Chapter Thirteen: Emergency Preparedness

13.0 Emergency Management

Students and colleagues anticipate that their instructor or supervisor will know what to do if an emergency occurs. University resources include:

• Virginia Tech Emergency Management, 540-231-4873, @BeHokieReady, oem@vt.edu
• Virginia Tech Police Department - police.vt.edu | 540-382-4343 | @VaTechPolice
• VT Alerts - alerts.vt.edu | @vtalerts
• Virginia Tech News - news.vt.edu | @vtnews

13.1 Know the Environment

• Know the space in which you teach and work. Identify two or more exit routes.
• Some university spaces include message boards that display VT Alerts.
• Buildings with Fire Alarm annunciators will audibly “speak” VT Alerts messages.
• Know the Emergency Action Plan for each building.
• The National Weather Service uses "watch" and "warning" in its weather communication to differentiate weather hazards.
  • Watch: Conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather.
  • Warning: Severe weather has been observed. Listen closely to instructions provided by weather radios, emergency officials, and other alert mechanisms. Seek shelter immediately.

13.2 Prepare

• Know the information in this chapter. Keep it with you as a reference.
• Consider different protective actions in your office, teaching, and research spaces.
• Be Hokie Ready. Review the preparedness material on the university’s emergency management website.
• A charged cell phone with you in class, lab, or other location.
• Subscribe to VT Alerts; keep your contact information updated.
• Download the Hokie Ready app.
• A list of contact numbers (e.g., department leadership, lab supervisors).

13.3 Prepare Students and Colleagues

• During the first week of the semester, review:
  • What to do in an evacuation.
  • What to do when instructed to Shelter or Secure -in-Place.
  • Remind students to subscribe to VT Alerts and download the Hokie Ready app.

13.4 During an Emergency

• Lead by example. Remain calm, follow emergency procedures and/or take protective actions as instructed by VT Alerts or emergency personnel.
• Consider “run, hide, fight” options.

13.5 Report the Emergency

• As soon as it is safe, call 9-1-1 and talk with the dispatcher who answers the call. Do NOT hang up the phone until instructed to do so by the dispatcher.
• Interior emergency phones (blue wall boxes) will work during power disruptions. Not all office phones will work during power outages.
• Be clear and accurate to describe the nature of the emergency.
• Give the dispatcher your full name and telephone number from which you are calling in case you are disconnected.
• Report your location, the more precise, the better. Tell them you are at Virginia Tech, give the street address, building name, and room number.
• If it’s safe, ask someone to meet emergency personnel outside of the building.

13.6 Medical Emergency

• Create an open space for the affected individual(s) and emergency personnel
• Do not move an injured person before responders arrive.
• Only those trained properly should provide first aid, CPR, or bleeding control techniques.

13.7 SECURE-in-Place (confronted by an assailant)

To secure-in-place is to put barriers between yourself and an assailant and to deny them access to you. Virginia Tech will send a VT Alert advising you to secure in place if an active, potentially violent, incident is occurring that requires you to act.

• Remain calm.
• If inside, lock the door and/or place a barricade between yourself and the violence or danger.
• Turn off lights and equipment, silence phones (but keep them on), draw blinds, move away from windows and doors.
• Await further instruction from VT Alerts and/or emergency personnel.
• Leave once VT Alerts and/or emergency personnel provide instructions or an “All Clear” is declared by emergency responders or via VT Alerts
• If outside, seek safety inside a building. Lock and/or barricade the door.

13.7.1 Controlling Entry to a Secure Location

• Manage the security of an indoor space. Before opening a door consider whether the area outside the door can be seen. It is possible that an assailant is waiting outside the door.
• If a description of an alleged assailant has been communicated, and you can see outside the door, compare the person wanting entry to the description.
• Additional considerations: can the area be re-secured? Can the person leave items they are carrying outside the door (e.g. backpack, laptop case, package, etc.)?
• Have the person lift up their shirt, coat, or jacket until the waistline is visible and ask them to rotate 360 degrees in case they might be concealing a weapon.

13.8 SHELTER-in-Place (environmental danger)

To shelter-in-place is to put barriers between yourself and an environmental danger. Virginia Tech will send a shelter in place message if a severe weather incident or similar situation is occurring. If severe weather or other dangerous situation occurs, do not wait for a VT Alerts notification.

• Remain calm.
• Respond immediately. Do not go outside to check the weather conditions.
• Shelter in the closest building. For severe weather, shelter in the building’s lowest level, in an interior room or corridor, and away from windows, glass, and unsecured objects.
• Leave doors open to allow others to shelter.
• Avoid large free-standing spaces such as auditoriums and gymnasiums.
• Use stairs if necessary. DO Not use elevators.
• Listen for instruction from VT Alerts and/or emergency personnel.
• Wait for an “All Clear” communication from VT Alerts and/or emergency personnel.

13.9 Evacuation

Evacuation routes are posted in hallways, usually near stairwells or exits.

• Identify and know two evacuation routes.
• Fire alarms are mandatory evacuations. Do not use elevators unless authorized by emergency personnel.
• Encourage everyone to leave the building – do not wait for those who refuse to leave. Inform first responders of those that are in the building.
• Once evacuated, keep students and/or colleagues together. Proceed to the designated assembly point, stay 50 feet from the building.

13.10 Persons with Disabilities

Persons with access and functional needs may need assistance during an emergency. Those who voluntarily identify their needs may need help planning for emergencies. Students with access and functional needs may be accustomed to academic environments in which instructors and others are aware of their needs and may not have considered what they might require to take care of themselves in an emergency. Ask students to self-identify in confidence if they might require special assistance during an emergency. Considerations include:

• Auditory: Individuals with hearing impairments may not hear alarms or verbal guidance. A note or hand gestures might be necessary to communicate.
• Visual: Individuals with vision impairments may need verbal descriptions and/or help from a classmate or colleague who can escort them. Identify a “buddy” before an emergency.
• Mobility: Individuals with restricted mobility may be unable to safely leave a building. With the person’s consent, a classmate or colleague can accompany the individual to an area of refuge (e.g. a stairwell) without blocking the evacuation path.
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Office for Equity and Accessibility, ADA & Accessibility Services