relates vital information on what to do in the event of several different types of emergencies. Please be sure to read the document. You are encouraged to download the Plan to your computer or other digital device for quick reference.
The purpose of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is to establish policies and procedures, as well as, an organizational hierarchy for response to emergencies occurring on campus. This campus-level ERP guides the response of Louisiana College personnel and resources during an emergency. It is the official ERP for Louisiana College and supersedes previous plans and precludes employee actions not in accord with the intent of this plan, or the emergency organization created by it.
The mission of Louisiana College is to prepare graduates and transform lives in a culture that is relational, rigorous and relevant. The College is a learning and living environment comprised of faculty, staff and students, brought together for study and work in a setting designed to fulfill our mission. Part of accomplishing that mission requires a healthy and safe campus. However, crisis situations can and do occur. The mission of this plan defines and describes actions to be taken by the campus community to effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from various crises, emergency or disasters that may affect lives, property and the institution.
This plan is enacted under the authority of the President of Louisiana College. The day-to-day management and implementation of this plan is delegated to the Director of Safety and Security. When deemed appropriate the President of the College, based on the unfolding events of a crisis or potential crisis, will activate the Emergency Operations Center.
Once the EOC is activated by the President of the College or by his designee, the Chairperson will notify and assemble the assigned personnel. Based on the nature of the crisis, the Chairperson can establish the EOC in a fixed location or means of communication, such as emails or conference calls, which are best suited for response to the emergency.
This list is not exhaustive. Any potential threat to individual safety or to College assets can quickly become a serious emergency if not reported, evaluated, and managed without delay. Each member of the campus community has a responsibility for maintaining awareness of their surroundings and to stay alert to the development of potential threats. Sound judgment must be used at all times to avoid the unnecessary disruption of College activities.
The following general objectives have been developed in order to help meet the goals of this plan. The objectives listed below may not apply to every possible situation, but are included here to provide a framework of global priorities to be considered at any incident.
There are three sections of Plan Responses: Systems and Procedures for Dealing with Emergencies, Non-Weather Emergencies, and Weather Emergencies. These are detailed below.
Louisiana College has implemented a campus-wide emergency notification system (Wildcat Alert) which can be activated to alert the campus community in the event of a serious emergency. Louisiana College requires all faculty, staff and coaches to be registered Wildcat Alert subscribers. Faculty, staff and student cell phones are to be operational at all times(vibrate mode) in the event of a campus wide emergency.
There are a number of emergency situations in which the immediate, mass evacuation of buildings and/or classrooms is not advisable (e.g. hostile intruder, hazardous material release, terrorist attack). In these cases, personnel will be advised to initiate an emergency lockdown.
In case of Lockdown, all official communication will flow through the Wildcat Alert system and supersedes any further alarms.
If a fire alarm does go off during an Emergency Lockdown, do not evacuate unless you smell smoke or see fire in your area.
Activate communication devices and await further emergency communications.
As soon as practical, move into the stairway and await emergency personnel.
"Shelter-In-Place"simply means seeking immediate, temporary shelter inside a building or area. This course of action may need to be taken during an outdoor accidental release of toxic chemicals, weather emergencies, or other emergencies where normally available escape routes may not be safely secured. This action may be necessary for either individuals or large groups depending on the situation.
Definition: An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, typically through the use of firearms.
Any person receiving a bomb threat will immediately notify campus security at 318.308.6505 or 7233 from a campus phone or 911 and report as many details of the situationas possible.
DO NOT HANG UP THE PHONE!Keep the caller on the line as long as possible.
Use another telephone line to have someone contact Campus Security or make the call yourself immediately after call ends.
Record - write down as much information as possible.
Try to identify voice characteristics (accent, slur, pronunciation, etc.
Try to get specifics on the bomb, i.e. locations, detonation time, etc.
Campus Security will dispatch unit/units to respond to the location(s) threatened. Follow instructions of the responding Campus Security Officers.
If you become trapped in an elevator, use the emergency telephone or activate the elevator emergency alarm within the elevator car. If you hear an elevator alarm, please notify Campus Security at 318.308.6505 or call 911.
Keep the occupants calm and wait for help to arrive. Do not attempt to exit the car unlessdirected to and assisted by emergency personnel.
Elevators have mechanical safety brakes that will operate in all situations, even during powerfailures.
DO NOT attempt to open the elevator car door or in any way "shake" or "jar" the elevator car tomove.
Description of fire conditions if known.
The individual making the call should continue to stay on the phone with the dispatcher. Answer as many questions as possible regarding the condition of the injured person so that information can be forwarded to the responding emergency personnel.
Is immediate action needed in order to save a life?Will I place myself in harm or jeopardy?
First aid is just that. Do not jeopardize your health or the health of the patient. Wait forprofessional help if you are not able to provide proper first aid safely.
Emergency treatment for medical illness or injury may be obtained by calling Campus Security at 308.6505or 7233from a campus phone; the appropriate response will be initiated.
The Louisiana College campus utility system is complex and the possibility exists for a utility failure of some nature and magnitude.
If you discover a water leak, gas leak, or other major utility failure which presents some immediate threat to personnel, call Campus Security at 318.308.6505 or 7233 from a campus phone.Do notattempt to correct the problem on your own. Campus Security will notify the necessary response personnel. Please do not call Campus Security unless you have an emergency and need assistance.
Electrical / Light Failure - It is recommended that you consider keeping a flashlight if emergency lighting does not provide sufficient illumination for your area. Many mobile phones have this capability.
Plumbing Failure / Water Leak - Cease using all electrical equipment. Notify the Campus Security at 318.308.6505 and advise them of the situation.
Natural Gas Leak - Cease all operations. Call the Campus Security at 318.308.6505 or 7233 from a campus phone or 911 if you can do so safely while exiting the area immediately. Do not turn on/off any lights or the fire alarm. Do not attempt to correct the problem yourself. Do not concern yourself with appliances or equipment. Evacuate to a safe outdoor area.
Immediately notify affected personnel and evacuate the spill area. Pull the building firealarm if evacuation is required.
The key person on site should evacuate the affected area at once, and seal it off to prevent further contamination of others until the arrival of emergency personnel.
Anyone who is contaminated by the spill should avoid contact with others as much as possible. Remain in the vicinity and give his/her name to the emergency personnel. Washing off contamination and any required first aid should be started immediately.
No effort to contain or clean up spills and/or releases should be made unless you have been trained.
If an evacuation alarm sounds, follow established building evacuation procedures.
Ensure that personal communication devices are activated and prepare to receive any Wildcat Alert messages that may be sent.
Indirect threats, such as "I know where you live"
Keep contact information up-to-date and monitor (your cell phone, voice mail, internet address, text address) for emergency messages sent to those locations.
When appropriate, the Wildcat Alert will be utilized.
Monitor local television and radio stations for announcements and updates.
Continue to check the Louisiana College website throughout the event and for after-incident actions.
Decisions to cancel classes, close the campus or evacuate the campus will be made by the EOC. These decisions will be made based on the complexity and severity of the event and will be made in as safe and timely a manner as possible.
Hurricane:A storm in which sustained winds of 74 mph exist.
In the absence of specific guidance or direction, use common sense and make the most sensible decision.
Remind individuals that they must tend to their personal and family preparation in addition to what is expected at the College.
Each person monitors the announcements, and prepares to take actions.
Department Supervisors obtain personal plans from direct reports and verify up-to-date telephone numbers for evacuation and/or emergency contacts.
Each Department and individual secures their computers, their data files, their office records, special supplies and equipment, physical facilities for which they are responsible.
Each person makes personal preparations in addition to securing the college.
The following timeline is meant to serve as a guide, but the timing of activities should be adjusted as appropriate, depending on the forecast for the storm and the tasks to be performed.
Emergency Operations Center routinely monitors weather related media sources including but not limited to the National Weather Service, NOAA, FEMA, and SCEMD for severe weather reports, including hurricanes and tropical storms.
A tornado is defined as a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Tornados may occur with little or no advance warning.
Stay informed through local media sources on days when severe weather is expected.
A Tornado Watchindicates that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form.
A Tornado Warningindicates that a tornado has been sighted in the area.
Preplan a location to be used for refuge - this action is a key to your safety!
The Campus Security office is manned 24/7. On-duty personnel monitor local broadcast media and emergency communications networks for severe weather alerts. Upon receipt of a severe weather notification, Campus Security will activate the Wildcat Alert system.
Note:Storms can travel quickly. Alert messages may not arrive before an immediate threat. When in doubt, take action!
When a Severe Weather or Tornado Warning is issued for the immediate area, go immediately to a safe area of refuge!
Unlike other emergencies, the procedures to deal with an earthquake are much less specific. Since earthquake magnitude cannot be predetermined, everyone must initiate emergency precautions within a few seconds after the initial tremor is felt, assuming the worst possible case.
The best earthquake instruction is to take precaution before the earthquake (e.g., secure or remove objects above you that could fall during an earthquake).
In the event that the National Weather Service or local news station Doppler radars report severe weather conditions that include dangerous lightning within close proximity to the Louisiana College campus, Campus Security will activate the Wildcat Alert warning message.
Note:Storms can travel quickly. Alert messages may not arrive before the immediate threat. When indoubt, take action!
Louisiana College coordinates responses to severe winter weather incidents such as snow and ice storms, because these incidents pose genuine risks to the health, safety and well-being of the school's community. Depending on incident complexity and severity, every reasonable effort will be made for decisions to cancel classes, close the campus or evacuate the campus by the Emergency Operations Center in a timely and safe manner.
Winter Storm Watchis issued when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter weather within 48 hours. It does not mean that significant and hazardous winter weather will occur…it only means it is possible.
Winter Storm Warningis issued when a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.
Ice Storm Warningis issued when ¼ inch or more of ice accumulation is likely.
Emergency Operations Center remains operational until campus activity has been restored to a sufficient level that it is no longer necessary. The Chairperson will set a date and time to conduct an after action review and policy adjustment if needed.