College Continues Fire Drills at National Campus

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (October 26, 2012) – The College of Micronesia-FSM is continuing a series of fire drills at the National Campus to test its Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Plan.

According to Chief of Security Warren Ching, they have completed drills at the residence halls, dining hall and at the Administration Building. They are currently preparing for fire drills at the Learning Resources Center, faculty office buildings and the classrooms.

According to Chief Ching, a campus wide fire drill will be conducted after isolated drills are completed for all buildings at the National Campus. “First we have to get ourselves organized by doing individual facilities and testing our own plan. Then when we are confident we move forward with the campus wide drill, which would involve local law and response agencies and the local, state and national governments.  It is a larger scale exercise so it is advisable that we test first the college’s disaster plan and then link it with other relevant agencies,” he said

Besides meeting the Clery Act requirements, the fire drills were conducted to test the effectiveness of the college’s disaster plan. As well, the drills will prepare the college community for disaster situations.

Briefings were conducted before each drill to update building occupants of the procedures involved in the drills. “The occupants need to know who the building and floor wardens are and their responsibilities. Next time we can have one that is unannounced,” commented Chief Ching.

The fire drill at the National Campus Administration Building lasted about seven to eight minutes. “For a first time, we did fairly well. After a few more drills I’m confident we can cut the time to five to six minutes. Every second counts,” said Chief Ching.

Chief Ching will also be conducting fire drills at other campuses.