Crisis experts urge RI colleges to plan for H1N1

SMITHFIELD, R.I.—Crisis management and emergency experts urged colleges and universities to look at their readiness plans should an outbreak of the H1N1 virus occur this school year.

Colleges and universities throughout New England attended a day-long symposium at Bryant University on Tuesday.

Jim Satterfield, president of the crisis management company Firestorm, said colleges need to be able to predict, plan and perform.

“It’s already on every college campus today so it’s not a matter of if, it’s not a matter of when. We know when, we know what it is, and it’s coming,“ he said.

Satterfield said the key is getting the word out to students by all means possible.

“You have to have multiple channels. You have to use new technology—social networking, Twitter, Facebook. You got to find ways to get the information out that you want to have so that the proper action can take place,“ he said.

Jane Fusco of Rhode Island College said the university has assembled an emergency preparedness team, which includes sending e-mails to the campus community.

“We have the instant text messaging system with our campus community and our students that send out emergency messages immediately. We have our blue lights along the campus walkways and main ways that are illuminated lights that also have a broadcast system that will broadcast information if needed,“ she said.

Crisis emergency officials are also advising parents to work out plans with their children on what is the best way to reach each other in the case of an emergency.