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LSCS partners with agencies in emergency prep drills

(Nov.18, 2010) – Lone Star College System is doing its part to make sure the community is better prepared for a disaster.

LSCS is partnering with several government and non-profit agencies, like the Harris County Office of Emergency Management and the HELP Foundation, to conduct a broad range of exercises for its employees to practice their emergency response and use of the LSCS Emergency Management Plan.

The overall goal of the exercises is to strengthen the system’s emergency management program.

"As our partnerships evolve with local and state agencies, LSCS benefits as a whole because we are taking necessary steps to ensure that we and the community are prepared for almost anything from a hurricane to a terrorist attack,” said Dr. Denise Walker, chief of emergency management for the LSCS. “Our partnership with these diverse entities is essential to our security and emergency management strategy."

The exercises, to be conducted on each LSCS campus, will be an opportunity to learn how the sites could be affected or used in the event of an actual emergency.

“One of the strategic goals Lone Star College developed as a system is to strengthen innovative relationships with local state agencies,” said Rand Key, senior vice chancellor and chief operating officer of LSCS. “We are pleased to partner with the agencies in keeping our community safe from disaster.

 “These exercises allow LSCS and our partners to update emergency response plans based on the outcomes of the drills,” Key said.

The first in a series of exercises – based on a Category 5 hurricane scenario – was conducted on Oct. 29 in the Conference Center at LSC-CyFair. Future exercises will cover a broad range of potential hazards that have been identified for this region.

LSCS is also working with state and regional resources and the HELP Foundation to further expand its emergency management program to meet the evolving needs of the community.

The HELP Foundation’s mission is to facilitate disaster preparedness, response and recovery by serving the community, and bridge the gap between its available resources and needs.  It offers a team of dedicated resources focused on development of disaster planning and response processes for organizations in the region.

 “This partnership will also provide the framework for bringing a mass volunteer response process into reality for the LSCS service area,” said Tony Lamberth, HELP foundation president.

The next drill will take place at the LSC-University Center at Montgomery on Dec. 3, at 8:30 a.m.

With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for fall 2010, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

                                                      
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