Tornadoes, Terrorists and other Threats
Responding to Emergencies at NOVA
William Flagler, Jr., MA, MPA
Director, Emergency Management and Planning wflagler@nvcc.edu
www.nvcc.edu/emergency
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Today’s Agenda
Emergency Management and Planning
Faculty Responsibilities
o Emergency Procedures
Hazards
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Emergency Notification Methods
Q&A
Faculty/Staff Responsibilities
 Faculty are the FRONT LINE!!
 Follow Procedures
 Announce evacuation plans
 Ensure students evacuate
 -To see all Faculty Responsibilities visit - http://www.nvcc.edu/emergency/plan.htm
 https://alert.nvcc.edu
Emergency Response Procedures
 Shelter in Place-Police Incident
o Immediately seek protection/shelter in place.
o Secure area by locking or barricading door using whatever means available.
o Stay behind solid objects away from door.
o Call 9-1-1.
o Minimize noise that may draw attention to your location: turn off lights, computers,
and radios and put cell phones on vibrate.
o Follow all directions of authorities; do not challenge law enforcement.
o When reporting an incident, indicate your location.
 Shelter in Place-Severe Weather
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Prepare to shelter in place if ordered.
Remain calm and alert.
Relocate to designated shelter areas; remain clear of glass windows or doors.
If you cannot reach the designated area, use an interior hallway on the lowest
floor possible.
o If you are outside and unable to get to a building for protection, move away from
the tornado’s path at a right angle. If there is no time to escape, lie flat in the
nearest depression (i.e., ditch or ravine).
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Evacuation
An evacuation is an organized withdrawal from a building or area to reach safe haven.
Prepare:
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Become familiar with posted evacuation routes.
Locate at least two exits from your work area or classroom
Practice good housekeeping, keep aisles and egress paths clear; do not block fire safety
equipment
 Know where the fire alarm pull stations are located
During Evacuation:
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If you discover a life threatening emergency
o Alert others in the building
o Activate the pull station for a fire
Contact Campus Police 703-764-5000 or Call 911
Evacuate the building
Do not use elevators
Move well away from the building when evacuating and assemble at designated assembly areas.
Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.
Try to stay with your fellow employees or class so all can be accounted for
Don’t put others in Danger Evacuate Immediately Upon
Hearing the Alarm or receiving an order to evacuate
Tornadoes
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Nature’s most Violent Storm
They may strike quickly, with little or no warning
Most likely to occur between 3-9 p.m.
Avg. speed 30-70 mph
Peak season March-May
Moves SW to NE
Tornado Terminology
o Tornado Watch Issued when weather conditions are favorable for the
development of severe thunderstorms that are capable of producing tornadoes.
o Tornado Warning A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
Take shelter immediately!
What to Do Before a Tornado
◦ Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest
information
◦ Look for approaching storms
◦ Look for the following danger signs:
o Dark, often greenish sky
o Large hail
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A large, dark, low-lying cloud
(particularly if rotating)
What to do during and After a Tornado?
◦ Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as the lowest building level
◦ Think closets & interior hallways - away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls
◦ Get under a sturdy table; use your arms to protect your head and neck
◦ After the Tornado
◦ Aide the Injured (Don’t try to move seriously-injured persons unless they are in immediate
danger of death or further injury)
◦ Be aware of new safety issues created by the disaster
◦ Watch for contaminated buildings, contaminated water, gas leaks, broken glass, damaged
electrical wiring, and slippery floors
Terrorism
Terrorism- is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of
the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom
 Terrorists often use threats
 To create fear among the public
 To convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism
 To get immediate publicity for their causes
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Acts of Terrorism
o threats of terrorism
o assassinations
o kidnappings
o bomb scares and bombings
o the use of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological weapons
High Risk Targets
o military and civilian government facilities
o international airports
o large cities
o high-profile landmarks
o colleges and universities
o large public gatherings
General Terrorism Safety Guidelines
o Be aware of your surroundings
o Move or leave if something does not seem right
o Pay attention to emergency exits
Take the Online Terrorism quiz
(http://www.vaemergency.com/train/spec_opps/emp_awareness.cfm)
Bomb Threat
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Notify Campus Police at 9-1-1.
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Do not use cellular phones or two-way radios.
Do NOT activate the fire alarm system to evacuate.
Evacuate the building, as directed.
Do not re-enter the building until cleared by authorized personnel.
Untrained persons should not try to rescue people who are inside a collapsed building.
Wait for emergency personnel.
Remove and take with you all of YOUR PERSONAL bags, packages, boxes, containers (in addition
to coats, purses, and keys
Fire
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Activate the nearest fire alarm and call 9-1-1 if possible. If there are no fire alarms, knock
on doors and yell “fire” as you exit the building.
Evacuate the building.
Do not use elevators!
Feel closed doors with the back of your hand. Do not open if doors are hot.
Move well away from the building when evacuating and assemble at designated assembly
areas.
Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.
 Emergency Notification Methods
In the event of an emergency, the College community will be notified through the Alert
Notification System, which comprises a number of alert components intended to enhance
communication with the campus community. These components include website alerts, email,
telephone alerts, computer pop ups, digital flat panels and NOVA alert (text messaging)
information is
Depending on the nature of the emergency, one or more of the following
actions may be taken in an effort to reach as many members of the campus
community as possible:
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Telephones(classroom & office), email, and/or computer pop ups may be used to
notify and update faculty, staff, students and others about a potentially threatening
situation
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Alerts may also appear on NOVA’s web site
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Text messages may be sent to cell phones. Please register your cell phone today at
https://alert.nvcc.edu
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Digital flat panels (TV monitors) placed in hallways and common areas may also be
used.
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Low power AM radio transmitter (1630AM) may be used to provide information to
those approaching or near a campus.
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Fire Alarms-Only used to signal an evacuation due to a fire
NOVA tests these systems to ensure they are operating properly and to make sure that the
NOVA community is aware of how these alerts look and sound.
Additional Resources
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Office of Emergency Management and Planning- NOVA, (http://www.nvcc.edu/emergency)
Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management, (www.vaemergency.com/)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) –(www.dhs.gov)
Have a plan: Sign up for NOVA ALERTS and familiarize yourself with each
building you use on campus.
Know escape routes: Locate at least two routes of escape from every building you use. Identify
potential hazards which might impede your ability to exit in the event of an emergency.
Keep informed: Frequently review
emergency evacuation plans, routes, and the college’s emergency preparedness WebPages to keep
abreast of the latest safety information.
Inform your instructor/supervisor: If you have a condition which might cause you to need assistance in
exiting a building during an emergency, tell your instructor or supervisor.
See it…Say it: Report any concerning or suspicious behavior you observe to
police or appropriate college officials.
Report any hazardous conditions you discover to the Campus Facilities or Campus Police.
Shelter in Place: If you hear the phones broadcast an alert or see messages on the displays remain
in place and await further instructions unless there is a readily apparent reason to leave the building (i.e.
a fire).
Workplace Violence or Active Shootings
• Call 911 and report the incident. Provide as much detail as possible about the situation and the
assailant/shooter.
• Secure the immediate area and lock the door if you can.
• Block the door using whatever is available (e.g. desks, file cabinets, books, other furniture, etc.)
• If the assailant/shooter enters your room and leaves, lock/barricade the door behind him or her.
• Position people out of sight and behind items that might offer additional protection (e.g. walls, desks,
file cabinets)
• Close the blinds; block the windows, and make sure cell phones are on vibrate so as not to make
unnecessary noise.
• If you can, place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
• Do not attempt to rescue people or un-secure the area if it poses a risk to the individuals inside. If you
are in an unsecured area, find a safe area and seek protection.
• Stay calm and reassure others that you and the police are working to protect them. Cooperate with
law enforcement personnel and make sure that everyone follows their orders.
When you hear the Fire Alarm...
• Elevators cannot be used during a fire alarm!
•Everyone should calmly collect their coats and books and exit the classroom, lecture hall, or
laboratory. Turn off the gas supplies in laboratories.
• Leave the room/lab and go to nearest building exit. Know the location of alternate exits.
• Go to the Emergency Assembly Point identified by your instructor.
Emergencies (Police, Fire, Rescue): 911 Police 703.764.5000
Some things you should do
Contact campus police if you feel unsafe
You are encouraged to report promptly to campus police immediately any instance or circumstance
when you believe you are not safe or that something seems improper:
703.764.5000
In case of an immediate emergency, you should first call 9-911 from a campus phone, and then call
campus police. Please be specific in giving the location of the emergency (the 911 operator cannot
determine the location when a campus phone is used).
Wear your college ID badge
In an emergency, it can be critical for police or fire personnel to be able to identify college employees.
Wearing your ID badge solves that problem. It also tells students and visitors that you work for the
college and that you can give directions when needed.