Emergency Preparedness and Response

Concordia's crisis management plan was developed in consultation with Clay County Emergency Management and involves extensive coordination with city and county emergency services. Accurate communication during an emergency is crucial thus the Office of Communications and Marketing will be the source of official college information in a crisis situation. College employees should refrain from public comment and instead direct all media inquiries to Amy Kelly (3642 or akelly@cord.edu) or Roger Degerman (3645 or degerman@cord.edu).

Emergency Notification

Depending on the origin and nature of a campus wide emergency, the campus community will be alerted by one or more of the following methods:

• e2Campus: This is a system that sends emergency messages to designated cell phones and e-mail addresses. Those registering for the service will receive timely information during college emergencies. Normal fees from cell phone providers apply, but there is no charge from the college to use the service.
• E-mail: Any correspondence from emergency@cord.edu should be opened immediately. This address is reserved exclusively for emergency information.
• Web site: In the event of an ongoing campus emergency, regular updates will be provided on the following Web site: www.ConcordiaEmergency.com. This will help ensure access to online emergency information, even if the college server is not operational.

If you are not on campus and would be traveling to reach campus, weather-related updates, including any announcements about canceled classes or closing the campus, will be posted on our emergency site www.ConcordiaEmergency.com and also shared with local media.

If the threat is contained in a written message, do not throw it away. Keep the message and any envelopes and give to police. Limit handling of the message and envelope. Keep track of the following information:

1. To whom in particular, if anyone, was the message sent?
2. How was the message sent (campus mail, U.S. mail, email)?
3. Have previous threats been made?

If the threat is made by e-mail, do not delete the message - leave it open. Read the e-mail threat to determine if you are in immediate danger. Call Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/Public Safety (3123). Follow police and Security/Public Safety instructions.

If the threat is received by telephone, remain calm and try to get as much information as possible about the threat and the caller. Do not hang up the phone. Call Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/Public Safety (3123) from a different phone or have someone else make the emergency calls while you remain on the line with the person calling in the threat. Keep track of the following information:

1. Date and time of call
2. Time and location where the incident will occur (name of building, location in the building, location on campus grounds).
3. What type of bomb, biological agent or chemical will be used?
4. What is the reason for the threat?
5. Who is the target?
6. Who is responsible for the threat?
7. Who is the caller - sex, estimated age, emotional state (excited, calm, upset, etc.)?
8. Did the caller have a particular accent, voice pattern or unusual/distinct word usage?
9. Did you hear any background noises (music, traffic, trains, voices, etc.)?

Suspicious Items/Packages
Report any suspicious items/packages to Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/Public Safety (3123) from another location. Tell others to stay away from the item or package. Do not investigate or touch the item or package.

Chemical spills that do not pose an obvious threat

Attempt to confine the spill if you have been trained and it is safe to do so. If you have contact with the spilled material, remove contaminated clothing immediately and flush all areas of the body affected with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Get away from the spill area to fresh air.

Notify Security/Public Safety (3123) and report the following:

1. Building name
2. Floor and room number
3. Type of accident
4. Chemicals and quantities involved

Chemical spills that pose an obvious threat

Notify Emergency Dispatch (911), followed by Security/Public Safety (3123) and report the following:

1. Building name
2. Floor and room number
3. Type of accident
4. Chemicals and quantities involved

Evacuate the building immediately. (See evacuation procedures.)

Intruders, Assault, Weapons

After first making sure that you are safe, call 911 or 3123 immediately. Do not attempt to detain the suspect(s). Never place yourself or others in danger to obtain any information.

Be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Exact location of the incident
2. Exact location of any victims
3. Number of suspect(s) involved
4. Description of suspect(s) - sex, race, height, weight, hair color, age, clothing
5. Direction of travel of suspect(s) and how they fled the scene - on foot or vehicle
6. Vehicle description - car, pick-up, SUV, make, model, color, license plate number
7. Your name, current location and telephone number

Acts of Violence - Sexual Assault

After first making sure that you are safe, call 911 or 3123 immediately. Be prepared to provide information as noted in the previous section on All Acts of Violence. In addition:

1. Get medical treatment promptly.
2. Do not shower or change clothing - important physical evidence can be gathered after an assault.
3. Seek support and counseling from the Concordia Counseling Center (3514) and/or the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo-Moorhead (293-7273).

Hostile Intruder

Inside Building

When an intruder in a campus building is posing a threat of or causing deadly harm, seek cover immediately and call Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/ Public Safety (3123).

1. Do not pull the fire alarms to evacuate the building. People attempting to evacuate may be put in harm's way.
2. Look for all available exits if it becomes necessary to flee.
3. Go into a classroom, residence hall room or office and lock the door.
4. Stay low, away from windows, and barricade the doors if possible.
5. Students and college employees should not attempt to leave the building until told to do so by security or police personnel - unless it is clear that you are in more danger by staying in the building.

On Campus Grounds

When a hostile intruder is posing the threat of or causing deadly harm on the campus grounds, act as follows:

1. 1. Run away from the threat.
2. Do not run in a straight line. Use cars, buildings, trees and shrubs for cover.
3. If you get away from the immediate danger area, call Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/Public Safety (3123) and warn others not to go near the danger area.
4. If you decide it is too dangerous to run from the person(s) and you must hide, try to find a spot where you will remain out of sight.
5. If you are unable to run or hide and the person(s) has/have already caused serious injury or death to others, you may choose to play dead if other victims are around you.
6. If hiding or playing dead, do not give up your position or move until the police give the all-clear sign.

Do not attempt to detain the suspect(s). Never place yourself or others in danger to obtain any information.

Weapons

If you suspect a person is carrying a weapon on campus, alert Security/Public Safety immediately (3123). Report the following information:

Where is/are the person(s)

What is happening

Physical and clothing description

Type of weapon

Vehicle description and license plate number (if applicable)

Where last seen or direction of travel Do not attempt to detain the suspect(s). Never place yourself or others in danger to obtain any information.

Familiarize yourself with the locations of fire extinguishers and all exits in your building.

If you see or smell smoke or fire, do the following:

1. Call 911 and activate the building's fire alarms at a red pull station.
2. Always assume that an emergency exists if fire alarms are sounded.
3. Get out of the building. All rooms must be evacuated. Walk quickly to the nearest exit. Do not use elevators.
4. Test doors to see if they are hot. If they are hot, the fire may be blocking your exit. Seal the crack under the door with clothing or towels, preferably wet.
5. Open a door or window in the room and hang clothing, a sheet or a towel outside to attract the attention of emergency rescue personnel.
6. If possible, wait for a rescuer to come get you.
7. Shout at regular intervals to alert emergency crews of your location.
8. If smoke is present - stay close to the floor and hold your breath if possible.
9. Once outside, stay at least 500 feet from the building and out of the way of emergency personnel.

In the case of river flooding, the college typically will have a few days notice of the potential problem. Directions will be given at that time by residence hall staff or department heads to all students and employees whose rooms or offices are located on the lower levels.

In the event of flooding from abundant rainfall, do the following:

1. Remove belongings from the floor if possible.
2. While keeping valuables on campus is not advised, small items of value can be taken with you if water is encroaching on your area.
3. Move to a higher floor.
4. If sidewalks and streets are overcome with water, do not evacuate the building. Just move to a higher floor.

If you detect or are aware of a gas leak, follow these instructions:

1. Stop what you are doing and evacuate the area.
2. Do not switch on any electrical equipment, as that could cause an explosion.
3. Call 911 and Security/Public Safety (3123) immediately.

If you become aware of a person who is seriously injured, call 911 and Security/ Public Safety (3123). Be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Exact location of the injured person.
2. Condition of the injured person - level of consciousness, breathing, blood loss, legal or illegal drug and alcohol use, apparent nature of injuries.
3. Name, address, phone number(s) of injured person if possible.
4. Your name, address, phone number.

The College does not assume responsibility for the loss or theft of your personal belongings. You are advised to take caution with your valuables. Never leave valuable items unattended on the top of your desk.

Personal property found on college premises should be returned to the owner, if known, or turned in to Lost and Fount at the Information Desk. Contact the Public Safety Office if you have any questions regarding lost or stolen property.

If your job requires you to be routinely exposed to products, compounds or work processes which contain or generate hazardous substances or harmful physical agents, you are entitled to receive training and specific information to enable you to perform your work safely. Your supervisor will contact you concerning any necessary training. In addition, all employees have the opportunity to view the videotape, “Health Hazards in the Workplace”. You will be informed of scheduled showings or you can contact the Office of Human Resources to arrange to see the tape.

Complete policy/proceedure.

The Security/Public Safety Office provides escorts within a three block perimeter of campus. Call 218.299.3123.

If you believe you are witnessing a crime or a person seems suspicious, trust your instincts and call Emergency Dispatch (911) and Security/Public Safety (3123). Report everything you observed about the crime or suspicious person including:

1. Where the suspected crime or person is located
2. What the person(s) is/are doing
3. Description of the person(s) involved
4. If you saw any weapons
5. Vehicle description
6. Direction of travel

Do not attempt to detain the suspect(s). Never place yourself or others in danger to obtain any information.

If the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for the Fargo-Moorhead area, the citywide Civil Defense Sirens will sound (these sirens are tested the first Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.). If the sirens sound during the non-testing time:

1. Go to the lowest level of the building you are in and stay away from windows and any exterior doors.
2. Monitor emergency weather statements and developments on a battery-operated radio, since violent storms can often lead to power outages.
3. If power remains available, monitor weather radar from computers by going to any gateway off the college's homepage and clicking on the weather bug.

Report any injury to your supervisor as soon as possible, no matter how minor it may appear. Failure to report the work injury right away may result in loss of workers' compensation benefits.

Report of injury