University Business - November 2009 - (Page 18)

VIEWPOINT The how institutions should be more involved in Disaster Relief Role of Colleges Why and By Daniel R. Kittle W HEN THE CEDAR RIV er crested at over 19 feet in June 2008, hundreds of residents of Waverly, Iowa, were forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter. e city, facing the most devastating natural disaster in the county’s history, found much needed support and assistance from Wartburg College. Sustaining only minor damage to campus, the college partnered with the American Red Cross to host the organization’s disaster assistance center and shelter more than 50 displaced people for nearly a month. e college community responded with more than 15,000 hours of volunteer service, also contributing ﬁnancially to fundraisers and beneﬁt concerts. e college’s Center for Community Engagement coordinated volunteer eﬀorts and provided leadership in the creation and operation of the long-term community recovery coalition. Unfortunately, our college’s experience with natural disasters is far from unique. As we’ve seen in places like North Dakota, California, and Minnesota, natural disasters are a reality for which all campuses need to be prepared. Yet until recently, preparation for most colleges has meant identifying ways they could secure themselves in response to disaster. While necessary, that is not enough. Colleges need to play a more signiﬁcant role in the process of communitywide disaster preparedness and recovery. We have a particular set of strengths and assets that are well suited to assist, and sometimes lead, the disaster preparedness and relief processes. is engagement also is an opportunity for our students to participate and learn. Disaster recovery requires local partners that are organized, agile, responsive, and resourceful. COMMUNITY PARTNERS ose in the business of disaster response have well-deﬁned roles in the recovery process. For example, after our local ﬁrst responders and the American Red Cross provided immediate security and relief, national disaster response organizations quickly came to our aid. Nechama, the Jewish community’s disaster response organization, coordinated and assisted with the cleanup process. Lutheran Disaster Response provided a pool of regional and national volunteers. e Christian Reformed World Relief Committee conducted door-to-door assessments that estimated the unmet needs of those in our community. While these organizations were providing the hands to get the work done in our community, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and our local disaster responders helped prepare for the lengthy road of recovery ahead. e eﬀectiveness of the recovery process hinges on one factor—quality, organized, local partners. Who can access local volunteers? Where are central meeting locations? Who are the leaders in the community, and who can bring them together? Who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to practices of justice? Who has the technical expertise to create systems for communication and coordination? e disaster recovery process requires local partners that are organized, agile, responsive, and resourceful. Although as college administrators and faculty we don’t often associate ourselves or our institutions with adjectives like these, that is just the type of leadership we can provide. Institutions of higher education are uniquely situated to respond with sustained agility, empathy, and organizational capacity. We have access to technical experts, willing volunteers, and justice-driven leaders who can be an anchor in the recovery process, as well as access to the equipment, physical space, and necessary technology. WHAT CAN YOU DO? While individual situations determine the speciﬁc response to be taken, campus leaders can be better prepared for disaster recovery by taking these actions: • Engage or create a local or regional long-term recovery organization. • Develop centers for community engagement and/or centers for teaching and learning that lift up service and civically engaged pedagogies (e.g., service learning). • Identify and train local retired college employees to participate and lead on behalf of your institution. universitybusiness.com 18 | November/December 2009 http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November 2009

University Business - November 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Human Resources
35 Smart Building Ideas
Campus Fires: Prevent to Protect
Pushing ADA Beyond the Limits
Internet Technology
End Note

University Business - November 2009