Northern Virginia Community College

Definition: A Shelter in Place Procedure is implemented to keep people in a safe environment during an emergency or disaster.

Parameters: This emergency may be of short, medium, or long duration. People may not be held against their wills. The intent is to provide the maximum possible protection until the threat has passed.

This procedure would be invoked in circumstances including, but not limited to:

• Bomb explosion/s on campus or local surrounding area
• Nuclear, biological, or chemical attack/explosion in the National Capitol Region or Northeastern United States
• Hurricane, tornado, or other natural “Act of GOD” emergency, which threatens life, health, or property
• Sniper or terrorist suspect/s in buildings or on campus premises
• Hostage taking on campus
• Assault with suspect at large on campus
• Riot/student unrest on campus
• Drive by shooting on campus or in immediate area
• Gang violence on campus
• Unauthorized weapons discovered on campus

NOTIFICATION

In the event Shelter In Place is required, the Police, Business Manager, and/or Provost Staff will notify Building/Floor Wardens and designated runners from each division. Wardens, designated division runners, buildings/grounds personnel, and business office employees will notify people in their respective buildings (and floors).

If faculty, students, and/or support staff employees witness a potentially dangerous situation that may require Shelter In Place for the safety of people on campus, they should notify the Campus Police at (9) (703) 845-6270.

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proceed to the nearest classroom/facility if not already in a classroom. If classroom/office is on 4th floor, move students/staff to a lower floor (3d, 2d, or 1st) classroom/office, time and situation permitting.
• Use your best judgment in allowing access to any person needing protection.
• Secure and lock all doors and windows. Regarding lights and equipment, do not turn off anything that is on, and do not turn on anything that is off. TURN OFF GAS IN LABS!
• Keep everyone away from windows and doors. Everyone should be prepared to leave quickly, taking with them all their belongings, including cell phones.
• Have students get down and cover their heads, and if available and possible, get under sturdy pieces of furniture.
• No one should use cell phones until given permission, which should not occur until the nature of the emergency is known. (Cell phones can trigger bombs. Cell phones can tell an armed intruder where you are located. Cell phone traffic ties up communication lines needed by police and fire/rescue workers.)
• Monitor your e-mail, if available, for further instructions.
• Encourage people not to leave the room at any time, unless so instructed by the police or member of the Provost’s Staff. However, it is illegal to prevent them from going to the bathroom, leaving, etc. Tell them they leave at their own risk, and their leaving may cause risk to others-particularly if they jam up the roadway, so that fire/rescue and police cannot enter and move around campus easily.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF (NOT IN CLASSROOMS RESPONSIBILITIES

Library & Counseling (Bisdorf Bldg): Wardens should clear the front entrance foyer and hallways of people. Wardens must direct these people to the Library (Room 232) for Shelter In Place. The Library Staff will lock and secure all doors, safeguarding people in the library during Shelter In Place, and keeping them away from windows and away from locations where they can be observed from the outside.

Cafeteria: Wardens and Designated Runners must clear the cafeteria (to include patio and vending areas) and nearby hallways of people. These people will be sheltered in Rooms 132, 131 and/or 127/127A during Shelter In Place. Again, people should be kept away from windows and other locations where they can be seen from the outside.

Bookstore: The Bookstore Manager or Assistant Manager will secure its doors and shelter whoever is in the bookstore at the time Shelter In Place is implemented. These people will remain in the bookstore until given further instructions.

Offices: Office Staffs will secure all office doors, using their discretion in allowing access to newcomers. Offices will shelter any remaining, unattended students in the area during Shelter In Place, keeping them away from windows.

Tyler and Engineering Buildings: Respective Division Deans or their designated representatives are responsible for sheltering and safeguarding their occupants during Shelter In Place. Time permitting, administrators and instructors should attempt to move all occupants to the bottom floor and house them in interior classrooms and offices. Keep all occupants away from the windows.

Schlesinger Center: The Director is responsible for housing all occupants during Shelter In Place. Every effort must be made to contain all occupants in the main auditorium area. Encourage occupants to keep a low body profile, lie down between seats or sit on floor.

Facilities: Facilities staff will lock all mechanical rooms and secure themselves in their respective buildings, unless needed for assistance by the police.

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Campus will await instructions via e-mail, runners, or messages via Talk A Phone and phones, as to Shelter In Place progress and further actions to take.

ENCOURAGE EVERYONE NOT TO LEAVE YOUR ROOM UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE POLICE, PROVOST’S STAFF, OR THEIR DESIGNEES. HOWEVER, PEOPLE MAY NOT BE HELD AGAINST THEIR WILLS.