Effective: / 03/25/2010; 03/14/07;08/31/05; 05/30/2008; 01/01/09
Supersedes: / 903.03
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (JD ALERT)
The College operates an opt-in alert system that allows students, employees, and others to be notified via telephone, cell phone, and/or e-mail in case of emergency. This system, along with the College’s audible alarm public address notification system is referred to as JD Alert. In addition, the telephone and campus runners remain a means of emergency notification. JD Alert is intended for the immediate transmission of specific information regarding an emergency to all affected areas of the Atmore and/or Brewton campuses.
The College Switchboard is the focal point for two-way transmission of official emergency telephone communications to college administrators. However, college employees should call 911 to notify local authorities if there is an emergency that requires their services. For other emergencies, call the switchboard operator. He/she will initiate the notification system by calling the following college administrators as appropriate. The calling order should be considered flexible depending on the location and nature of the emergency.
(1)President or designee
(2)Dean of Business Affairs
(3)Dean of Student Affairs
(4)Dean of Instruction
(5)Director of Adult Education
(6)Director of Administration and Personnel
(7)Director of Technology and Information Services
(8)Maintenance Supervisors
The President or designee will determine how JD Alert will be used to notify employees, students, and others. Possible uses include, opt-in notification system, audible alarm, on-campus telephones, or in the absence of phone services, runners.
During an emergency, campus phones must be restricted to official college use only.
Circumstances JD Alert opt-in notification and/or audible alarm system should be used for include, but are not limited to:
Accidents
Chemical or Radioactive Material Spill
Explosion or Downed Aircraft
Fire
Gas Leak
Utility Failure – depends on the circumstances
Behavior
Bomb/Bomb Threat – depends on the circumstances
Firearms on Campus
Hostage Situations
Violent or Criminal Behavior, including, but not limited to, escaped prisoners,work-release walk-aways, and other suspected criminals that may be headed toward a campus.
Weather-Related
Hurricane – general notice of campus closing schedule
Severe Weather
Tornadoes
JD Alert will be tested during the first 30 class days of each semester.
JD Alert Messages
The person using JD Alert should take a minute to prepare a brief script. This script should include at least the following information:
- brief description of the event/situation
- where the event has occurred or will occur (e. g. which campus or area of campus)
- action needed on part of person receiving the message (take cover, move to a safe area, evacuate the campus, etc.)
- date and time of the message (not used for PA announcements)
Class Cancellations
JD Alert can also be used by individual faculty to notify the students in their classes of class cancellations. If a faculty member plans to use the System for class cancellation notifications, students should be asked to opt-in to the System at the beginning of the semester.
If campus telephone/runners are to be used the following people will be responsible for making the identified notifications.
Upon notification, the Dean of Business Affairs should notify:
Bookstore
Business Office
Maintenance
The Dean of Student Affairs should notify:
Admissions
Athletics
Financial Aid
Housing
Student Support Services
Upward Bound
The Dean of Instruction or designee should notify:
Division Chairs
Instructional Support
Library
Atmore Campus
Fountain and Holman Correctional Sites
Technical Shop Areas
The Director of Administration and Personnel should notify:
MIS
Museum Coordinator
Division Chairs should notify:
All instructors in their division