Training Vessel Emergency

coast guard rescuerIn the event of and emergency or accident involving the students and crew aboard the Texas A&M University at Galveston training vessel, the General Rudder, the campus will immediately enact the following procedures:

Securing Campus

If the situation warrants, the order to secure the campus will be given by the office of the COO. This order will be given only if there is a perceived threat to the campus associated with the emergency or accident on the training vessel General Rudder (i.e. terrorist attack/threat).

No student, faculty or staff member will be allowed to leave campus until released by the COO or designee.

The Incident Command Team will report to the Emergency Operations Center  to coordinate campus operations and campus response.

College Station will be notified of the incident and the campus’ actions.

All Campus Police Officers will be called to duty immediately.

Campus Police will be dispatched to the main entrance of campus and to the intersection of Seawolf Parkway and Texas Clipper Road. Campus Police will remain in radio contact with the Police Chief and Incident Command Center.

 

Communications

Coast Guard and Local Law Enforcement

  • The campus response to a boating emergency will be coordinated by the Incident Command Team with the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement officials.

Parent Notification of On-Campus Students

  • Parents of students on campus will be notified immediately following a report from Campus Police that the emergency has been addressed and all parties involved are accounted for.
  • Students with cell phones will be asked to refrain from contacting family members until the full nature of the emergency has been assessed and the security of the campus ensured.
  • Notification will be conducted by the Office of Student Affairs.

Notification of Family Members of Involved Students

  • Family members of students an involved in the emergency will be notified by the Office of Student Affairs as soon as information is available.
    • A list of students and personnel on board will be obtained from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy or Campus Police.
  • In the event of a death or hospitalization, notification will be made to the family/families affected, by the COO or designee.
  • Family members will be kept informed by the Incident Command Team as much as possible.
  • If the family/families of the individuals involved in the emergency reside out of town, notification is appropriate by law enforcement agency with jurisdiction. Simultaneous telephone contact by the Incident Command Team should coincide with the notification.
  • Information concerning the emergency will be posted on the TAMUG website and local media sources as information becomes available.

Notification of Family Members of Involved Employees

  • Family members of employees aboard the training vessel will be notified by the Office of Human Resources as soon as information is available.
  • A list of personnel on board will be obtained from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy Office or Campus Police.
  • Campus employees will be allowed to contact their families following a report from Campus Police that the campus is secured and all occupants are accounted for.
  • Information concerning the emergency will be posted on the TAMUG website and local media sources as information becomes available.

Contact with Foreign Port Authorities

  • In the event of an emergency in a foreign port, the ship’s master or designee will serve as the contact and communication link with the Incident Command Team.
  • If the ship’s master or designee is unavailable or cannot be reached, a contact list of the port authorities and ship’s agent can be obtained from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy Office and/or Campus Police.
  • The contact list will have all necessary information for contacting the ship’s agent at the port in which the emergency occurred.
  • The ship’s agent will be able to provide information on the severity of the emergency, hospital contact numbers, flight information/arrangements any other information pertinent to the emergency.
  • Campus personnel are not to release this information to the general public or the media.
  • The Incident Command Team will coordinate all communications with the ship’s agent and ship personnel.

Contact with Domestic Port Authorities

  • In the event of an emergency in a domestic port, the ship’s master or designee will serve as the contact and communication link with the Incident Command Team.
  • The campus response to the emergency will be coordinated by the Incident Command Team with the U.S. Coast Guard.
  • The same procedures will be followed as outlined for an emergency or accident at sea for communicating with parents and family members of students and employees aboard the Texas Clipper.
  • All travel to the domestic location will be coordinated through the Incident Command Team.

 

Immediate Support Services

The Gymnasium will be used for a private area for families to gather following initial notification and upon arrival to campus.  Access be maintained by Campus Police.

 

Campus Liaison

The Campus Liaison should be a member of the Incident Command Team who will work with the families from the General Rudder as a facilitator (not as a decision maker) to present available options, information, and support.

He/she will be responsible for:

  • Ensuring family/families are continuously informed
  • Being available to the families 24 hour a day during the event
  • Assisting with arrangements for those families that are out of town.

 

Crisis Counseling for Students, Faculty and Staff

  • In the event of an emergency, Employee Assistance Personnel will be asked to respond to campus.
  • A support group should be established for the families for food and household preparation, screening of telephone calls, childcare, etc.
  • The Office of Student Affairs will provide counseling to students.

 

Media Management

A media center will be established in Sea Aggie Center 601 or PE 107 or an alternate location to accommodate the electronic and data outlet needs of the responding media.

  • Refreshments will be provided by Dining Services for media representatives throughout the duration of the emergency.

The Incident Command Team will coordinate all media interactions with campus members. The COO or designee will serve as the chief spokesperson for the campus.

If employees are called by outsiders or members of the media, they should refrain from comment and refer the individual to Emergency Operations Center

Employees should be weary of video cameras and their coverage of the incident at the scene.

Family members affected are discouraged from agreeing to provide media with an interview, but, if not, questions should be prescreened.  A member of the Incident Command Team should be present during interviews with family members to ensure that ground rules are followed and inappropriate questions are not addressed.