After dealing with wildfires, floods, hurricanes and chemical spills near the University of Florida for 11 years, Stephen Abrams, the new emergency management coordinator for Penn State and the State College area, knows what to do in the event of a catastrophe.

"The only thing I haven't done is snowstorms," he said.

Abrams, who started in the position last Monday, is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all emergency personnel and equipment for local community and the university in the event of a disaster

"It's a collective effort," he said.

Every organization that could possibly help in a disaster is examined, ranging from the federal government down to individual citizens, he said.

The community needs to be prepared for anything, including forest fires and chemical spills -- anything that results in a risk to the general population, Penn State Police Services Director Tom Harmon said.

"Most of the emergencies we're confronted with will be weather-related," he said.

Because the university has multiple facilities that are required to have emergency procedures -- the airport, the nuclear reactor and research animal pens -- a full-time coordinator is justified, Harmon said.

"There are any number of emergency planning needs that are specific to the university," he said.

The State College area creates a unique problem for a coordinator, said Penn State Police supervisor, and former emergency management coordinator, Cliff Lutz.

"There's no metropolitan area that could come to our aide," Lutz said.

In the event of a large-scare disaster, such as when Pan-Am 103 crashed over Lockerbie, Scotland, a rural area similar to State College, Lutz said the community must be self-sufficient for at least three days without outside assistance.

Part of the coordinator's job, Lutz said, is coming up with potential disasters and developing contingency plans to cope with them.

"You can see where your weaknesses are and how you can prepare," Lutz said.

All municipalities in Pennsylvania are required by law to have a designated emergency management coordinator. In past years, the coordinator for the State College area was filled by an emergency official that volunteered for the position, Harmon said.

"We've been pushing for it to be a full-time job for the past five years," Lutz said.

Abrams will be the area's first full-time paid coordinator, he said.

"We expect that he'll spend half his time on the duties for the university and half for the Centre Council of Government," Harmon said.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, there was discussion between the university and community leaders about hiring a full-time emergency management coordinator, Harmon said.

"I think the concerns were exacerbated by the terrorists, the events of 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks," he said.

Local government officials are also welcoming the addition of a full-time emergency management coordinator.

"We're all one community here," State College Borough council member Elizabeth Goreham said. "If it affects one, it affects all of us."