Virginia Department of State Police
9-1-800-542-8716

Virginia Department of Emergency Management - Emergency Operations Center
804-674-2400

Central Dispatch (Local Police)
9-676-6277

Evacuation Plan: 

This Evacuation Plan shall be revised/updated annually as appropriate. Further, the Administrative Services Committee will have it reviewed annually with all employees.

Each instructor, for both day and evening classes, shall review the evacuation plan at the first meeting of every class each new semester or term class.

The internal FIRE ALARM SYSTEM will be used to sound evacuation alarms. Procedures are identical for fire, bomb threat, or other emergencies requiring immediate and complete evacuation of buildings.

Do not try to guess whether the alarm has been accidentally set off or whether it is a "false" alarm, a minor disturbance, or a "crackpot" telephone call. Each time the building alarm sounds, react immediately to evacuate the building according to the following plan:

1. When alarm sounds, everyone should immediately proceed from buildings by nearest EXIT. Use STAIRS! Do not use elevator.

2. Instructors should check their respective classrooms before leaving buildings to assure that everyone is out.
   
   Instructors shall have primary responsibility to see that handicapped students in their classes are given appropriate assistance. Lights should be left on in the classroom, and classroom doors closed as they exit. Remember Lights on! Doors Closed!
    

3. Building wardens, designated by the Vice President of Administration, will immediately proceed to their respective assigned areas to assure that the areas are evacuated.  Building wardens shall have primary responsibilities to see that handicapped persons are given appropriate assistance.
    

4. Students, faculty, and staff (other than administrators, Buildings and Grounds staff, and building wardens) should proceed to the areas as outlined below and as indicated on the evacuation charts posted at various points within the buildings. Sidewalks and driveways should remain clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.

   1. Administration Building - the lawn in front of the building.

   2. Instruction/Student Center Building - by nearest exit either Parking Lot #2 or the courtyard to the west of the building.

   3. Learning Resources Center/Business Technologies Building - by the nearest exit to Parking Lot #5, the courtyard in front of the building, or Parking Lot #4.

   4. Mechanical Technologies Building - Parking Lot #2.

   5. Nursing Education Building - Parking Lot #4.

   6. Occupational/Technical Education Center - Parking Lot #2.

5. Administrators, Buildings and Grounds staff, and building/ floor wardens should gather in the parking lot in front of the Administration Building to assure that buildings are all clear and to receive further instructions.
   
    

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Accident or Sickness:

First Aid kits are located in the several laboratories and shops. Faculty and Staff personnel are expected to become familiar with locations of such kits near their offices, shops, laboratories and classrooms, and to make them available in case of minor injuries.

The following procedures apply in all cases of serious accident or sickness:

1. Notify Campus Police immediately - 9-614-8282.  The Campus Police Office—ISC 212, Instructional/Student Center building, is designated as official emergency first aid station. All serious accidents and/or illnesses should be reported to the Campus Police Office. If the Campus Police cannot be reached, then report to the Vice President of Administration or the Coordinator of Evening Services (The Nursing Department should not be used for this purpose.)

2. Notify the Vice Presidents’ offices - 2426, 2427, or 2428. During the evening hours contact the Evening Services Office - 2414 or 2401. From a cell phone dial 276-739-2414.

3. Faculty and Staff who have a valid certificate in Standard First Aid, CPR, or First Responder may administer aid as required. No medicine of any type is to be administered unless the individual is conscious and has his/her required medication on his/her person.

4. If the illness or injury appears to be serious enough for Emergency Medical help - dial 9-911 from an office phone or simply 911 from a cell or pay phone.

5. An injured or seriously ill person should not be left unattended. Where serious injuries are suspected, the individual should not be moved unless absolutely
   necessary.

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Aircraft Disaster:

The VHCC campus is in the takeoff and landing path of Virginia Highlands Airport. If an aircraft should crash on campus, the following procedures should be followed.

1. Dial emergency 9-911 from office phone (or simply 911 from a cell phone or pay phone).
2. Immediately notify Campus Police 9-614-8282.
3. Notify switchboard operator (0).
4. Switchboard operator will notify the Maintenance personnel by two-way radio.
5. Switchboard operator will notify the Vice Presidents’ offices and President’s office.

When the crash involves a building(s) or is in close proximity to a building, the VHCC building evacuation plan will be initiated. All occupants of the evacuated building(s) should be assembled in an area as far from the crash scene as possible and should be up-hill and up-wind from the crash. First Aid should be given to those in need as soon as possible. When the crash is on campus, but away from all buildings, all occupants should remain in the buildings. Anyone outside should immediately go inside until further instructions are given.

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Bomb Threat:

Bomb and other threats may originate in writing, through e-mail, fax, in person, over the phone or relayed by a second source.

1. If you take the call, be calm, be courteous and listen closely to what the caller is saying. Do not interrupt the caller. Try to find out where the bomb is located and what time it is supposed to detonate. DO NOT HANG UP THE TELEPHONE. Keep the line open so that the call can be traced.

2. Immediately notify the Campus Police - 9-614-8282.

3. Notify the switchboard operator (0).

4. Switchboard operator will notify the Vice Presidents’ offices and the President’s office.

5. Switchboard operator will notify maintenance personnel - (2410, 2510). Cell 276-614-8383

6. Campus Police or Buildings & Grounds Supervisor, after discussion with the President and Vice Presidents’ offices, will go immediately to pull the fire alarm in the building where the bomb is supposed to be and that building will be evacuated according to the evacuation plan. If the threat does not designate a building, ALL buildings will be evacuated according to the evacuation plan.

7. Switchboard operator, when told to do so, will call Emergency 911.

DO NOT USE TWO-WAY RADIOS! USE CELL PHONES IF POSSIBLE!
DO NOT RE-ENTER BUILDINGS UNTIL AUTHORIZED TO DO SO!
DO NOT SEARCH FOR EXPLOSIVES!
 

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Disruptive Student:

In the event of a classroom emergency involving disruptive student(s) and requiring outside intervention, the instructor should first notify the supervisor, or should that person be unavailable, the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services (2428) or another administrator. During the evenings, the instructor should notify the Evening Coordinator whose office is located in Room 207 in the ISC building. The supervisor or other administrator should immediately come to the assistance of the instructor to attempt to resolve the difficulties or make a judgment about further action. The supervisor should also notify the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services (2428) who is responsible for maintaining student discipline. The Academic Counselor (2438) may also be asked to investigate the incident. Normally, most incidents can be resolved informally without the intervention of third parties. However, the safety and security of the students and the employees of the institution are always the first priority. Therefore, should the instructor or the supervisor determine that the circumstances or disruption might place one’s personal security/safety or that of other parties in jeopardy then the instructor or the supervisor immediately should notify the campus police 9-614-8282 (or the Vice President of Administration (2426, 2427) or the person acting in that capacity should the campus police be unavailable).

 

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Fire:

Fire alarm boxes and fire extinguishers are installed in all buildings. All faculty and staff are expected to become familiar with the location of these items in the vicinity of their offices, class rooms, laboratories and shops.

In case of a localized fire (fire in a trash can, laboratory area, etc), faculty and staff personnel will:

1. Use fire extinguishers to attempt to extinguish the fire

2. Immediately notify Campus Police - 9-614-8282.

3. Notify the switchboard operator (0).

4. Switchboard operator will notify maintenance personnel by two-way radio or phone.

5. Switchboard operator will notify the Vice Presidents’ offices and the President’s office.

In case of a more widespread fire (Fire Department needed), the following procedures should be followed:

1. Sound fire alarm system.

2. Evacuate building according to the evacuation plan.

3. Dial 9-911 from office phone, or simply 911 from a cell phone or pay phone.

4. Immediately notify Campus Police - 9-614-8282.

5. Notify the switchboard operator (0).

6. Switchboard operator will notify maintenance personnel by two-way radio or phone.

7. Switchboard operator will notify the Vice Presidents’ offices and the President’s office.

REMEMBER: CLOSE DOORS, LIGHTS ON, REMAIN WITH YOUR CLASS OR GROUP, STAY AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.

 

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Tornado/Severe Weather

We have severe weather alert radios located at the switchboard in the Administration Building and in the Evening Services Office in the ISC Building. There is also a speaker system in place that can be activated by Faculty and Staff in the event of an emergency When an alert is initiated, the following actions will begin immediately:

Day Time Hours:

1. Switchboard operator will immediately notify:
   
   Campus Police - 9-614-8282
   Buildings & Grounds - Two-way radio, 2410, 2510
   Cell 276-614-8383
   Vice Presidents’ Offices - 2426, 2427, 2428
   President’s Office - 2420, 2421
    

2. The President and Vice Presidents or their designees will make the final decision on initiating the movement of Faculty, Staff and students to the designated areas in each building.
    

3. Offices that should be contacted to assist in the movement of occupants to designated areas are:
   
   OTC Building first floor hallway - Printing Services personnel—ext. - 2450
   NEB Building - Nursing Division Office personnel - ext.- 2439
   ISC Building east hallway - Admission Office personnel - ext.- 2460, 2461, 2490
   ISC Building west hallway - Financial Aid personnel - ext.- 2411, 2463
   LRC Building second floor - Business, Humanities & SS Office personnel ext.- 2437, 2436
   ADM Building - Business Office personnel - ext. 2407, 2501
   MEC Building - Science & Engineering Technologies personnel - ext. 2433
   
   When instructions are given to move occupants to a safe area, the move should be done safely and quickly. Necessary assistance will be made available for the handicapped. The safest areas are interior hallways on the first or basement floors away from windows. North and east walls are preferable to south and west walls. Sit in fetal position with face and head protected. (Locations are listed below).
   
   ADM Building: Hallway near the Vice Presidents’ offices.
   MEC Building: Hallway near the Machine Shop.
   OTC Building: First floor hallway.
   ISC Building: East hallway and east side classrooms.
   NEB Building: Hallways
   LRC Building: Learning Lab area and that section of the Library near the Learning Lab.
   
   Evening Hours:
   
   When the alert is received, the switchboard operator will notify the Evening Coordinator, Campus Police, and Maintenance personnel. The Evening Coordinator will coordinate the process of moving Faculty, Staff and Students to the locations previously listed.
   
   ADM Building: Campus Police
   MEC Building: Campus Police
   OTC Building: Maintenance Staff
   LRC Building: Maintenance Staff
   NEB Building: Evening Coordinator
   ISC Building: Evening Coordinator
   Buildings and Grounds: 9-614-8383
   
    

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Violent attacks:

In the event of an armed intruder/violent attack, the following actions will be initiated immediately.

1. Contact Emergency at - 9-911 from office phones (or simply 911 from cell phone or pay phone).

2. Immediately notify Campus Police - 9-614-8282

3. Notify switchboard operator (0)

4. The Switchboard Operator will notify the Vice Presidents’ offices and the President’s office.

5. Switchboard operator will notify the Maintenance personnel by two-way radio or phone.

6. All those who are confronted by the intruder should take every effort to remain calm and not make any sudden moves or gestures. Try not to raise your voice - Your tone and demeanor could strongly influence the outcome of the crisis. 7. Everyone in the area should make every effort to barricade themselves behind closed doors and in a corner away from any door or window.

7. After police arrive, if the danger is confined, orderly evacuation away from the building can begin. No one other than authorized personnel should enter the building where the intruder is located.

Faculty & Staff with special training:

CPR:

Mark Freeman 9-614-8282
Bucky Farris 9-614-8282
David Necessary 9-614-8282
Julie Little Ext-2516
 

First Aid:
Bucky Farris 9-614-8282
David Necessary 9-614-8282
Mark Freeman 9-614-8282
Bill Garrison 9-739-2448 or ext 2448
 

Firefighting:
Mike Thompson Ext-2410 or 2510
Bill Garrison 9-739-2448 or ext 2448


 

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Suspicious Envelope or Package:

1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.

2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents. 

3. If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.

4. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away.)

5. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face

6. What to do next…
   If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police.
   If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police (9-911), and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

7. Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.

8. LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice.

Workplace Violence Policy:

VHCC has a Workplace Violence Policy that can be accessed through the following web link: http://www.vhcc.edu/police/workplace_violence.htm

Code Adam:

VHCC also has a Code Adam policy that deals with missing or abducted children. This policy can be accessed at the following web link: http://www.vhcc.edu/police/code_adam.htm
 

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