Emergency Sirens

Activation of the Emergency Siren Alert System implies that the Randolph College campus community is experiencing an "Immediate Catastrophic Event." Examples of these events may include hostile intruders, terrorist incident, mass violence and severe weather warnings (tornado). Such an event also implies that personal injury, loss of life and/or catastrophic property damage is imminent.

This emergency also activates the Critical Incident Management Plan. Other notification methods such as mass campus email alerts, e2Campus text and email alerts and campus telephone voicemail alerts may be activated in advance of the emergency alert siren sounding.

When activated, the siren will sound steadily for about three (3) minutes (LISTEN: Emergency Siren Sample - mp3). Should you hear the emergency alert siren at anytime, (unless you have been informed of siren testing) you should take the following action:

• Stop what you are doing.
• Evaluate your surroundings… this is your best method of personal protection.
• Be prepared to take immediate self-protective action.
• Immediately seek safe shelter or any area of refuge.
• If you are in a residence hall room, classroom or campus office, you should close and lock the door, if possible. If the door cannot be locked, barricade the door with desks or other large items. Close window blinds or curtains. Stay away from windows.
• DO NOT activate the building’s fire alarm!
• Prepare to receive information from electronic sources such as computers, cell phones – text messages, campus telephones and other media outlets. You may also receive instruction/information in-person from College employees, Campus Security and/or Residence Life personnel. This information will advise you of the nature of the emergency and how to proceed.
• Do not leave your area of shelter until you have been instructed that it is safe to do so. Campus Security and/or emergency personnel will notify you directly or by any means indicated above once the situation is under control or has passed.
• Confinement for Safety - Card access doors will be locked once the threat is identified. A campus-wide facility confinement involves staying inside a secure/safe location and NOT evacuating unless instructed to do so by Campus Security or Public Safety officials.
• If at any time you need Campus Security, Lynchburg police or emergency medical services and a campus phone is available, call the Switchboard at ‘0’, dial 434-947-8000 from a cellular telephone, or call 9-1-1. Clearly inform the operator of your location and the situation, such as a medical condition or other critical issue. Try to remain as calm as possible.

This communication does not include campus emergency procedures in its entirety, but should serve as an information resource regarding what to do if the emergency alert siren sounds. Portions of the College’s Emergency Procedures and Safety Information are linked to the Campus Safety and Security web page, which may be found at http://web.randolphcollege.edu/security/.

Further information and training concerning emergency preparedness is forthcoming. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your questions or concerns about campus safety and security at Randolph College.

- Kris L. Irwin
Director of Safety and Security