The need for such plans was clearly demonstrated during the unfortunate circumstances that swept over the gulf coast of the United States in the summer and fall of 2005.  The ability of a unit to recover, minimize damage, and resume normal operations is critically tied to the existence of appropriate unit emergency planning and preparedness guidelines.  Units should not solely rely on the anticipated support which would come from either the campus or the cities emergency response teams in the event of a local disaster.  In all cases, the ability of a unit to recover quickly and resume operations may be determined by what happens in the first few moments or hours of a disaster.

The most common threats facing UI Urbana campus units are weather related and for this geographic region that typically consists of wind (tornado), rain (flood), snow & ice.  The most significant threat we currently face, from the standpoint of its ability to disruption University operations, is a possible pandemic flu.  Even though the degree of probability may be low, the most serious threat for long term disruption of our University operations comes from a catastrophic event such as an earthquake.