Denton,=20
Texas, Feb. 19, 2009 =96 The University of North Texas =
unveiled=20
its Emergency Operations Center, a hands-on learning =
lab that=20
will allow students and community organizations to =
practice=20
responding to large-scale disasters, with an open =
house on=20
Feb. 18 (Wednesday). The state-of-the-art facility was =
made=20
possible by support from local facilities maintenance =
supply=20
distributor Grainger and Situational Readiness =
solution=20
provider NC4.
=93We=20
appreciate Grainger and NC4 stepping up to help us =
create this=20
new learning facility,=94 said Dr. James Kendra, =
coordinator of=20
UNT=92s Emergency Administration and Planning Program. =
=93The lab=20
will allow our students to practice making real-time =
emergency=20
management decisions, and help faculty members further =
their=20
research in disaster response and =
recovery.=94
![](3D"http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/uploads/1aaaaarozdilsky.jpg"=20) |
| Dr. Jack Rozdilsky =
(left),=20
assistant professor in UNT=92s Department of =
Public=20
Administration, demonstrating the software used =
in the=20
EOC to Christi Cdebaca and others from Grainger=20
International. =
|
The=20
Grainger Foundation, based upon a recommendation from =
the=20
local Grainger branch managers in Farmers Branch and=20
Carrollton, donated $30,000 to equip the lab with =
computers=20
and LED signs. NC4 provided tools, including a =
notification=20
service and a software application, which will allow =
students=20
to be more aware and more effective in emergency=20
situations.
Students=20
enrolled in UNT=92s classes in emergency management, =
hurricane=20
preparedness, and disaster response will use the =
Emergency=20
Operations Center lab to simulate responding to =
high-stress=20
emergencies. The facility will also serve as a =
resource for=20
local community organizations.
=93Grainger=20
is proud to partner with UNT as part of our ongoing =
commitment=20
to emergency preparedness in Texas,=94 said Christi =
CdeBaca,=20
branch manager at Grainger=92s Farmers Branch =
location. =93As our=20
community was reminded during last year=92s =
devastating=20
hurricane season, it takes all types of businesses and =
institutions working together to help our community =
prepare=20
and respond to a disaster.=94
Established in 1983, the UNT Emergency =
Administration=20
and Planning Program was the first in the nation to =
offer an=20
undergraduate degree in emergency management. The =
program=20
attracts students from around the world and its =
graduates have=20
gone on to careers with the Federal Emergency =
Management=20
Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency =
(EPA),=20
American Red Cross National Headquarters and the State =
of=20
Texas Division of Emergency Management. More than 200 =
students=20
are currently enrolled in the degree =
program.
![](3D"http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/uploads/1aaaaajennings.jpg"=20) =20
|
A presentation explains=20
the value of emergency operations centers during the =
Feb. 18=20
open house.
About UNT
The=20
University of North Texas is a student-centered public =
research university and the flagship of the UNT =
System. One of=20
Texas' largest universities, UNT offers 99 bachelor's, =
104=20
master's and 49 doctoral degree programs, many =
nationally and=20
internationally recognized. UNT is the choice of =
nearly 35,000=20
students. Discover the power of =
ideas. =20
About Grainger
Grainger=20
has been part of the Texas business community for more =
than 75=20
years and currently operates more than 11 locations =
throughout=20
the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Given Grainger's =
product mix=20
and distribution capabilities, the company is a =
natural leader=20
in disaster preparedness and response. Partnering with =
the=20
American Red Cross, Grainger is the National Founding =
Sponsor=20
of the Ready When the Time Comes program which engages =
corporations in providing trained disaster relief =
volunteers=20
who are ready to respond quickly in the wake of a =
local or=20
national disaster.
About NC4
NC4=20
delivers Situational Readiness solutions that empower=20
government and businesses with accurate, timely and =
secure=20
information to manage uncertainty. NC4=92s External =
Situational=20
Awareness (ESA) service alerts members of events and =
incidents=20
that may impact business operations. Drawing on its=20
partnerships with government and law enforcement =
agencies,=20
NC4=92s Incident Monitoring Centers (NIMCs) track =
global events=20
24x7, providing early, real-time notifications. =
NC4=92s=20
Situational Response offering, E Team, is a robust =
platform=20
for effective incident management and reporting. It =
allows=20
cross-jurisdictional information sharing, empowering =
emergency=20
management personnel with a common operating picture. =
To learn=20
more about NC4, visit www.nc4.us.
For more=20
information about the University of North Texas =
contact Alyssa=20
Aber at (940) 565-3510 or (817) 267-0651 or at =
alyssa.aber@unt.edu.
=A9 Copyright 2002-2006 by North =
Texas=20
e-News, llc
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