Emergency Info

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Emergency Plans

Employees and students should be prepared to cope with the hazards and disasters that threaten the day-to-day functions of the College. The following instructions were prepared to help you know what to do if there is an emergency. 

Reporting an Emergency

In the event of an actual life threatening emergency, please dial 911. To contact campus safety, please dial 785-741-2206. Campus safety is available 24/7.

Before taking any action, be sure you are not endangering yourself. Avoid any unstable structures, electrical wires, toxic fumes, chemical spills, fire, etc. Do not jeopardize your life or the lives of others in attempting to save personal or College property.

When you call, give:

  1. Your name
  2. Your telephone number and location
  3. Name and location of emergency
  4. Don’t hang up until the person answering the call ends the conversation
  5. If the emergency involves students, please refrain from making further calls to friends or parents. If at all possible notify the Vice President of Student Services immediately. College administration will contact any additional parties that needed to be informed.

Acting in an Emergency

  1. Remain calm, use common sense, and render assistance. Don’t panic
  2. Evacuate buildings immediately upon hearing an audible alarm, or when remaining in the building becomes life-threatening
  3. Know the location of at least two emergency exit routes in your working area.

          Do Not:

1. Use the telephones for reasons other than emergency purposes
2. Use the elevators or chair lifts in emergencies or attempt to exit stalled elevators

Medical Emergencies:

Do not exceed your training or knowledge when attempting to render first aid. Immediately dial 911 or 6000 and report the nature of the illness.

Fire Emergencies:

  1. Know how to activate the fire alarm
  2. Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them.
  3. Know all building exit routes. Elevators should not be used for exit in the event of a fire. Keep exit routes free of obstruction.
  4. Have emergency telephone numbers attached to telephones

If a Fire is Suspected or Discovered:

  1. Activate the fire alarm and call SECURITY or 911. Give as much information as possible, including building name, floor, and room number of the possible fire. Never attempt to fight the fire alone.
  2. Where there is no alarm, warn other occupants by knocking on the doors and shouting a warning.
  3. Leave the building. As you exit, close doors and windows behind you to prevent the fire’s spread. Go to the nearest exit or stairwell. Do not use elevators. If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat or smoke, go to the alternate exit.
  4. If there is smoke in your room or in the hallways, keep down near the floor.
  5. Before opening a door, feel the door and/or knob. If either is hot, do not open the door.
  6. Open the door slowly. If heat or heavy smoke is present, close the door and stay in the room. Open a window to let the heat and smoke out and fresh air.
  7. If you are trapped in your room, call 911 and/or Security and give your location. Hang an object out the window to attract attention.

Bomb Threats

If you receive a threatening call:

  1. Notify Security (785-741-2206) immediately.
  2. Notify your supervisor
  3. Ascertain as much information from the caller as possible, such as:
    1. Where is the bomb?
    2. When will it go off?
    3. What is the caller’s age?
    4. Is the caller warning you to have the building evacuated?
    5. Why is the caller threatening to set off a bomb
  4. Do not touch suspicious objects.
  5. Do not attempt to find the bomb.

Robbery Assault

These procedures should be followed to help assure your safety:

  1. Cooperate. Give the person exactly what he/she asks for, nothing more.
  2. Remember distinguishing traits: color of clothing; hat or no hat; beard or moustache; race approximate height, weight, and age.
  3. Note the type of weapon used.
  4. Listen carefully to notice voice characteristics and what are said.
  5. Note direction of travel or flight after the confrontation. Check vehicle type and license number if possible.
  6. Notify police immediately 442-3212

Sexual Assault

Many victims of sexual assault do not know where to turn for help, know what to do after an assault. The following steps should serve only as a guide.

  1. Get help quickly
  2. Call 442-3212 for police assistance
  3. The victim should call a close friend or relative
  4. Do not change clothes or shower. You may destroy valuable evidence needed by the police.

Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

It shall be administrative policy of Highland Community College that no person shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity of Highland Community College as required by Public Law 92-318.

In compliance with Section 86.8 of P. L.> 92-318, the President of the College has been designated as the Compliance Officer and the employee responsible to coordinate he efforts of the college to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under this Act, including any investigation of any compliant communicated to Highland any actions which should be prohibited by this Act. The Compliance Officer may be contacted by mail at Highland Community College, 606 W Main, Highland, Kansas 66035 or by telephone 785-442-6010.

Random Acts of Violence

Personal safety should be a primary concern. If a situation occurs in which your personal safety is in immediate danger, remove yourself from the building if at all possible. 

Contact 911 or Security as soon as possible.

The Director of Residence Life or Security will notify those in other buildings and provide instructions.

If you are aware of others being injured, refrain from contacting family members or friends. The President or designee will make all necessary contacts, including media statements.

Power Outages

Occasionally, the City of Highland experiences power outages. We do not always know the extent of these outages, but offer the following guidelines:

  1. If outage occurs during the daytime while campus offices are open, contact maintenance.
  2. Please wait at least fifteen minutes to give maintenance the opportunity to determine the problem. We will notify you if it cannot be fixed immediately.
  3. If the outage is extensive and does not seem to be fixable within the immediate future, dismiss your classes. This is a judgment call.

Vehicular Accidents

If you collide with an unattended vehicle, stop immediately, attempt to locate the vehicles’ owner, or notify the VP of Finance & Operations or the Vice President of Student Services. If this is not possible leave a note with your name, address and telephone number.

Damage under $350.00

If you are involved in an accident resulting in damage under $350.00 you must stop and give the following information to the owner/operator of the other vehicle:

  1. Your name
  2. Your address
  3. Registration number of your vehicle;
  4. Your driver’s license number

Vehicle Damage over $350, injury or death related to vehicular accidents on the HCC campus.

If an accident results in damage over $350, if there is a question about the amount of damage, of if an accident results in injury or death on the HCC campus, notify the VP of Finance & Operations and/or the Vice President of Student Services and the local police immediately.

College Vehicles

Report immediately all collisions involving College vehicles to the Business Office Manager, regardless of the amount of damage. Procedures and contacts appear on the back of the form used during vehicle checkout. Please refer to those procedures when operating a college owned vehicle.

Fumes/Vapors/Gas Leaks

If a vapor, fume or gas leak enters you work place and you cannot determine the sources, leave the area immediately.  Post a do not enter sign and contact maintenance 442-6110 or Switchboard 442-6000.

Winter Storms

When a severe storm occurs on campus, the College President decides whether the campus will close or personnel should leave work early. Personnel are notified through their department supervisors. When notified to leave campus, please do so without delay.

Students, faculty, and staff who question whether the College will be open after a major overnight storm should tune into 103.9 KNZA-Hiawatha. A message will be left on campus switchboard regarding campus closings.

Tornados/Severe Weather

Kansas is located within an active tornado zone. Actions taken before, during and immediately after a tornado may be the difference between life and death.

When a tornado is confirmed to be in or near Doniphan County, Police or Emergency Preparedness will activate the storm warning sirens.  Furthermore, college officials will activate the campus emergency alert system.  A message will be broadcast across the campus speaker system and sent via email and text message for those signed up to receive RAVE alerts. Everyone should take cover by going to a designated shelter area. Specific locations of shelter areas are printed on bright blue signs located in each building. If at all possible, do not use the Administration Building basement as a shelter.

Shelter Locations:

Lower level Library Student Union
Lower level Administration Building
Lower level Yost Hall
Lower level locker rooms Allen Fieldhouse

Student Housing Residents:

If these locations are not open or available, go to the lowest level of the apartment building you reside.

The “take shelter” siren has a wailing rise and fall sound that will operate for 15 seconds, then turn off for 5  

The college speaker system and RAVE alert text messaging system will also send an all clear message when the dangerous storm has passed.

The city alarms are located off campus, but can easily be heard from outside any building. At the college, an additional hazard exists due to the number of chemicals and gas lines in laboratories. Try to avoid these areas for shelter.

General Instructions

  1. Don’t go sightseeing
  2. Move towards the lowest level and center of the building. Stay away from windows.
  3. Do not use the telephone except to report medical or fire emergencies, safety hazards or criminal activity
  4. Keep walkways and loading dock areas clear for emergency vehicles.
  5. Cooperate with public safety officials. Do not go into damaged areas unless your help is requested.

Distribution of Public Information Arising from Campus Disasters

In the event of a tragedy or disaster impacting the campus community, please do not contact employees, students, parents of students, media or others. Any and all notifications of death or disasters, relating to or involving students and employees while associated with a college event or on campus, will be handled by the Vice President of Student Services, the Marketing Director, the President or the President’s designee.

If you are involved in a college event that results in the death of an employee or student, notify the Vice President of Student Services or the President as soon as reasonably possible. These individuals will make the appropriate notifications.

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