NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN |
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A. EXPECTATIONS FOR DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF |
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Employees, Faculty, and Staff
Building Superintendent 1
Instructors
Health & Safety Committee
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
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B. DEFINITIONS |
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| The President or his or her designee serves as the overall Emergency Director during any major emergency or disaster. The following definitions of a crisis and emergency are provided as guidance to assist staff in determining the appropriate response. Report incidents immediately to the Dean of Administration or his designee by calling 738-6409, or 738-6408. If you receive no answer at the above numbers during business hours , call the information center at 738-6300. The campus operator will then contact the Dean of Administration or his designee to inform them of the problem. Evening hours call 309-1915. Crisis Situation A crisis situation is defined as any situation or event that is identified by the President or his/her designee as having a significant adverse impact on the campus community as a whole. Emergency Minor Emergency: Any incident, potential or actual, which will not seriously affect the overall functional capacity of the College. Major Emergency: Any incident, potential or actual, which affects an entire building or buildings, and which will disrupt the overall operations of the College. Outside emergency services will probably be required, as well as major efforts from campus support services. Major policy considerations and decisions will usually be required from the College Administration during times of crisis. Public Health Emergency: An occurrence or imminent threat of a communicable disease, except sexually transmitted disease, or contamination caused or believed to be caused by bioterrorism, an epidemic or pandemic disease, a natural disaster, a chemical attack or accidental release, or a nuclear attack or accident that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability. During a public health emergency, direction for all higher education institutions will come from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. However, it may be necessary for the President and Dean of Administration to make decisions about College operations dependant upon local conditions. Building Emergency: A condition during which a specific building and its occupants are subjected to, or potentially subjected to, special precautions/actions necessary to maintain order and to safeguard College personnel and property. Upon determination that conditions exists which could lead to a state of emergency or has the potential of existing in a single building through events restricted to a building (i.e., bomb threat, equipment malfunction, etc.), the Dean of Administration shall be notified immediately. The Dean of Administration will immediately inform the President. The President and the Dean of Administration shall implement the necessary procedures and notify appropriate personnel to ensure the safety and protection of the persons and property in the building. All contacts with the media will be handled by the Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Any inquires from media representatives are to be referred to that office. Disaster: Any event or occurrence which has taken place and has seriously impaired or halted the operations of the College. In some cases, mass personnel casualties and severe property damage may be sustained. A coordinated effort of all campus-wide resources is required to effectively control the situation. Outside emergency services will be essential. Assumptions: The Emergency Action Plan is predicated on a realistic approach to the problems likely to be encountered on a campus during a major emergency or disaster. Therefore, the following are general possibilities:
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| C. CAMPUS STATE OF EMERGENCY | |||||
| The authority to declare a campus state of emergency rests with the President or his or her designee as follows: During the period of any campus major emergency, The Dean of Administration shall place into immediate effect the appropriate procedures necessary in order to meet the emergency, safeguard persons and property, and secure control and access to campus physical facilities. The Dean of Administration shall immediately consult with the President and Building Superintendent regarding the emergency and the possible need for a declaration of a campus state of emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, a determination will be made as to the level of evacuation, if any. In the event of fires, storms or major disaster occurring in or about the campus, or which involves College property, Building Superintendent and other appropriate College personnel will be dispatched to determine the extent of any damage to College property. | |||||
| D. TYPES OF EMERGENCIES | |||||
The following is a list of the types of emergencies that can be experienced by a college:
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| E. INITIAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES | |||||
| The initial and primary source for all emergency information is the Dean of Administration, (738-6409/6408). While the Dean of Administration may not be the first to detect an emergency situation, as soon as he or she is notified, the following initial steps will be taken: 1. Upon notification or observation of an emergency situation, the Dean of Administration will:
2. The Dean of Administration will take the immediate steps necessary to intervene in the emergency to reduce the threat of potential injury or loss of life or property. He or she will inform the President of the emergency situation directly, and other key staff as appropriate 3. The Director of Marketing and Public Relations will be notified of the emergency situation. If appropriate, the media will be notified and all external communication and request for information will flow through that office. | |||||
| F. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EMERGENCY COMMAND CENTER (ECC) | |||||
| The President's conference room will serve as the Emergency Command Center (ECC). The alternate ECC location will be the Founder's Hall Conference Room. Should the primary and secondary locations be destroyed or not available, the off campus ECC for the main campus will be located at Joyner Learning Center. Emergency Management Team (EMT) Members
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| G. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY | |||||
| In the event of the absence of the President, the line of authority is: Dean of Administration | |||||
| H. EMERGENCY PRIORITY TASKS | |||||
| In any major emergency there are certain general tasks that must be performed. These are listed below in three priority categories. Priority 1 1. Insure the safety of students, staff, and visitors.
4. Notification of persons using the Emergency Notification System. Priority 2 1. Determine the extent of suspension of business and for how long. Priority 3 1. Survey of valuable materials and equipment (Library, Laboratories, etc.). | |||||
| I. CAMPUS EVACUATION | |||||
| EVACUATION PLAN CAMPUS EVACUATION Evacuations of all or part of the campus grounds will be announced by the President and/or the Dean of Administration. All persons are to immediately vacate the area in question. Instructors and their designees are responsible for assisting persons with disabilities. BUILDING EVACUATION In the event of an emergency necessitating the evacuation of a building; i.e., fire, explosion, smoke, fumes, or other factors, the following procedures are to be followed immediately. The signal for such evacuation will be constant ringing of the fire alarm. Upon notification, secure your workstation, gather your personal belongings and leave the building in an orderly fashion for one of the following sites:
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| BUILDING FOUNDERS HALL FOUNDERS HALL ANNEX NORTH BUILDING ADMINISTRATION BUILDING WHITE BUILDING LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER ENGLISH HOUSE GOULET HOUSE GREENWOODS HALL JOYNER BUILDING CHILDCARE CENTER ART & SCIENCE CENTER |
ASSEMBLY POINT Park (green directly across from Founder’s Hall) " " " " " " " Parking lot south end near church Parking lot far southwest corner Corner of Walnut St. and Wetmore Ave. Parking lot south end near Holabird Ave. |
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| In the event of an emergency (Fire or medical):
1. Elevators will not be used during the emergency; therefore, proceed as follows:
2. Disabled Persons
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| Art & Science Center: Middle Level Upper Level Founders Hall: Basement First Floor Second Floor Third Floor Founders Hall Annex: Basement First Floor Faculty Offices 2nd floor Faculty Offices 3rd floor GreenWoods Hall First Floor Second Floor Third Floor |
Room Open Space 216 Around Balcony Room B01, B07 Room 101, 107 Room 201, 207 Room 301, 307 Room B10 Room 109 Room 208, 218 Room 308, 318 Room 124, 110 Room 224, 215 Room 314, 306 |
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3. Emergency telephone numbers of Fire Department, Rescue, etc. are posted in the public areas on bulletin boards. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE BE CALLED IMMEDIATELY, An emergency route chart will be posted in the classrooms and offices. | |||||
| J. SPECIFIC EMERGENCY PROCEDURES | |||||
| Emergency Telephone Numbers | |||||
| Emergency (all locations) State Police Winsted Police Building Superintendent Information Center Security Officer |
911 800-497-0403 or 860-824-2500 379-2721 309-1915 738-6300 309-1914 |
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| FIRE KNOW THE LOCATION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, FIRE EXITS, AND PULL ALARM SYSTEMS IN YOUR AREA AND HOW TO USE THEM. In the event of a fire, follow these steps: 1. If an emergency exists, activate the manual pull station building alarm system.
2. When the building alarm is sounded, an emergency exists. Walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same. 3. ASSIST THE DISABLED in exiting the building! Use the stairs: DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS during the fire. 4. DO NOT PANIC OR CAUSE OTHERS TO PANIC! 5. Once outside, move to a clear area up wind, if possible, at least 300 feet away from the affected building. Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrants, and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews. 6. DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING unless told to do so by a police officer. ACCIDENTS AND THEFTS All accidents, thefts, or offenses that occur on campus must be reported to the Dean of Administration Keep records of all serial numbers of valuables. Mark your auto accessories so that they can be identified. Write your name in all textbooks. Do not leave valuables in your car. Always keep cars locked.
ACCIDENTS AND THEFTS – ON-CAMPUS Witnesses or victims of an accident or theft should use their good judgment about the need to call for emergency personnel (911) but must contact the Dean of Administration at 738-6409/6408 to report the incident. The college has no responsibility for personal vehicles, but will assist in the exchange of driver information and the investigation of accident. EMERGENCY ACCIDENT/ILLNESS PROCEDURES
In the event that a student is injured on campus, a Personal Injury Report for Student is filled out by the staff member present and forwarded to the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs (or designee) and to the Dean of Administration for the College. The Dean of Academic and Student Affairs keeps a copy.
If a visitor is injured, the Personal Injury Report is filled out by the staff member present and forwarded to the Dean of administration and kept on file in that office. A copy is located in Appendix A of this Emergency Action Plan. Blank forms are kept in the Dean of Administration's office.
These accidents MUST be reported to the Dean of Administration. The Dean of Administration will then complete a NCCC Accident Report Form and forward it to the Human Resources Office. Blank forms are kept in the Dean of Administration's office. OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS OR INJURY First Report of Employee Injury or Illness form is filled out for any employee who is injured or becomes ill due to occupational duties while working at Northwestern Connecticut Community College.The employee's immediate supervisor completes this form and copies are forwarded to the Director of Human Resources within 24 hours of the accident or illness. Blank copies of the First Report of Employee Injury or Illness may be obtained in the Human Resources office, and a supply should be kept on file in each office. The Director of Human Resources will use the information provided in this form to complete the First Report of Employee Injury or Illness Form when applicable. It includes pertinent background information, the nature of the injury, and a record of the supervisor's knowledge of the injury. After completion, the form is filed with the State Board of Claims and a copy filed in the Human Resources office.
MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY 1. Any maintenance emergency should be reported immediately to Building Superintendent by calling 309-1915 (cell), 738-6346, or 738-6347. These emergencies may include:
2. If you receive no answer at the above numbers during business hours and a maintenance emergency exists, call the campus operator at 738-6300. The campus operator will then contact the Dean of Administration or his designee to inform them of the maintenance problem. If a problem occurs after hours, call the Maintenance cell phone 309-1915, or Security at 309-1914. WARNING! NEVER TOUCH LIVE WIRES.
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS In the event of a public health crisis, whether local, regional, or national, the College may be called upon to close in the interest of public health. As a result, all employees will be sent home until such time that the Department of Public Health determines that the threat has passed and state officials reopen schools. Instructors should have a contingency plan as classes will also be on hiatus until the College reopens. All faculty and staff should be aware that if the College is closed, it may be for as few as a day or two or for as long as several weeks. In the case of a public health crisis, stay tuned to local radio and television stations for updates. They will also indicate when the College has reopened and classes will resume. Northwestern Connecticut Community College is part of all Public Health Emergency Response Plans as an institution of higher learning. The emergence of new influenza viruses, specifically SARS and H5N1 ("avian flu") in the last decade has prompted federal and state public health departments to develop these plans to reduce the number of individuals who may become ill during an outbreak of a strong influenza strain or other public health crisis. There are currently no people in the U.S. affected by H5N1, nor have there been any reported cases of the virus in domestic or migratory birds in the U.S. However, this situation could change in the near future or it is possible that we may never see a case here in the U.S. As a result of this uncertainty, it is important to be aware of/and prepared for the outcome of an influenza outbreak in Connecticut while remaining calm and optimistic. Keep in mind that as much as 40% of the workforce could be out of work for any given two week time period during public health crisis, and voluntary (in-home) quarantines for those that are ill may be stressed by local, state, or federal officials even if the College has not yet closed. While it is important to abide by this request if it is given, this means that it may be difficult to obtain basic necessities during this time frame. Follow standard preparedness procedures for ensuring enough food and water for an extended period. It is recommended that all NCCC employees visit the Connecticut Department of Public Health's website: http://www.dph.state.ct.us/ WHILE THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF HUMAN-TO-HUMAN SPREAD OF H5N1, there are some steps that all students, faculty, and staff can take to remain personally healthy and to help to keep others healthy as well. Prevention of disease is the most important:
If you do become sick (with ANY sort of illness):
BOMB THREATS IN THE EVENT OF A THREATENING CALL: 1. DO NOT hang up on telephone threats; try to keep the caller talking. Where is the bomb located? When is the bomb set to go off? What does the voice sound like (man, woman, child, accents, etc.)? What is the explosive? What does it look like? Were there any identifiable sounds in the background? What building is it in? Did you place the bomb? Why was it set? Where are you calling from? Exact wording of the threat?
3. NOTIFY SOMEONE NEARBY THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO A THREATENING INDIVIDUAL. HAVE THE PERSON CALL THE CAMPUS OPERATOR AT 738-6300 AND THE DEAN OF ADMINISTRATION AT 738-6409/6408. 4. If the caller hangs up, immediately call the Information Center at 738-6300 and relay pertinent information. After 4:30, call security at 309-1914, or call the local police. 5. Stay on campus! You will be the first person the police will want to interview. 6. The information center or security guard will then notify the President of the situation and a determination will be made concerning the action to be taken. The command center will be the President’s conference room. If the threat is in the Administration Building, the command center will be the Founder’s Hall conference Room. 7. In the event that you must evacuate the building, follow the procedures outlined below:
SUICIDAL CRISIS INTERVENTION Procedures for Intervention of Suicidal Tendencies: NOTE: The guidelines listed below are suggestions only. Employees are expected to exercise their best judgment in dealing with crisis situations in order to insure their personal safety and the safety of others. Once an administrator, instructor, or staff member is aware of an individual with suicidal tendencies, the employee should determine the level of the crisis and respond using the following as guidelines: 1. EMERGENCY LEVEL: This level describes an individual who is making an attempt on his or her life now, or is threatening an immediate attempt. In this situation you should:
2. Primary Level: This level describes an individual who is seriously depressed and who has given thought to end his or her life. He or she might have a plan and means for carrying out that plan. He or she might also have experienced traumatic situations and behavioral changes. This individual, while not threatening his or her life now, may do so later. In this situation you should:
HOMICIDAL CRISIS INTERVENTION Procedures for Intervention of Homicidal Tendencies: NOTE: The guidelines listed below are suggestions only. Employees are expected to exercise their best judgment in dealing with crisis situations in order to insure their personal safety and the safety of others. Once an administrator, instructor, or staff member is aware of an individual with homicidal tendencies, the employee should assess the level of the crisis and respond using the following as guidelines: 1. EMERGENCY LEVEL: This level describes an individual who is making an attempt on someone else’s life now, or is threatening an immediate attempt. In this situation you should:
2. Primary Level: This level describes an individual who poses imminent danger and who has expressed intent to harm another individual. He or she might have a plan and means for carrying out that plan. He or she might also have experienced traumatic situations and behavioral changes. This individual, while not threatening another individual’s life now, may do so later. In this situation you should:
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILL OR GAS LEAKS Any spillage of a hazardous chemical or gas leak should be reported immediately to Building Superintendent by calling 738-6346, or 738-6347. 1. If an emergency exists outside away from a building, CALL 911 and evacuate the area. 2. If an emergency exists in or near a building, CALL 911. Walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same.
3. ASSIST THE DISABLED in exiting the building! Use the stairs: DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS during a chemical spill or gas leak. 4. DO NOT PANIC OR CAUSE OTHERS TO PANIC! 5. Once outside, move to a clear area up wind, if possible, at least 300 feet away from the affected building(s). Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews. 6. When reporting, be specific about the nature of the involved material and exact location.
7. DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING unless told to do so by a police officer. After any evacuation, report to the assembly points listed in Section I.
TOXIC FUME RELEASE (OFF CAMPUS) 1. During an accidental industrial release of toxic fumes from chemicals or other emergencies where the air quality threatens persons on one of the campuses, Shelter-in-Place is recommended.
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES & VIOLENT CRIMES Life Threatening Emergencies DON’T WAIT - CALL 911!! 1. Life Threatening Emergencies Include:
2. GET HELP!
3. Render aid as appropriate. 4. If possible, send someone to meet Emergency Personnel to direct them to the scene. General Medical Problems (Injuries/Illness) 1. General Medical Problems (Injuries/Illness) include conditions with no threat to life or limb. 2. Render aid as appropriate. 3. Direct the person to the nearest First Aid Kit. 4. If needed, accompany the person or send another person with them. 5. Ask if they need assistance to home, hospital or doctor. (Note: you should never transport a person to the hospital yourself, always call an ambulance. First Aid 1. First Aid Kits are located in the following designated offices and in all science laboratories:
CAMPUS SECURITY SERVICES A security officer is on duty at the main campus from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The officer is here for your safety and protection and to maintain a safe and inviting physical environment. Duties of the security officer change according to campus needs and include:
Other Campus Security Telephone Numbers: TEMPORARY CLOSINGS The President will confer with the Dean of Administration and other appropriate personnel on all closings due to emergencies or inclement weather. For inquiries about possible closures or cancellations:
Once authorized, the Dean of Administration is responsible for contacting all area radio and TV stations. The following radio and TV stations will be called first. Employees and students are encouraged to call the snowline (860) 738-6464 or listen to the following radio and TV stations: RADIO STATIONS TV STATIONS
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| K. APPENDIX A: STUDENT INCIDENT REPORT FORM | |||||