Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Hurricanes, floods and disease, Oh my!
As Furman's environmental health and safety manager, Bernie Stanton typically spends about five percent of his time on emergency preparedness issues.
But this summer was different.
A suspected case of Legionnaire's disease, campus flooding in late July and first-hurricane-then-tropical storm Frances had members of the Furman Crisis Management Team convening — and group e-mailing — more than the President's Council. Which is saying something.
“It had been quiet for a long time,” says Stanton. “This summer everything seemed to hit all at once. And the emergencies hit us at the worst possible times.”
When an employee working in Furman Hall came down with symptoms resembling Legionnaire's Disease in mid-July, bookings for summer camps and conferences were peaking.
As news of the suspected case broke, 1,500 members of Sweet Adelines International were preparing to board flights to Furman for the group's International Education Symposium. The Adelines, Furman's largest single summer group, were scheduled to hold meetings in Furman Hall.
To compound the problem, false rumors that the entire campus was being closed had reached the Adelines. Fortunately, a flurry of e-mails and a reassuring telephone call from Vice President for Business Affairs Mary Lou Merkt to the president of Adelines assuaged most of their fears, and their symposium went on as planned.
Six weeks later, the university received dozens of requests for early check-ins from parents and students living in the projected path of Hurricane Frances. The calls came as university staff were gearing up (but not quite prepared) for all students to arrive.
“The residence halls were ready, but understandably some of the other services, like food services, were not,” says Stanton.
In each case, he credits the 10-member crisis team for gathering on short notice and taking quick, decisive and correct action.
After a short briefing, the team members typically brainstorm the problem and develop a plan of action.
“The value of the committee is that it includes perspectives from many different areas, and it helps to share information,” says Stanton. “In a crisis it's important that everyone is informed.”
Just before news of the suspected Legionnaire's case spread beyond campus, team members met and decided to close the entire north section of Furman Hall for the remainder of the summer. The section had already been scheduled to close in early August for renovation.
The team also considered placement options for groups scheduled to use the building and discussed how the news would be shared with the campus and the media. Medical and water sample tests eventually showed no signs of the legionella bacteria.
As Frances threatened Florida in early September, the crisis team met and decided to open campus early to students and parents living in areas impacted by the storm.
Crisis team members are required to carry a laminated card containing the home and cell phone numbers for each member. Members represent academic affairs, public safety, facilities services, student services, university housing, chaplain's office, business affairs and marketing and public relations.
Stanton and Bob Miller, director of public safety, helped develop the team and a campus crisis management plan about 10 years ago. With the exception of at least one annual meeting, the team has been relatively inactive in recent years.
But now after a flood, disease scare and Frances, Stanton is looking forward to the beginning of the fall team and a return to normalcy.
Not so fast.
Hurricane Ivan is heading this way.