Kathleen Hohl, Communications and Events Director
414-297-6208 (office); 414-235-7105 (cell); hohlk@matc.edu
MATC Receives $791,000 U.S. Department of Education Grant for Emergency Management
MILWAUKEE (Sept. 16, 2010) – Milwaukee Area Technical College has received a $791,000 grant through the United States Department of Education’s Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) Program.
A college-wide team will be formed to develop and implement the project, which will enhance and fully integrate the campus emergency plan and achieve targeted goals for faculty, staff and students by incorporating National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) protocols. Additionally, MATC will build capacity for a violence prevention plan with special attention to mental and behavioral health issues.
MATC will create and test a plan for persons with disabilities and other special needs. Two further components of the project involve enhancing the existing infectious disease and continuity of operations plans; and enhancing communications operability with first responders and among all four MATC campuses.
MATC is the first Wisconsin college or university to receive an EMHE grant since the program received Congressional funding in 2008. MATC's $791,000 award is the largest of the 60 awards presented in the three-year history of the program.
“This grant enables us to effectively prepare for the safety of our four campuses and our students, faculty, staff and visitors, which is a priority for the college,” said MATC President Dr. Michael L. Burke. “It is imperative that we have established, functioning relationships with local law enforcement, behavior and mental health agencies, first responders and government agencies in the event of an emergency.”
The EMHE grant program supports higher education institutional projects designed to develop, review, improve, and fully integrate campus-based all-hazards emergency management planning efforts. Programs funded under this absolute priority use the framework of the four phases of emergency management (Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery).
|
TEXT ONLY