Campus Emergency Response and Immediate Notification
The Incident Command Team coordinates appropriate actions on behalf of the College in all emergencies in accordance with the Hawkeye Community College Emergency and Crisis Plan and Response Guide. This Team consists of the Director of Public Safety, Director of Plant and Facilities, College President and all Cabinet members, and other employees designated based on the specific crisis.
Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of student or employees occurring on the campus, the Director of Public Safety or designee will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system in order to immediately notify the campus community.
The Director of Public Safety or designee, in conjunction with the national weather service, local first responders, health service departments, College administrators, etc., will be responsible for confirming the existence of a significant emergency or dangerous situation.
If Public Safety confirms an emergency, the Director of Public Safety or designee will collaborate with Public Relations and Marketing to craft the message that will be distributed via some or all of the systems described below to communicate the threat to the College community or to the appropriate segment of the community if the threat is limited to a particular building or segment of the population.
Hawkeye will use the following systems to communicate an immediate threat to the campus community: Hawkeye Alert system which sends a voice mail, text message, and/or email to students and employees within minutes whenever a significant emergency or dangerous situation has occurred which may pose a potential threat. The Hawkeye Alert includes instructions for taking appropriate actions. Members of the College community are added to the Hawkeye Alert system unless they choose to opt out. Follow-up messages will be sent to the campus community using some or all of the systems above.
Members of the College community who know of a crime or other serious incident that could pose an immediate threat to the campus community should report that incident as soon as possible to the Public Safety Office.
The College will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
Annual emergency response procedures and evacuation exercises and drills will be conducted involving the College community. The exercise and drill may be announced or unannounced and response and effectiveness will be evaluated and documented. Hawkeye publicizes its emergency response and evacuation procedures in conjunction with at least one test per calendar year. Emergency evacuation information and routes are posted in all facilities. Public Safety is responsible for maintaining records of all exercises and drills.
Individuals who are members of the larger community and interested in receiving information pertaining to emergencies on campus may access that information by visiting www.hawkeyecollege.edu/emergency-safety.
Summary of General Evacuation Procedures
The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency. Evacuation drills are used as a way to educate and train occupants on fire safety issues specific to their building. During the drill, occupant’s “practice” drill procedures and familiarize themselves with the location of exits and the sound of the fire alarm. In addition to educating the occupants of each building about the evacuation procedures during the drills, the process also provides the College an opportunity to test the operation of fire alarm system components.
At the sound of a fire alarm or if you are instructed to evacuate, leave your work area immediately and proceed to the nearest exit, and leave the building. If you are the first to recognize a fire situation, activate the alarm, evacuate to a safe location using the nearest exit, and call 911. Some other tips:
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Remain calm.
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Do not use elevators. Use the stairs.
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If you are unable to self-evacuate without the use of elevators, proceed to the “temporary gathering place” as identified on the building emergency evacuation plans posted in all buildings; oftentimes, this is near or in a stairwell. If you are part of a personal support network for someone who is unable to self-evacuate, evacuate the building and immediately notify Public Safety or fire personnel of the individual’s location. Proceed to a clear area at least 150 feet from the building. Keep all walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
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Make sure all personnel are out of the building.
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Do not re-enter the building.
Timely Warning Notices
A timely warning notice will be distributed to the College community when crime is reported that poses a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. Timely warning notices will be distributed using ALERTUS, Hawkeye Alert, or the telephone intercom system.
Timely warnings are usually distributed for the following Uniformed Crime Reporting Program (UCR)/National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) classifications: major incidents of arson, murder/non negligent manslaughter, and robbery. Cases of aggravated assault and sex offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the facts of the case and the information known by the Public Safety department. For example, if an assault occurs between two students who have a disagreement, there may be no on-going threat to other Hawkeye community members and a Timely Warning would not be distributed. In cases involving sexual assault, they are often reported long after the incident occurred, thus there is no ability to distribute a “timely” warning notice to the community. Sex offenses will be considered on a case by case basis depending on when and where the incident occurred, when it was reported, and the amount of information known by the Public Safety department. Cases involving property crimes will be assessed on a case by case basis and alerts will typically be sent if there is a discernible pattern of crime. The Director of Public Safety or designee reviews all reports to determine if there is an on-going threat to the community and if the distribution of a Timely Warning is warranted. Timely Warnings may also be posted for other crime classifications and locations, as deemed necessary.
Timely Warnings are typically written by the Director of Public Safety or designee. The Director of Public Safety or designee usually distributes the Timely Warnings using systems identified above. Timely warnings will be provided to students and employees in a manner that is timely, that withholds the names of victims as confidential, and that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences.