UTC was one of 18 institutions selected to receive a U.S. Department of Education Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) grant worth nearly a half million dollars to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for emergency management.\u00a0 Across the United States, 327 institutions applied for the grant.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations on being awarded this very important grant!\u00a0 Your dedication to the preparedness efforts within your institution and community is commendable\u2026,\u201d said\u00a0Tara Hill, federal project officer (FPO), in a letter to K. Tim Pridemore.\u00a0 Pridemore, CFPS Emergency Management Specialist\u00a0at UTC, wrote the grant for the University.<\/p>\n
UTC will use the grant to develop and execute a security management plan addressing all of the Emergency Support Functions in the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s National Response Framework.\u00a0 This plan will include training for staff, faculty, students, and campus emergency personnel on effective responses to scenarios including severe weather and terrorism.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmong the biggest projects we are planning is upgrading our emergency warning communication and engaging staff and faculty in training exercises,\u201d Pridemore said.\u00a0 \u201cTabletop exercises have already begun for some offices and departments.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the assistance of the grant, UTC Office of Safety and Risk Management Manager Jim Pulliam says his staff will seek ways to connect academic programs to emergency management.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn nursing, for instance, we want to provide faculty and students with National Incident Management System training,\u201d Pulliam said.\u00a0 \u201cWe especially want to arm students with this valuable knowledge before they graduate, giving them a professional advantage as they begin their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pridemore is also hoping to boost participation among students by providing CPR and First Aid classes.<\/p>\n
As a former paramedic, fire chief, and assistant chief of operations and training, Pridemore\u2019s experience is helpful in emergency planning at UTC, an integral part of the Chattanooga community.\u00a0 The University houses approximately one-third of its student body on campus and hosts thousands of area residents for conferences, classes, athletic events, and concerts on a yearly basis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UTC was one of 18 institutions selected to receive a U.S. Department of Education Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) grant worth nearly a half million dollars to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for emergency management.\u00a0 Across the United States, 327 institutions applied for the grant.<\/p>\n