Emergencies Procedure (63.10.02)College Policy Number/Title:
In the event of an emergency situation on campus during regular daytime operating hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., call security immediately at extension 4882 or externally at (410) 772-4882. Of course, you may also call 911 immediately if, in your judgment, the situation warrants such action.
Contact:
director of security
crisis communications manager
vice president of administration and finance
vice president of student services
president
safety director
vice president of academic affairs
vice president of information technology
During weekday evenings between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and on weekends, the director of security (extension 4802 or 4882) or designee will be the ranking administrator to contact. The above list should be used in the event that the director of security can not be reached.
Confirmation of the existence of emergency conditions and decisions about evacuation or college closings and related precautions will be made by the administrator in charge. No one other than the vice president of administration and finance or designee is to call the police during daytime hours except in the case of a true emergency, in which case county emergency services at 911 are called immediately. When classes are in session evenings and weekends, the director of security will determine the need to call the police, again, with the exception of a true emergency which dictates the immediate dialing of 911. At other times the director of security will consult, if necessary, with the vice president of administration and finance before notifying local authorities of emergency situations.
Contact with the media will also be handled by the executive director of public relations and/or designee.
Bomb Scare/Threats
When a bomb scare or other threat to college facilities is received, the individual receiving the call should obtain whatever details possible and immediately notify security. Security will notify the vice president of administration and finance and/or the executive director of capital projects and facilities. After 5:00 p.m., security will notify the vice president of administration and finance as well as the crisis communications manager. If these individuals cannot be located immediately, security will notify the college president or another vice president.
The college president or designee will mobilize the emergency evacuation plan, designate specific staff to make certain that campus facilities are cleared of all students and staff and notify the Howard County police to determine a search plan.
The vice president of administration and finance or the director of security will contact the emergency coordinating center staff consisting of the president, vice presidents, the executive director of capital projects and facilities, and the director of security.
Disturbances on Campus
In the event of a demonstration or disorder on campus, the vice president of administration and finance should be notified immediately. The vice president of administration and finance will inform the president and the president's team of the situation and appropriate action will be taken. Release of any information to the press will be handled by the vice president of administration and finance and/or designee.
Fire Emergencies
In the event of a fire on campus, a red alarm box located closest to the fire should be activated. When the alarm is sounded, all buildings should be evacuated. All students and those employees whose duties do not include assisting in the evacuation and/or combating the fire, are to proceed to the nearest parking lot or large open field a minimum of 100 feet away from any campus building.
All instructors are responsible for the immediate evacuation of their students from classrooms and laboratories. The ranking employee in each office area will assume the responsibility for evacuating and securing their respective areas.
The athletic and fitness center will be evacuated by the director of the facility and/or technicians on duty during normal operating hours and by security at all other times. Security will evacuate all other campus areas including unattended classrooms and rest rooms. Elevators are not to be used during evacuation of buildings in emergencies.
An emergency coordination center will be automatically established under the supervision of the vice president of administration and finance during daytime hours, or by the director of security after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends. A control center will be set up in the plant operations area by the executive director of capital projects and facilities. After 5:00 p.m. and on weekends, this control center will be directed by plant operations personnel on duty.
The health and safety committee, working with the fire department and college officials, will establish emergency evacuation procedures for the disabled.
HCC Mobile Alert System
Howard Community College offers a mobile alert system to all enrolled students. This free, opt-in service enables people to receive instant notification of important information to a phone, email, pager, or desktop RSS application. Users will only receive messages related to emergencies and any optional message groups chosen. People who sign up are responsible for any standard text messaging charges from the cell phone carrier.
Effective Date: 2/13/2009
