Organizations

• Dr. Don M. Powers Teamleader/Grant Coordinator
• Mr. David K. Barnes, Director of Oklahoma County Emergency Management
• Mr. Mike Magee, Intrium Director of Edmond Emergency Management
• DRU Advisory Group
• DRU Planning Group
• DRU Technical Group
• Organizational Chart
• Model for Building Partnerships

Institutions of higher learning and their surrounding communities depend on each other to prepare for disasters and reduce potential losses of life and property.

The University of Central Oklahoma is Edmond’s second largest public employer, employing approximately 1,200 people. It has an estimated annual economic impact on Edmond of $235 million and an estimated impact on Oklahoma County of $275 million, according to the Edmond Economic Development Authority. The student population of 15,584 comes from 72 counties, 45 states and 81 countries.

Recognizing the mutually beneficial opportunity for collaboration, many communities have built risk-reduction partnerships with universities, leveraging their resources to improve risk management more effectively than they could individually.

Building Partnerships to Reduce Vulnerability (click here)

Team Leader

Don Powers is the Disaster Resistant University Grant Program Coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he is Manager of Bids and Contracts. His career has spanned safety and construction, previously serving as UCO’s Director of Facilities and later Director of Environmental Health and Safety. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He has previously served in management positions for the City of Dallas, the City of Tulsa and the Kansas City Missouri School District.

He has served as a member and chair of the Oklahoma Worker Safety Policy Council, and has been president of the Oklahoma Campus Safety Association. He is a member of the Oklahoma section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the National AIHA, the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers and the State Bar of Oklahoma.

David K. Barnes, Edmond Team Member
Oklahoma County Team Member
Director, Oklahoma County Emergency Management

“The University of Central Oklahoma and the City of Edmond have enjoyed a long-standing partnership in many areas, including emergency planning and mitigation efforts. I personally believe the evidence of this commitment can be seen in the fact that UCO is the only Oklahoma university on the list of 2003 DRU grants recipients. This commitment and the efforts being extended will help keep UCO and the City of Edmond safer and better prepared should disaster occur.”

Mike Magee
City of Edmond Team Member
Interim Director, Edmond Emergency Management

"UCO is a community within a community. We visualize the whole community as a 'family', and UCO is part of that family. We're concerned with the well-being of UCO and how we, together as a family, can prepare for emergencies."

UCO Disaster Resistant University Advisory Group

The Advisory Group includes leaders from the community and other outside support agencies who have experience beneficial to UCO and Edmond in disaster mitigation planning efforts. Advisory Group members are asked to improve interfacing their organization during a disaster at UCO or in the Edmond community. Examples of representatives on this group are the UCO President's Office, Edmond City Manager’s Office, and the Edmond Public School Superintendent's office.

DRU Planning Group

The DRU Planning Group includes UCO leaders who have responsibilities for major components of university operations. Input from Planning Group members would improve mitigation of hazards and interfacing of UCO with other agencies during a disaster. Examples of participants are UCO deans and department chairs and directors.

DRU Technical Group

The DRU Technical Group includes leaders with specific technical experience. Technical Group members are asked to be active in writing and developing the Hazard Analysis and Mitigation Plan efforts and/or working with consultants who may be hired. Examples of participants on this group are: Edmond Fire Department, Edmond Police Department, Edmond Emergency Management, UCO Facilities Management, UCO Auxiliary Enterprise and UCO Housing.