If last winter brought with it a lasting lesson, it’s that we need to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds and the effects they could have on our campus.

As part of that ongoing effort, the Simmons College Emergency Response Team (SCERT) took part in an emergency preparedness seminar with other schools and hospitals in the area. More than 100 participants met at Simmons to discuss and plan a response to a Category 3 hurricane. The SCERT team worked with local and state agencies to map out coordinated communications, evacuations, continuity of operations, and recovery strategies.

The Simmons team shared their plans with other institutions throughout the Longwood Medical and Academic Area and worked with representatives from the Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, MassDot, Eversource, and the National Weather Service to learn more about coordinated response efforts.

In addition to planning and exercises, Simmons benefits from our participation in MASCO’s Joint Operations Center which coordinates resource deployment during emergencies and provides a link between the College, other local institutions, and local, state, and federal emergency management agencies. This strategy reduces response times and provides the necessary infrastructure to keep the campus safe and functional during an emergency.

Being prepared means planning for and mitigating the effects of disruptions caused by a range of natural and human-made emergencies. Simmons is committed to constant planning and testing in preparation for whatever might come our way.