When disaster struck: how pennington biomedical research center supported an entire academic health center

How would you do your job tomorrow if you lost your physical space today? Just this one question probably makes your mind spin in all directions looking for answers. This paper will guide you through the process of starting up an entire campus that was destroyed by a disaster. * SPACE - Should you partner with another university within your city or state for space to replace your physical office space? * INGENUITY - Since Higher Education is not wealthy, can you find creative ways to collaborate? * GOALS - "The Show Must Go On." Can academic programs take a one-year leave of absence? * UNITED - Is the IT Department now responsible for everything since every department uses the web to disseminate information? * Faculty curriculum, syllabus, and grades * Payroll, Business Office, and Budget data systems * Student computers left in dorms * CASH - What funds would you access to set up a school, department, and network if your campus location and surrounding city was severely damaged by a catastrophe? You will need servers, printers, computers, software, and office space. * COMMUNICATION - How do you contact your faculty, students, and staff? Do you have a Crisis Server already setup in an offsite location? * SUPPORT - How large of a skeleton crew is needed during the post-emergency time for startup.

These questions will be answered in this paper. The process will start with the initial crisis meeting; take you through the setup of networks, classrooms, and faculty offices; discuss how to support the schools during their time on your campus; and finally talk about the day when they say "I AM READY TO GO HOME!".