HOUSTON (Nov. 16, 06) – The North Harris Montgomery Community College District has released a 15-part contingency plan for operating the college district in times of regional disaster.

The NHMCCD Business Continuity Plan represents a year-long review of business and communication processes and outlines strategies for maintaining viable operations should the region experience another “Hurricane Katrina-like” calamity.

The plan was released earlier this week by Dr. Steve Head, NHMCCD executive vice chancellor, who facilitated its development.

In all, more than 100 employees collaborated on the plan, which encompasses all business operations of NHMCCD’s five colleges, six satellite centers and the district administration office.

The study provides the district with a document outlining specific actions to be taken in case a campus or the region is impacted by a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado, illness associated with a pandemic, computer virus attack or other prolonged disruption in service.

The plan provides clearly written instructions with specific responsibilities that can be accessed by key personnel regardless of location.

“We now feel much better prepared for an unforeseen disruption,” Dr. Head said. “This thorough review helped us identify critical functions and create new communications processes for connecting college leaders regardless where they may have gone for safety.”

Key components of the plan include insuring that information and computer systems are safeguarded during a disaster, facilities and property are protected to the best level possible, and that services critical to employees, students and business customers are maintained at reasonable levels, and restored as quickly as conditions allow.

“Back-up systems and dual systems for technology and functions have been established in several locations,” Dr. Head said. “For example, if the district office was severely damaged, the district has a back-up computer system in another location. The Business Office has provisions that would insure our employees and bills are paid on schedule. Human Resources has made arrangements to be housed temporarily in another city in order to maintain a point of contact for employees.”

The plan assumes that key college personnel and offices will be in various places and not able to communicate in a timely and normal manner for an extended period of time. Plans include specific contacts, web sites, and toll-free numbers for teleconferencing.

To make certain information in the Business Continuity Plan remains current, the plan will be reviewed three times a year, Dr. Head explained.

“We have made every attempt to be as prepared as possible for most any contingency,” he said. “This plan represents an important step in that readiness.”

NHMCCD comprises Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers and The University Center. To learn more, visit www.nhmccd.edu.

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