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Campuswide Emergency Drill Set for October 2

Elmira, NY (09/26/2018) — As part of Elmira College's on-going commitment to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our entire campus community, the College will conduct a campus emergency evacuation drill the morning of Tuesday, October 2.

Students, faculty, and staff are asked to familiarize themselves with the Campus Evacuation Plan posted on the Campus Safety web page. As would occur in a "real" event, specific instructions will be sent via e2Campus text alerts, email, and network messages. Members of the Elmira College community that have not yet signed up for e2Campus Alerts, should do so before the drill. To sign up, click here.

On the day of the drill, students are to attend class as they normally would. Once the drill begins, specific instructions will be sent via e2Campus text alerts, email, and network messages. During the drill, alerts will indicate all messages being sent are "drill alerts" to emphasize the events taking place are not real. At the conclusion of the drill, an "all clear" message will be issued through e2Campus.

Following the drill, students are encouraged to discuss with faculty and fellow students "what if" this were a real incident.

"We've seen so many past incidents that illustrate how vital it is for a campus community to practice and prepare for a variety of emergency situations," said Brandon Dawson, dean of Student Life at Elmira College. "While this drill is not based on any particular situation, it is important for students, faculty, and staff to understand the various emergencies that can occur and the terms that are often associated with those situations."

Steve Vann, director of campus safety at Elmira College, agrees.

"There are national guidelines and terminology to help minimize confusion in an emergency - whether an active shooter, chemical spill, or severe weather. Students and employees should be familiar with common terms, like shelter in place, limited lockdown, and full lockdown."

Basics to know about each term include:

Shelter in Place means remain calm and seek immediate refuge inside the closest facility it is safe to access. If inside, be sure to close and stay away from all windows.

Limited Lockdowns may be issued due to a potentially hazardous incident on or near campus. If indoors, remain in that location and do not leave. If out on campus, students should return to their residence hall only, not to any other College property location as these will be locked and entrance will not be permitted.

Full Lockdown is due to an extremely dangerous situation reported on the campus. The campus community is directed to shelter in place, move to a room in which doors can be locked, and stay away from windows. In a full lockdown, no one should leave a position of safety unless needed for their own protection. If out on campus, do not return to a residence hall building or any other college property, as doors will be locked and no one will be able to gain entrance. Rather, leave campus immediately by safest and most direct route possible.

In the event of any of these situations, Campus Safety will provide further details, directives or announcements, and will announce via all communication methods possible when it is safe to proceed with a normal routine.

While practicing drills for various emergencies has become commonplace for many, we understand it can cause apprehension and uncertainty for others. The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity to ensure the EC campus community is #ECPrepared.

Any students, or staff, who are concerned about the drill and its impact on their wellbeing, are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Kevin Murphy, associate dean of students, at kmurphy@elmira.edu.

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As part of Elmira College’s on-going commitment to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our entire campus community, the College will conduct a campus emergency evacuation drill the morning of Tuesday, October 2.

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