Forum to discuss UI's disaster plan

The University of Iowa will hold a public forum to review its new pre-disaster mitigation plan from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 25, in the Indiana Room of the Iowa Memorial Union.

After the June 2008 flood on campus, the UI, as advised by Iowa Homeland Security, drafted a mitigation plan to be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

On approval, the UI is eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds.

According to the plan, the highest priority hazards needing immediate focus, because of their high risk or recent significant impact, are: energy disruption, structural fire, windstorm, river flood, tornado, severe winter storm and human disease epidemic.

The maximum potential loss the UI could face with total destruction of all campus buildings, with estimated replacement value, is $6.6 billion, according to the plan.

“An astronomical event, beyond the score of this mitigation plan, would be necessary to totally destroy all university facilities,” the plan states. The estimated replacement value of contents within all UI buildings surpasses $693.5 million.

The draft Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan is available online at http://www.uiowa.edu/riskmanage/mitigation.html

UI leaders will take the plan to the state Board of Regents for discussion Sept. 17.