Security and Safety Emergency Preparedness

Active killer / hostile intruder situations are unpredictable, evolve quickly, and are often over in 10–15 minutes.

Before law enforcement arrives on the scene, you must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active killer / hostile intruder situation.

If an active killer / hostile intruder is in your vicinity, quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life.

Students are encouraged to follow the lead of instructors during critical incidents prior to the arrival of the Public Safety officers and emergency personnel.

Try to Evacuate

If it is possible to escape the area safely, attempt to evacuate, and do so quietly.

• Have an escape route and plan in mind.
• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Help others escape, if possible.
• If necessary, break windows or glass to get out of the area.
• Run in the opposite direction of the disturbance or shots, cover your head with books or other items for protection. DO NOT stop running until you are in a safe area.
• Prevent others from entering the area where the active killer; / hostile intruder may be located.
• Keep your hands visible. As you move through open areas keep your HANDS ELEVATED with OPEN PALMS visible, especially if encountering responding law enforcement officers.
• Do not carry phones or other objects in your hands.
• Follow all the instructions officers may give you.
• Generally, do not attempt to render aid or move wounded people.
• Call 911 then Public Safety at 319-296-4234 when you are safe.
• Remain in a safe location until you receive instructions from police.

Hide and Take Shelter

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active killer is less likely to find you.

• Find a room where the doors can be locked or barricaded securely.
• Close and lock windows, lower blinds, remain out of sight, turn off lights.
• Once secured inside, barricade the door with heavy furniture and take cover behind concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets, away from windows and doors.
• Remain calm and quiet.
• Silence and eliminate any light or sound from your devices. Your primary goal is to remain undetected—getting or responding to messages from family and friends must wait.
  • Pre-Configure an Emergency "Do Not Disturb" Mode on your phone today. Set up a dedicated custom focus/Do Not Disturb mode so you can activate it instantly in a crisis. When configuring it, be sure to:
    • Silence all sound
    • Disable vibration
    • Suppress light alerts
    • Disable the setting that allows breakthrough calls if someone calls you multiple times in a row.
    • Temporarily revoke permissions for "Allowed Contacts" or "Starred Favorites" to ensure no incoming call or message bypasses silent mode.
    • If you can turn it off or set up a dark mode, do so.
• Power down secondary tech. Turn off smartwatches, fitness trackers, or wireless earbuds—these can emit light or sound notifications unexpectedly.
• Turn off any sources of light or noise (radios, television, laptops, decorative lights, etc.)
• Call 911 with the following information: your location, the intruders location, and the condition of the others with you.
• If you cannot speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can hear what is happening.
• You can text 911 in Black Hawk County.
• Follow the instructions of Public Safety officers and emergency personnel.

Take Action Against the Active Killer / Hostile Intruder

If evacuation and hiding are not possible, as a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the intruder.

• Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her.
• Throwing items and improvising weapons.
• Yelling and committing to your actions.

1. Keep the caller on the line and attempt to get as much information as possible. Ask for the message to be repeated to confirm it. If possible, record the message.
   • When will the device go off?
   • Where the device is located (including floor)?
   • What the device looks like?
   • What exactly did the caller say?
   • Estimated sex and age of caller?
2. Observe the caller's voice. Were there any distinctive characteristics of callers speech, accent, or language? Note if the caller's voice was:
   • calm
   • slow
   • loud
   • stutter
   • rapid
   • soft
   • laughter
   • disguised
   • deep breathing
   • accent
   • lisp
   • cracked
   • cough
   • nervous
   • nasal
   • raspy
   • angry
   • excited
   • deep
   • clearing throat
   • normal
   • distinct
   • crying
   • slurred
   • ragged
   • speech impediment
   • whispering
   • familiar (if so, who did it sound like)?
3. Listen for background noises. Background noises may give a clue as to the location of the caller.
   • street noises
   • animal noises
   • car sounds
   • PA system
   • music
   • crockery
   • factory machinery
   • other machinery
   • other voices
   • house noises
   • no noise at all
   • any other noises
4. Inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.
5. Immediately after the caller hangs up, call 911 and relay the information you received and have observed.
6. If the device is on campus, call Public Safety at 319-296-4234.
7. If evacuation is required, gather all your belongings and leave the building in an orderly fashion and report to your designated emergency assembly point.
8. Follow instructions of emergency services personnel.

Evacuation is mandatory when announced by alarm, emergency personnel, or college administration. During evacuation:

• Assist persons with disabilities.

• Report to your evacuation assembly point outside the building (must be at least 50 feet away from the building).
• Do not stand or congregate in parking lots or driveways as this will slow emergency response vehicles arriving on scene.
• Exit the building in a calm and orderly manner.
• Follow the directions of emergency personnel on site.
• Do NOT use elevators!
• Take personal belongings such as keys or purses, if safe to do so.
• Protect critical assets such as cash, if possible.
• Know your surroundings so that you can evacuate in the dark.
• Take a head count of employees at designated meeting locations, and notify emergency personnel of any missing workers.
• If you are trapped, dial 911 and give them your location, room number, and floor level.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.

1. Do not attempt to intervene or confront any individuals involved in the disturbance.
2. Immediately call 911 and relay the following information:
   • Location of incident.
   • Number of people involved in the disturbance.
   • Group(s) / cause(s) with which the individuals are associated.
   • If the individuals are violent or threatening anyone.
   • If any weapons are involved and what type.
3. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
4. Do not evacuate/leave the building unless directed to do so by college administration or emergency services personnel.
5. Remain calm.

Evacuate

1. Leave the building as quickly as possible. DO NOT stop to retrieve any personal possessions or make any phone calls.
2. If objects are falling around you, get under a sturdy table or desk until objects have stopped falling and then leave quickly.
3. Call 911 once outside the structure.
4. Follow the directions of the emergency services personnel.
5. Report to your emergency assembly point.

If You Are Trapped

• Do not light a match or any other type of flame.
• Do not move or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Rhythmically tap on a pipe or wall so that rescuers can hear where you are.
• Shout only as a last resort when you hear rescuers close by (shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust or debris).
• Break a window to escape or to provide fresh air.

If You Are on Fire: Stop, Drop, and Roll

• Rolling smothers the fire.
• Cover your face with your hands to protect face and lungs.
• To cool burns, run cool (not cold) water over burns, immediately, for five to ten minutes. Don't use ointments. Notify medical personnel immediately.

Fire Safety and Evacuation Procedures

1. Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station.
2. Call 911 to report the fire. If known, report the location and the cause of the fire.
3. Call Public Safety at 319-296-4234 to report the fire.
4. Everyone must leave immediately when a fire alarm is activated, even if there are no obvious signs of an emergency.
5. If building is filled with smoke, stay low to the ground and crawl to the nearest exit.
6. Feel the doors before opening. If it is hot, do not open the door. If it is cool, open it slightly, and if heat or heavy smoke are present, close the door and stay in the room.
7. If you get trapped inside the building:
   • Keep the doors closed. Seal cracks and vents if smoke comes in.
   • If you're trapped in a room and there is no smoke outside the building, making sure all doors are closed, open the windows from the top to let out heat and smoke; and from the bottom to let in fresh air.
   • Signal for help. Hang an object at the window (a back pack, jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention.
   • Call 911 and report that you are trapped. Give your exact location to include your room number and floor level.
8. Confine the fire by closing all doors and windows, if possible.
9. Do NOT use the elevator.
10. Remain calm and assist others in safely getting out.
11. Extinguish the fire if you have been trained and it is safe to do so.
12. Evacuate the building to your designated safe location away from the structure.
13. Follow directions given by emergency personnel.
14. Do not re-enter until authorized to do so.

Witness to a Hostage Situation or Abduction

Immediately call 911. Observe the following and if safe to do so, relay the information:

• Number of hostage taker(s).
• Number of hostages.
• Description of hostage taker(s): race, sex, and ethnicity; clothing; facial features (beard, glasses, mustache, etc.)
• Description of the hostage(s).

• Weapons hostage taker has or threatened.
• Location of hostages.
• Demands made by hostage taker(s).
• Preparation of hostage taker(s).
• Emotional state of hostage taker(s).
• Any other pertinent information.

If You Are Taken Hostage

• Remain calm.
• Follow the directions of the hostage taker(s).
• Avoid insulting your abductor or talking about potentially sensitive subjects.
• Direct any other hostages to remain calm and follow directions of hostage taker(s).
• Try to communicate with the hostage taker(s), if possible.
• Make mental notes of all details of hostage taker(s).
• Do not try to be a "hero" and self-rescue or rescue other hostages unless there is no other option.
• Keep a survival attitude. Be positive.
• Ask for small favors if you're settled in for a long captivity, gradually ask for small accommodations.
• Try to escape only if the time is right.
• Stay out of the way if a rescue attempt is made.
• Do not make any inadvertent moves.
• Follow the rescuers' instructions carefully.

Identifying Suspicious Packages or Letters

• Excessive postage
• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
• Incorrect titles
• Title, but no name
• Misspellings of common words
• Leaky powder or substance
• Oily stains, discolorations or odor
• No return address
• Excessive weight
• Lopsided or uneven envelope
• Protruding wires or aluminum foil
• Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
• Visual distractions
• Ticking sound
• Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
• Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address

What To Do If You See a Suspicious Object or Package

• DO NOT touch or disturb the object or package.
• DO NOT allow others to touch or handle the object or package.
• If the package or object is leaking, do not attempt to pick up, sweep, or contain any spillage.
• Leave the suspicious object or package and evacuate the area.
• Call Public Safety at 319-296-4234. Give full description of object or package including shape, color, location, any obvious irregularities, odors, wires, etc.
• Notify your supervisor.
• Follow the directions of the emergency services personnel present.

If You Encounter a Person with Suspicious Behavior

1. Do not physically confront the person(s).
2. Do not let anyone into a locked building, office, or other space.
3. Do not block the person(s) access to an exit.
4. Be a good witness.
5. Call Hawkeye Community College Public Safety and 911 and provide as much information as possible about the situation. This includes the following, but is not limited to:
   • Description of suspect including height, weight, skin color, and hair color.
   • Clothing description.
   • Direction of travel.
   • Any weapons or threats.
6. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.