Overview
In accordance with the University’s Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations plan, Everglades Hall will serve as a shelter for on-campus residents in the event of an evacuation of the residence halls and Greek Houses. Residential Life staff, with support of other University personnel, will provide general oversight and management of the students and the operations of the shelter.

The detailed plan outlining shelter operations can be found here.

Shelter Staffing and Expectations for Residential Life Staff
The residence hall shall be staffed for operation of a shelter as follows:

• Director: General Management of Shelter; coordination of University personnel in shelter
• Residence Life Coordinators (and Assistants);
• House Directors: General oversight of students (communication, registration, policy enforcement), supervision of resident assistants
  
• Resident Assistants: Oversight of a designated group of students; policy enforcement; assignment to specific shifts for other functions (monitoring spaces, coordination of activities, food distribution, etc.)

Support Staff (Other University Personnel) in Shelter
Per the University’s EMG plan, the following support elements will be arranged for and present in the shelter:

• Public Safety (a minimum of two police officers at all times of shelter occupancy)
  
• Aramark (staff to prepare and serve food to students)
  
• Facilities/Custodial (staff to address maintenance emergencies and handle routine custodial needs of shelter)
  
• Student Communication

Students will receive information about hurricane evacuation in several ways. They will first receive it when checking into the residence hall. A hurricane packet will be provided, containing information about the University’s evacuation/shelter plan, preparing a hurricane kit, shelter policies, etc. This information will be reviewed again at Resident Assistant’s first floor meetings the following week.

Multiple modes of communication (flyers, emails, and contact from resident assistant or House Director) will be used to notify students when a Hurricane Watch is issued. Each student will be asked to identify their evacuation plan. Those within the Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties will be reminded that they cannot evacuate to the on-campus shelter. Students outside of those counties will be encouraged to seek safe shelter with a friend or family member off campus, and if they are unable to do so, will be directed to register for the on-campus shelter. The goal remains to minimize the number of students who seek on-campus shelter.

Staff Training
All shelter staff (residential life professionals, house directors and resident assistants) will participate in training, planned by Residential Life and Environmental Health and Safety. Red Cross will provide training in shelter management, and University staff will cover areas including shelter operations, staff roles, student policies and managing the stress of students and staff in a crisis (Counseling Center).

Shelter Registration Process
All students planning to use the on-campus shelter must register in advance. At the time of a watch, students will be directed by their resident assistant or house director to register at a designated location in the main lobby of their residence hall/house. At the time of registration, students will provide their name and contact information and be required to sign a copy of the shelter policies. Once students are evacuated from their respective building, they will report to Everglades Hall for check-in. A check-in station in the main lobby will be set up to verify the names of students entering the building as being registered. At this time, students will also be issued a wristband, which is color-coded based on their residence hall.

Student Policies
Students will be advised or reminded of shelter policies when they move into the residence halls, at the time of shelter registration, and in group meetings upon entering the shelter. The attached policies will apply.

Space Allocation
The space allocation plan has been developed to be flexible, based upon the needs of the actual number of students sheltered. General space usage is as follows:

• Main Lounge: Food distribution and student social area
  
• Main Lobby/Front Desk: Check-in and Staff Command Center
  
• Administrative Office Area: Staff access to phones/computers and meeting locations for staff/Public Safety who need to speak with students privately (counseling or behavioral related)
  
• Conference Room: Staff meeting area
  
• Computer lab/tutoring rooms/Seminar room 130: Staff rest area
  
• Laundry room/Seminar room 150: Food storage
  
• Floors 2-6: Main lounge and corridors will be designated for quiet/sleeping areas, with some space designated for student social areas (to be determined based on occupancy)
  
• Bathrooms: Vacant rooms (summer) or designated student rooms (fall) will be kept open and staffed for students to access to use bathroom. Numbers determined by occupancy; in general 3 per floor.