SPECIAL EDITION - NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

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1 P A G E 1 S E P T E M B E R SPECIAL EDITION - NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH September is recognized as National Preparedness Month. We should all take action to prepare! We are all able to help first responders at NOVA and in our community by training how to respond during an emergency and what to do when disaster strikes where we live, work, and visit. The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school, and place of worship. Take 10 Everyone has 10 minutes, right? In order to better prepare for an emergency at NOVA, we ask each semester you take 10 minutes to: 2 minutes... Sign up for NOVA Alert (alert.nvcc.edu). If you have already signed up, log in to make sure your most recent contact information is up to date. 8 minutes... Go to nvcc.edu/emergency to review emergency procedures for events that may happen at NOVA. Take 10 minutes to prepare by visiting:

2 P A G E 2 Best Tips to Prepare for a New Semester New semesters are busy! There are hundreds of tasks we all balance and we can unintentionally overlook topics that do not directly relate to our immediate workload. Emergency preparedness procedures are normally one of those topics that can get overlooked. Below are 5 tips that the Office of Emergency Management and Safety recommends you review this month Sign up for (or into) NOVA Alert Review emergency procedures Be ready in the classroom Make a plan Sign into NOVA Alert ( to make sure your information is still current. If you are not signed up, sign up now! It is quick and easy to sign up. If we do not have your contact information, we cannot send you important emergency text message notifications. Take a few minutes to review emergency procedures so you know what to do if an emergency occurs on campus: Emergency Procedures posters can be found throughout Campuses, go to the Office of Emergency Management and Safety homepage (nvcc.edu/ emergency) for important information, and review the College Emergency Action Plan (EAP) found on the College website. Faculty should review emergency procedures with their students. The Office of Emergency Management and Safety provides faculty with a Syllabus Insert, Emergency Procedures PPT, and College Safety Video. Faculty should also discuss their expectations during severe weather closures. Students are accountable to know emergency procedures if an emergency occurs while on Campus. Do not forget to be prepared at home, too! Update your family communication plan (or make one if you do not have one already) so if something were to happen, you could communicate with your loved ones. Decide how your family members should contact each other if you re apart when the disaster occurs, where you will go if you need to leave home, and where you will gather inside the home (e.g., a safe room or basement). Establish an out-of-town contact. It s also a good idea to have a list of important phone numbers (family, schools, care providers, doctors, insurance agents, employers, etc.). Don t forget to practice your plan. Visit for more information. 5 Make a kit You never know where you will be when an emergency happens. You may be on campus, in your car, or at home. Replenish or set aside food, water, and general supplies that you may need for 72 hours after an emergency. This may include medicine, copies of prescriptions, flashlights, extra batteries, blankets, first aid supplies, personal hygiene items, appropriate seasonal clothing, cash, a battery operated or crank radio, a weather radio, cell phones and chargers, important documents, and other supplies your family may need. Find out what you should have in your kits at

3 P A G E 3 Prepare and Plan for your Unique Needs Emergencies can happen at any time and at any place whether you are on a NOVA Campus or at home. What kinds of things can members of your household not be without for 72 hours? If you are on campus, what items can t you go without for an extended period of time? Here are some examples of things that can create unique needs for your family: Infants and young children Prescription medications (keep a three day supply with you) Health-related supplies (for example: diabetics need insulin syringes, alcohol wipes, and glucometer supplies) Assistive devices (glasses, canes, etc.) Pets When you are in a hurry, it is easy to overlook small and important items. Common items like diapers and pet food might not be easy to find right after a disaster. Trying new brands of food or formula, or not having a comfort item, can make disasters more stressful for both children and pets. Talk to your kids about what to do in a fire, a medical emergency, or a disaster. Make sure they know where emergency supplies are kept, how (and when) to call 911, and who to call if they can not reach you in an emergency. These unique needs need to be planned for prior to an emergency. Ready.gov and other emergency preparedness resources are available to assist your emergency preparedness needs. You can also contact NOVA s Office of Emergency Management and Safety (OEM@nvcc.edu) for guidance towards your unique planning needs. Save The Date: Earthquake Drill October 19 NOVA will be participating in the Great Southeast ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Thursday, October 19th at 10:19 am the world s largest earthquake drill! This will give you an opportunity to Drop, Cover, and Hold On, the safe response to an earthquake. Stay tuned for more information closer to the drill.

4 P A G E 4 Change Smoke Detectors Every 10 Years Did you know the smoke detectors in your home should be replaced every 10 years? Please see the below infographic to learn more.

5 P A G E 5 ACTIVE SHOOTER NOVA Emergency Procedures Determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life and call 911 or when it is safe. Run. Evacuate if you can. (This may be your best chance of survival.) Have an escape route in mind. Leave valuables behind and keep hands visible. Hide in an area outside of the shooter s view. Block entry to your hiding place and lock doors. Turn off lights and silence electronic devices. Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression. BOMB THREAT/EXPLOSION Call 911 or NOVA Police at using a landline. DO NOT use cellular phones or two-way radios. DO NOT activate the fire alarm system to evacuate. Shelter in place or evacuate the building as directed. DO NOT re-enter the building until cleared by authorized personnel. Untrained persons should not try to rescue people. EARTHQUAKE Response If you are indoors, DROP to the floor. Stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture. HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Don t use a doorway except if you know that it s a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it s close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and don t offer protection. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. DO NOT use elevators. If you are outdoors, stay there. Move away from buildings, overhangs, trees and power lines to a clear area such as a large open public area or field. If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings or trees. After the Earthquake Once the shaking stops: Exit the building when safety permits and move to the designated assembly area. Use emergency exit route information posted throughout the building to determine the quickest route out. Expect aftershocks. Only use the telephone for emergency calls. Be aware that utilities such as gas, power and water lines may be damaged. If you know of damaged utilities, report the issue. Wait for instructions from wardens, officials and police.

6 P A G E 6 NOVA Emergency Procedures (cont.) FIRE Determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life and call 911 or NOVA Police at when it is safe to do so. Activate the fire alarm. If there are no fire alarms, knock on doors and yell FIRE as you exit the building. Call 911 if possible. Feel doors with the back of your hand before opening. DO NOT open if doors are hot. DO NOT use elevators. If time, conditions and safety permit, take your personal belongings with you. Evacuate the building. If clothing catches fire, STOP...DROP...ROLL. Once outside, move away from the building and to a designated Assembly Area. DO NOT re-enter buildings until instructed to do so. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Move away from the site of the hazard to a safe location (up wind if possible). Call 911. Follow instructions of Emergency Personnel. Alert others to stay clear of the area. Notify Emergency Personnel if you have been exposed to the hazard or have information about its release. MEDICAL EMERGENCY Call or have someone else call 911 right away and report the emergency. Provide first aid and medical assistance as necessary, if trained. Follow instructions of the Emergency Dispatcher. DO NOT hang up until the Dispatcher ends the call. DO NOT move the victim, unless they are in immediate danger. If the victim is conscious, try to comfort him/her and obtain medical information (ex. medical problems, medications, etc.). Any medical information will assist medical personnel if the victim loses consciousness. Have someone meet the ambulance at the building entrance or at a safe location, and direct emergency personnel to the victim. Contact NOVA Police at to advise them of the situation. POWER OUTAGE Remain Calm. Move cautiously to a lighted area. Exits may be indicated by lighted signs, if the emergency power is operating. Provide assistance to others. Evacuate the building only if directed to do so. Exit calmly and carefully. DO NOT re-enter building until authorized. Monitor NOVA Alert and Media Outlets for campus closings, delays or updates.

7 P A G E 7 NOVA Emergency Procedures (cont.) SUSPICIOUS PERSON/PACKAGE Suspicious Person DO NOT physically confront the person. DO NOT let anyone into a locked building/office. DO NOT block the person's access to an exit. Call 911 or Provide as much information as possible about the person and his or her direction of travel. Suspicious Package DO NOT handle or touch the suspicious item/package. DO NOT use a cell phone, radio or other transmitter. Persons should be evacuated from around the item. Retreat to a safe location and call College Police at using a landline. Be prepared to evacuate and take your personal belongings with you. It is important that employees and students are always cognizant and do not leave brief cases, backpacks, handbags, etc. unattended. These items could be construed as suspicious and cause undue time, energy and expense to determine that the item is safe. They may be destroyed. TORNADO/SEVERE WEATHER If the area is under a Severe Weather or Tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately. Go immediately to: The nearest Severe Weather Shelter Area, OR An appropriate area that will provide protection -- interior rooms, interior hallways, or areas free of windows or glass at the lowest possible level in the building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. Protect your body from flying debris with any available furniture or sturdy equipment. If you are outside with no shelter, consider these options: Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If you are unable to get to a sturdy shelter, stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion, if possible. If you are outside and unable to get to a car or a building for protection, lie in an area noticeably lower than the level of the roadway and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.