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Emergency Conditions

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During extreme weather or another emergency situation, the College is ready to keep students safe and the campus running.

Emergency Notifications

During extreme weather events and other campus emergencies, the College will communicate via our Regroup alert system. In addition to text messages, alerts will be sent to:

  • Email addresses registered with your Regroup account (in some cases, all “@landmark.edu” addresses as well).
  • The homepage of the Landmark College website
  • This web page
  • Voice numbers registered with your Regroup account (the phone will ring and a computerized voice will start talking).

Is your Regroup information current? (Use your SharkNet username and password to sign in.)

Shelter-In-Place Procedures

A shelter-in-place procedure is used by the College or local authorities to create a secure physical location to keep individuals as safe as possible when a threat is present. A shelter-in-place can be used for a wide range of emergencies including natural disasters, accidental or intentional release of chemical, biological or radiological material, or an emergency safety situation, such as in the event of an active shooter. Different threats require slightly different sheltering recommendations, so paying attention to alerts and instructions from authorities during a shelter-in-place is essential.

  1. If you, or others, are outdoors when the alert is received, verbally warn others of the situation and verbally direct others to seek safe shelter immediately.
  2. Quickly enter the nearest building/room. Avoid entering any buildings instructed to stay away from in the alert.
  3. Lock or barricade doors and wait for further instructions.
  4. Turn off the lights.
  5. Move away from visible areas/glass. If possible, close any blinds and/or cover windows.
  6. If available, take an electronic device with you to monitor the news
  7. Remain calm, keep yourself out of sight and take adequate protection/cover (i.e., desks, file cabinets, concrete walls).
  8. If available, check your Landmark College email and text messages regularly for messages giving you further instructions.
  9. Keep the telephone lines free for emergency information.
  10. If circumstances warrant, silence cell phone ringers.
  11. Don’t leave your room until appropriately notified via the Emergency Alert Notification system (Regroup), an authorized school official, or police.

Extreme Weather Conditions

It is important to maintain a fully functioning educational and administrative program at Landmark College during periods of adverse weather conditions. When extreme weather conditions are forecast or some other emergency event occurs which raises safety concerns related to traveling to campus, the College may call “Extreme Weather Conditions” either for part of or a full day. When “Extreme Weather Conditions” are called:

  1. An email and/or text message will be sent to the community early in the morning (usually by 6:30 a.m.) from the Landmark alert system (Regroup).
  2. Faculty will make the decision whether to cancel their class(es), teach online, or teach on campus. Students should expect to attend classes as planned unless they hear differently from their professor.
  3. Any staff employee who has been authorized at any point to work remotely by the College is expected to do so during an Extreme Weather Conditions day. In the case where the College declares an end to Extreme Weather Conditions, those working remotely may continue to work remotely (or come to campus if they choose to do so) for the entire day. Students may find that email and Microsoft Teams may be the best way to reach staff and administrative offices on campus during an Extreme Weather Conditions day.
  4. Due to the nature of their job responsibilities, certain staff employees are considered “Necessary On-Campus Employees” and are expected to report to work on campus on an Extreme Weather Conditions day. These offices and services include (but are not limited to):
    • Dining Services: The Dining Hall will remain open.
    • Residential Life: Residential Staff will be available in the Residence Halls, through email, and Microsoft Teams. 
    • Campus Safety: Campus safety will maintain their usual duty schedule.  They can be reached at (802) 387-6899.
    • Facilities: The facilities staff will also be here, probably plowing. (See Snow Plowing information below)

Employees can find the College’s complete policy on Extreme Weather Conditions’ on the Landmark College Human Resources Sharknet Site (password required) or may contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions regarding this Extreme Weather Conditions policy.

Snow Plowing

After snowfalls, the Campus Safety and Facilities departments will determine a plowing schedule for the parking lots. Students will be notified by email and text message when they will be required to move cars to an alternate parking lot by the Facilities building until the lots are clear. This process could occur multiple times over the course of a few nights until all lots are cleared.

Hurricanes & Tropical Storms

Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Hurricanes can produce winds exceeding 155 miles per hour as well as tornadoes and microbursts. In our region, floods and flying debris from the excessive winds are often the deadly and destructive results of these weather events. Slow-moving hurricanes traveling into mountainous regions tend to produce especially heavy and intense rain that can trigger flash flooding, landslides, or mudslides. Tropical storms can bring as much rain, can produce as much danger, and can cause as much damage by flooding as a hurricane.

Weather forecasting for hurricanes usually allows for up to a week of notice and planning. Here are some important things to do and remember before, during, and after a hurricane or tropical storm.

Before a Hurricane

  • During an extreme weather event, the College will communicate with the Landmark Community through text messages, email, and Facebook pages.
    • The College is not able to ensure that students have access to charge computers or mobile phones during power outages. Make sure all of your electronics (mobile phones, computers, etc.) are being fully charged.
    • Consider a personal battery back-up for mobile phones or charging cables that can be used in your car.
  • Make sure you have an appropriate supply of essential items (water, food, medication).
  • Make sure you have a working flashlight and batteries for personal use.
  • Any personal items (bikes, lawn chairs, etc.) that may blow around in high winds should be stored inside or secured.

During a Hurricane

  • Remain indoors with your windows closed, especially during periods of high wind and rain. The safest shelter is a fully enclosed building (residence halls and all administrative buildings). The Colonnade, smoking shelters, sheds, tents, and open garages are not safe buildings.
  • Keep blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm—winds will pick up again.
  • Keep your mobile phone, radio, or television tuned to the news alerts. News updates will also be available in hall lounges and residential offices.

After a Hurricane

  • If you do go outside, stay clear of all streams, culverts, and other waterways. Water can be moving high and fast for hours or days after a storm and can cause dangerous currents.
  • If you see a downed power line, treat it as if it is a live electrical wire, and report it to Campus Safety or the closest College staff member.

What happens when the power goes out?

Generators are on campus to keep the dining hall open and our computer and phone systems operational.

The heat will remain at appropriate levels for a number of days without power. During a power outage in the winter, we check the temperature in the halls every two to three hours. When the heat drops below 50 degrees inside student rooms, the College will offer alternative sleeping locations. Students should keep all windows closed during these times to conserve heat in the buildings for as long as possible.

The College will communicate with students through Regroup, so make sure your cell phones are charged and used sparingly during a power outage.

Because of the generators, heat service will be maintained in the Dining Hall, Library, and Administration buildings. These areas can be used as warming centers during power outages.

Some outlet power will be maintained in the Library and Administration buildings. The College will use these areas to maintain charges for staff mobile phones and 2-way radios.

Wireless internet access will be available in the Dining Hall while the generators are running, and as long as outside internet connections to the College remain intact.

The College is not able to ensure that students have access to charge computers or mobile phones during power outages. It is recommended that students fully charge their mobile phones and laptops if power outages are expected. Also recommended are personal battery back-ups for mobile phones or charging cables that can be used in your car.

Restrictions & Relocations

In extreme weather conditions (lightning storms, hurricanes, flooding, and blizzards), the College may require students to avoid going outdoors or near certain areas of campus. To ensure student safety, student relocation may be deemed necessary. It is expected that all students will comply with these directions when they are issued by the College.

Lightning/Thunder Storms

The summer months in Vermont are prone to sudden but brief lightning and thunderstorms. If the sky looks stormy and you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately.

  • WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS!
  • The safest shelter is a fully enclosed building (residence halls and all administrative buildings).
  • The Colonnade, smoking shelters, sheds, tents, and open garages are not safe buildings.
  • If a safe building is not available, get to a safe vehicle. A safe vehicle is any fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle such as a hard-topped car, minivan, bus, truck, etc. While inside a safe vehicle, do not use electronic devices such as radio communications during a thunderstorm.
  • Unsafe vehicles include convertibles, golf carts, riding mowers, open cab construction equipment, and boats without cabins.
  • While indoors:
    • Stay OFF corded phones. You can use cellular or cordless phones
    • Don’t touch electrical equipment or cords. Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives.
    • Avoid plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower, or wash dishes.
    • Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches and balconies. Do not lean against exterior concrete walls.

After a lightning storm passes, you should wait 30 minutes before going back outside.

Source: https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

Tornadoes

Tornadoes in Vermont are rare, but there are occasional tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service, and the College takes them seriously. In the event of a tornado warning, and with the onset of extremely high winds, be prepared to do the following:

  • Get to the basement of the closest building and, if possible, under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or workbench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Avoid windows. Examples of these areas on campus include:
    • The basements of Frost Hall, Aiken Hall, Stone Hall (windowless areas), Davis Hall (windowless areas), Administration Building, Library, East Academic Building, Fine Arts Building, Student Center, Facilities Building, Admissions Building, windowless areas of the dining hall.
  • If you cannot get to a basement, go to the interior/central hallway or room on the lowest floor possible. Avoid windows. Examples of these areas include:
    • The interior, windowless hallways of the first floor of Frost Hall, Aiken Hall, Middle Hall, Stone Hall, Davis Hall, Chumley Halls, the Administration Building, East Academic Building, Fine Arts Building.
    • Bridges Residents should seek shelter in Chumley Halls, interior lower lounge.
  • Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands. A bathtub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.
  • If shelter in a building is not possible, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.
Source: www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety

Emergency Management

Emergency management is a process that includes the mitigation, planning, response, and recovery to disaster and crisis. While Landmark College takes every precaution to prevent a disaster or crisis from occurring, there may be unexpected situations in which an emergency response is deemed necessary. To assist in the preparation for such a response, the Department of Campus Safety continuously works with employees of the College to ensure that basic guidelines for response are understood. An Incident Response Plan for Employees was issued to each employee to assist in guiding them through these emergencies.

The College has an established Emergency Operations Center and an Emergency Operations Plan, developed for the planning for, and responding to, emergency and crisis situations. The Center is staffed by employees who are trained through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System for interoperability with responding local emergency service providers. Through this combined effort, the College will be able to return to the mission of educating students as soon as possible after an emergency. The consistent training of the Center staff ensures that the campus is ready to respond as needed.

While all employees play a role in the response to emergencies, disasters, and crises that affect the College, the members of the Departments of Campus Safety, Student Affairs, and Facilities are dedicated to responding as the “boots on the ground” members of the College. They play a vital role in the resolution of the incident and prepare for a variety of incidents on a regular basis.

If you have any questions about the emergency management process on campus, please contact the Department of Campus Safety at 802-387-6899 or ext. 6899.

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