Sanko, executive director of Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA); Dr. Michael A. MacDowell, College Misericordia president; Dr. Helen Speziale, Professor of Nursing and director of the Service Leadership Center at College Misericordia; Dr. James Birge, executive director of Pennsylvania Campus Compact; Renee Zehel, director of Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations at College Misericordia; Keith Martin, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security; and Donald Francis, executive director of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. (AICUP). Other agencies involved in the project include the American Red Cross and the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU).

THE NATIONAL MODEL
College Misericordia is set to become the state, and ultimately the national model for "Ready Campus", which will prepare all Pennsylvania's colleges to learn how to use their resources in preparation for domestic issues and the possibility of national eventually expand to include all U.S. colleges and universities. Information about the project will soon become available to all state colleges and universities.

During his presentation, MacDowell recalled the role that College Misericordia played during the Flood of 1972, which included the involvement of the school's facilities and staff. He explained, "The concept of small to medium sized colleges acting as repositories for people during times of regional and national distress or disasters came out of the Agnes Flood of 1972. When the disaster occurred in June of 1972, this campus basically became "Nesbitt Hospital West", when patients and equipment were transported here by ambulance or helicopter. For three months, we were basically the hospital." He added, "General (Frank) Townend visited often. What is not well known, is that our faculty and staff were also very involved."

CONCEPT ORIGINATED HERE
The initial concept for "Ready Campus" was conceived by President MacDowell and Keith Martin, executive director of Pennsylvania Homeland Security. MacDowell recalled, "In early 2003, the subject came up in a conversation that I had with Keith, at a party that was held after his last news broadcast." Martin resigned as senior news anchor at WBRE-TV, Channel 28, to assume his current position. MacDowell continued, "When he explained the concept to the Governor (Edward Rendell), he thought it a grand idea! (National Homeland) Secretary (Tom) Ridge agreed, and he wanted to pilot the program in ...

"This is not something that we discussed and decided to push through without evidence. Keith and I both agreed that we should survey my counterparts, and we sent out surveys to other college presidents. The return rate was 70%, which was amazing, and the people thought that it was a good way to beef up or review their own security plans on their respective campuses." He added, "It is self-reinforcing. We all need evacuation plans. We need to be sure that we know what we are doing, to get our acts together; then we can be of help to others."

ITEMS TO ADDRESS
The NEWS asked MacDowell to explain the next step in the process. He responded, "The deliverables, the products of this project are four-fold: the first component is a flexible manual that any college or university can use, including what can be done for the community, and the addressing of all pertinent issues such as food service, residence halls, faculty and counseling, faculty and communications, etc.; the second component is a 'workshop leader's guide' to help train others, or 'train the trainer ; the third component consists of a series of lesson plans and a variety of courses, how professors can use their existing curriculum to train future leaders how they can participate and be effective in their communities in times of national disasters. This is the 'service learning' component; and fourth, the dissemination process, which will take place through a series of four regional seminars for training, the first two of which are scheduled for October 1. 2004 at College Misericordia, and October 8 in Pittsburgh. Future sites will include.....

LOCAL OFFICIALS INVOLVED
Among local officials who attended the press conference were Dallas Township Police Chief Robert Jolley and Dallas Borough Mayor Timothy Carroll. The NEWS asked both gentlemen for their thoughts concerning "Ready Campus". Chief Jolley responded, "The program is, indeed, a welcome addition to Homeland Security." He added, "We, the residents of the Back Mountain, the state of Pennsylvania, and the United States must utilize resources in both the public and private sectors, to protect lives and sustain the continuity of community life in the event of a critical incident."

"During the Flood of 1972, when the community faced an emergency situation, College Misericordia responded as would any university. With the development of a protocol that includes the resources of college campuses across Pennsylvania and the United States, we stand better prepared to respond to any incident."

CORRALING ASSETS
Mayor Carroll noted, "First, I am impressed with President MacDowell, and how he handles this type of situation. Secondly, it is a good thing to corral our assets, meaning our colleges and universities, and to have them ready for whatever situations are put before us as communities." He added, "I was a police officer during the Flood of 1972, and I remember the droves of people that came into the Back Mountain, and to College Misericordia in particular. It's always good to have a game plan!"