Designations

Spring 2014, SMU received the SAFETY Act Designation which provides incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies by providing liability protections for Sellers (SMU) of "qualified anti-terrorism technologies."

SMU is said to be the first institution of higher education to receive this designation with its QUATT identified as a set of policies, procedures and personnel which, when used together, provide comprehensive protection for SMU, its students, employees and visitors from terrorist and criminal activities. As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, Congress enacted several liability protections for providers of anti-terrorism technologies.

The SAFETY Act provides incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies by creating a system of "risk management" and a system of "litigation management." The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the threat of liability does not deter potential manufacturers or Sellers of anti-terrorism technologies from developing and commercializing technologies that could save lives.

Winter of 2019, SMU received notice that the Designation has been renewed for another five years.


What is StormReady?

StormReady is a designation available to cities, counties, and universities-basically any geographic group of people that constitute a "community". By becoming a StormReady University, SMU has shown a commitment to save lives during severe weather events, educate our community about severe weather, and improve coordination and timeliness of hazardous weather warning reception and dissemination

What did SMU do to become StormReady?

To be certified as a StormReady Community, SMU met or exceeded the following requirements:

  • Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
  • Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public
  • Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally
  • Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars
  • Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
  • StormReady communities like SMU are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness. No community is storm proof, but StormReady can help communities save lives.