March 19, 2003

Dear Colleagues:

In response to the president's address to the nation Monday night on Iraq, the federal Department of Homeland Security again raised the national alert level to High (Orange). Consequently, the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) met to review our situation and determine appropriate responses.

As we did in February, when the national alert level was raised to Orange, Johns Hopkins CEPAR will maintain our operation at Alert Level 3 (Yellow, or Elevated). This means we recognize a potential threat exists, our readiness should be monitored, and preemptive actions should be taken to enhance preparations for a critical event. Many of our recommendations are similar to those suggested last month and are very practical, especially in light of growing concerns about increased terrorist activity. We recommend that departmental leaders and/or incident commanders hold staff meetings to review disaster response plans and remind personnel of the following action items:

1. Key personnel should carry their pagers/cell phones at all times, and maximize their immediate availability. If you have been issued an emergency Nextel phone, please carry it with you, charged and ready at all times.

2. To the extent reasonable, all personnel who may be called on to assist in any critical event should limit travel outside the area.

3. Key response personnel should provide information to their supervisors for availability grids.

4. Within departments and facilities, call-down lists should be tested or verified. (Be sure your supervisor has your updated home phone/cell phone/pager data.)

5. Clinical teams should be prepared to reassess inpatients rapidly in order to expedite discharges to make room for victims of a critical event.

6. Clinical departments should clarify who is considered an essential employee, and thus expected to report to work even if the University is closed.

7. Appropriate levels of disaster supplies and equipment should be verified, including: oxygen tanks, ventilators, fuel for vehicles, medical gases, and pharmaceuticals.

The events of 9/11 taught us the importance and necessity of all employees having a safe exit route out of a building in the event of an emergency evacuation. With this in mind, please review evacuation plans currently on the Department of Health Safety and Environment Web site: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hse/. Employees may obtain additional information on CEPAR's Web site: http://www.hopkins-cepar.org.

CEPAR continues to monitor the situation. Should the alert level for the nation change, we will respond as needed and keep you informed. If you have urgent questions or concerns, please contact the CEPAR office at 410-625-4204.