California State University System

August 2001 – Present

James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA) assists universities and university systems in both pre-disaster and post-disaster situations. JLWA's on-going work with the California State University System (CSU) includes hazard vulnerability analyses; mitigation and response planning (to minimize risks associated with earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorism and avian flu); leadership training and exercising; and standby emergency assistance.

Mitigation and Response Planning

JLWA conducted hazard-identification, vulnerability analysis, and mitigation planning for the CSU campuses below and their corresponding hazards:

• CSU-San Bernardino, earthquake

• CSU-Hayward, earthquake

• Humboldt State University, fire

• Sacramento State University, flood

• San Francisco State University, terrorist threat.

JLWA also prioritized mitigation projects for these five campuses, enabling CSU to maximize its resources by pursuing projects with the most value during disaster response. These mitigation projects were integrated into the CSU's overall capital planning process.

Training and Exercises

JLWA designed and delivered all-hazard Standardized Emergency Management Systems training and exercises to CSU presidents and executives, campus leadership and public safety personnel. Full scale exercise scenarios were designed and developed for CSU leadership and staff responsible for risk, public safety and security. These scenarios included:

• Action planning courses

• Incident Command System training

• All-hazard field exercises

• Observation and auditing exercises

• Independent exercises

• Disaster response and financial training

Disaster Response Standby Contract

Additionally, CSU and JLWA have entered into a pre-event emergency contract. If a disaster strikes a CSU campus, JLWA will immediately dispatch staff to help manage the ensuing response and recovery, to include the following areas:

• Determining availability of state and federal assistance

• Providing expert evaluation and estimation of damages

• Overseeing project reporting, claims processing and appeals phases for federal assistance

• Managing debris handling and disposal

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