Emergency Notifications (Procedure 8.0400)

Purpose

This procedure describes the process to be followed and the conditions under which an Emergency Notification will be issued.  Such notices are to alert all members of the College community when there is confirmation of an immediate threat.

Definitions

Emergency Notification: In the event of a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus that involves an immediate threat to the health and safety of the students, faculty, and staff an Emergency Notification will be issued. The types of incidents can be criminal, weather related, or pose other types of emergencies such as:

An armed intruder
An outbreak of a serious illness
Approaching tornado, hurricane, or other extreme weather condition
Fire
Gas Leak
Explosion
Chemical or hazardous waste spill

Procedure

If a crime, emergency or threatening situation is reported to college officials, the Executive Director of the Office of Safety and Security, or designee, will confirm the situation and determine which segment of the College's population to notify.   The Executive Director or designee may also consult with members of the Emergency Response Team and local law enforcement to determine on a case-by-case basis to develop the content of the notification.  Any applicable notification will be delivered to the campus community via an Emergency Notification.

Emergency Notification:  Considerations, Timing, Content, Distribution

1. An Emergency Notification will be issued when it is determined that a significant emergency or dangerous situation on campus poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees, unless notification will compromise efforts to assist the victim, or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
   
   
2. An Emergency Notification will be initiated as soon as reasonably necessary and without delay.
   
   
3. The Emergency Notification to the campus community will contain information about the nature of the emergency and what changes one needs to make immediately as a result; evacuation procedures if necessary; assurance that an all-clear will be sent when the emergency is over.
   
   
4. The Emergency Notification will be distributed through the College's Emergency Notification System by the Office of Safety and Security and Marketing and Communications.
   
   
   1. The College disseminates Emergency Notices to the appropriate segments of the campus community via IP devices (phones, speakers, monitors) and to the larger community via its mass notification system.  This includes members of the campus activities, campus security, or local law enforcement via methods that may include but are not limited to:
      
      Email
      Seminole State Alert
      Social Media
      Text messaging
      Automated phone call
      Push notification
      Digital Signage
      College's Emergency Hotline at 407.708.2290
      
      
   2. Seminole State College will test its Emergency Notification System unannounced at least once each term (fall, spring, and summer).
      
      
   3. In connection with these tests, the college will publicize the emergency response and evacuation procedures to the campus community on an annual basis.
      
      
   4. The evacuation procedure can be found on the college's website.

Rulemaking Authority and Law(s) Implemented:  Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Act (20 USC § 1092(f)); Florida Statues 1001.64, 1004.65, and College Policies 8.010, 8.030

History - Adopted 8/2004