U of Central OK receives one of 27 federal Disaster Resistant

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), May 19, 2005 by Journal Record Staff

The University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond is one of 27 higher learning institutions nationwide to receive federal Disaster Resistant University grants.

The 27 grants totaled $3.2 million. UCO was the first college or university in the state to apply for and receive a federal Disaster Resistant University grant.

UCO received $75,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and UCO will provide $25,000 of in-kind services to develop a Federal Emergency Management Agency-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The grant will allow UCO and its community to lower vulnerability to many hazards or disasters, including tornadoes.

Through the Disaster Resistant University Grant Project, UCO is undertaking one of the most important federal grant projects that it ever has participated, said Steve Kreidler, UCO vice president for academic affairs.

Don Powers, UCO Disaster Resistant project manager and grant coordinator for the effort, and David Barnes, City of Edmond emergency manager, attended a FEMA-sponsored workshop, Building Partnerships to Reduce Hazards and Risks, last month in Indiana.

This event brought FEMA officials together with various public agencies from throughout the nation to discuss how to maximize resources and talent for disaster preparedness and recovery.

This initial meeting mainly focused on how certain information systems can be utilized for planning and mitigation, and for recovery operations, Powers said.

Known as the Geospatial Information System, this operation allows for more realistic planning and for better real-time information in the field during times of disaster. It will benefit Edmond and UCO to explore the use of this tool.

Barnes said Edmond already uses the Geospatial Information System, and it is an excellent tool.

Also at the workshop, officials discussed the use of FEMA's Hazard U.S. analysis tool, for which disaster preparedness and recovery information is shared for hurricanes and flooding.

We asked FEMA to look at developing that tool for tornadoes, as well, Barnes said.

Powers and Barnes will work as a team, with other local, county and state officials, to implement the university's Disaster Resistant University Hazard Mitigation Plan.