The employees of Western Piedmont Community College strive to provide a safe, attractive, and engaging environment for our students and visitors. As part of that commitment, we provide these tips for emergencies on campus and ways for you to stay safe.

Campus Emergencies Checklist

Help With Emergencies

• Fire Emergencies
• Severe Weather
• Earthquakes
• Medical Emergencies

Fire Emergencies

If smoke or fire is discovered anywhere in a building or on the campus:

• PULL THE NEAREST FIRE ALARM.
• Call 911
• If others are nearby, ask them to call Campus Security at (828) 448-3500.
• Utilize Fire Extinguisher.
• Move away from the area. Isolate the problem as well as possible by closing doors and windows.
• DO NOT use elevators. DO NOT attempt to retrieve valuables.

Never attempt to fight a fire larger than wastebasket size. A small fire can generate enough smoke to cause serious injury. Never attempt to fight a fire by yourself. Call for help. Always stay between the fire and an exit.

• If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP AND ROLL!

All alarms should be taken seriously. If you hear an alarm, evacuate the building immediately. Each classroom and office suite has a floor plan beside the door that indicates in red the primary exit route and staging area. The secondary routes and staging area are in blue. The blue dot indicates location of fire extinguishers and the green dot indicates location of fire pull stations. The staging areas are listed below:

• Breeden Hall – Grassy Commons South Side
• C Building (North Side) – Grass Area
• C Building (South Side) – Grassy Commons
• Carr Hall – Parking Lot
• Cosmetology Center – Parking Lot
• D Building – Grass Area North Side
• E Building – Grass Area East Side & Grassy Commons Area
• ESTC – Driving Pad
• F Building – Grass Area North Side
• Farm – Driveway
• FHEC (at Zaxby’s) – North Side Parking Lot
• FHEC  – South Parking Lot
• H Building – Grass Area East Side & Grassy Commons Area
• Hildebrand Hall – Commons Area & Grassy Area South Side of Moore Hall
• J Building – Grass Area North Side
• Jim Burnett Hall – Grass Area Above Parking Lot #2
• Phifer Hall (Southwest Side) – Grass Area
• Phifer Hall (West Side) – Parking Lot
• Mechatronics (M Building) – Grassy Commons
• Moore Hall (East Side) – Flagpole
• Moore Hall (South Side) – Grass Area
• Patton Hall – Handicapped Parking Area & Grassy Commons Area
• Rostan – Grassy Commons
• Richardson Complex (Lower) – Parking Lot B & C
• Richardson Complex (Upper) – Parking Lot A & B

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

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Severe Weather

Conditions such as freezing rain, snow, tornadoes, hurricane strength winds, etc. may cause hazardous and possibly life-threatening conditions. In the event of severe weather, announcements will be made via the campus main number first at (828) 438-6000. Information can also be accessed through the college website at https://www.wpcc.edu/weather. Other methods of communication include text messages through the WPCC Messaging Service, email, and media. For severe conditions arising during school hours, students, staff and faculty are to remain in their assigned area (unless outdoors) until college administrators determine the seriousness of the conditions. Information regarding appropriate procedures for the safety, health and comfort of those remaining on campus will be delivered via email and text messages through the WPCC Messaging Service and outdoor emergency notification system if applicable.

Weather Information

Winter Storm Watch

A winter storm watch is issued when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter weather within 48 hours. It does not mean that significant and hazardous weather will occur. It only means it is possible.

Winter Storm Warning

A winter storm warning is issued when a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.

Flash Flood Watch

A flash flood watch means conditions are favorable for flooding to develop. Heavy rains may cause flooding in certain areas.

Flash Flood Warning

A flash flood warning means conditions are issued when a flooding has been detected or spotted in the area. A Flash Flood warning is roughly for six hours or less. Observe these flash flood safety rules. They could save your life

• Keep alert for signs of rain (thunder and lightning), both where you are, and upstream.
• Be especially cautious at night. It’s harder to recognize the danger then.
• Watch for rising water levels and don’t try to drive where water is over the roads. Parts of the road may already be washed out.
• Turn Around – Don’t Drown. Never drive your vehicle into water of unknown depth. Flood waters can rise rapidly and sweep a car (and its occupants) away.
• If you’re caught in the house by suddenly rising waters, move to the second floor and, if necessary, to the roof. Take warm clothing, a flashlight, and portable radio with you. Then wait for help…don’t try to swim to safety. Rescue teams will be looking for you.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

A severe thunderstorm watch is issued when severe thunderstorms are possible. It generally covers a large area.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm is occurring or expected to occur within a matter of minutes.

Tornado Watch

A tornado watch means conditions are right for a tornado to form. Keep apprised of weather conditions and be ready to take shelter.

Tornado Warning

A tornado warning means that a funnel cloud or tornado has been spotted in the area. Take shelter immediately in case a tornado approaches It is vital that all employees know that there is no such thing as a safe area in the event of a tornado.  However, there are safer areas within any building.  These are identified as follows.

Tornado Shelter Areas

Here are locations you should go if a tornado warning is issued:

• Breeden Hall – Conference Room
• C Building – Breeden Hall Conference Room
• Carr Hall – Rooms 138, 127, & 128
• Cosmetology – Room 111
• E Building – Rooms 10, 109, & 113
• ESTC – Tower lower level or Burn Building
• F Building – Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms
• Farm – Ditch (near wood line)
• Foothills Higher Education Center – Room 156 or Restrooms
• H Building – First Floor Room Room 112; Second Floor Room 214
• Hildebrand Hall – First Floor Storage Room-1, Room 2-A
• J Building – Room 30
• Jim Burnett Hall – Room 160
• M Building – Room 114
• Moore Hall – Auditorium
• Patton Hall – Rooms 26B and 27
• Phifer Hall – Rooms 92 or 99
• Rostan Hall – Breeden Hall Conference Room
• Richardson Complex – Restrooms, Rooms 210, 125, and 120A

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

Lightning

Lightning strikes may occur 5 to 15 minutes from the center of storm activity.  The general rule from the National Weather Service is, “If you can hear thunder, proceed indoors”.  If outside, the following practices can provide some protection from lightning strikes:

• Remove jewelry, coins, or other metallic objects that may attract lightning.
• Stay away from tall objects that attract lightning, such as trees or antennas.
• If in a hardtop vehicle, stay inside the vehicle.
• Before lightning strikes, hair on the head stands up. Crouch or squat close to the ground,   minimizing electrical contact.  Keep feet together.
• Treat any type of downed lines as energized, even if you think it is not an electrical line. Keep a minimum of 80 feet clearance between you and any downed line. Lightnining has caused electrical energy to travel several hundred feet through the ground.
• Call 911 if you see any lightning damage or downed power lines.

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Earthquakes

In the event of an earthquake and/or structural failure, there will be very little, if any, warning time in which to react.  Advise everyone (all building occupants) to take the following actions:

• If you feel the ground shake, take the following precautions immediately:
  1. DUCK – When the shaking first starts: DUCK or drop to the floor.
  2. COVER – Take COVER under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture. If there is nothing available to take cover under, crouch against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Stay away from window, hanging objects, mirrors or anything that might fall.
  3. HOLD – If seeking cover under a piece of furniture, HOLD onto it and be prepared to move with it during the quake.
• Stay near an interior wall. Do not use the elevators.
• During the tremors, do not attempt to exit the building. Most fatalities occur when people fail to take cover.
• Outdoors – move to a clear area, away from trees, signs, buildings or downed electrical lines and poles.
• When tremors have stopped, evacuate immediately. Damage to the structure is likely.
• Follow the facility’s general evacuation plan.
• If the building is not to be reoccupied, follow the facility directions from the Crisis Management Team onsite.
• Do not enter a damaged building until the Director of Crisis Management gives approval to reenter the structure.

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Medical Emergencies

In case of serious medical emergency, CALL 911 then:

• If others are nearby, ask them to call Campus Security at (828) 448-3500. Have them give your location and a description of the problem.
• Stay with the victim and follow instructions of the 911 operator.
• Avoid contact with any visible body fluids such as blood or vomit. Report spillage of any body fluids to Campus Security at (828) 448-3500.
• Keep the victim still, comfortable and warm.
• Protect the victim from any disturbances.
• Search for any emergency identification (i.e. ID bracelet).
• Wait for emergency help to arrive. Never leave the victim alone if at all possible.
• All staff and faculty are encouraged to attend a first aid and CPR training course.
• Know the location of a first aid kit and instruction book and replenish the contents on a regular basis.

If a psychological crisis occurs (e.g. suicide attempt, disorientation, confusion, panic), CALL 911 then:

• If others are nearby, ask them to call Campus Security at (828) 448-3500. Have them give your location and a description of the problem.
• Stay with the victim unless your safety is threatened. Wait for emergency response personnel to arrive.
• Stay calm and do not incite panic in others.
• Be sensitive to the family and friends during the crisis.

Locations of First Aid Kits and First Aid Rooms:

• Emergency Services Training Center
• Laboratories and Shops
• Maintenance Shed, Buildings and Grounds Office
• Physical Education Offices
• WPCC Pick-Up Truck
• Breeden Hall – Office 95
• Carr Hall – Room 141
• C Building – Room 102
• Cosmetology Center – Workstations and Dispensary
• E Building – Rooms 103A and 112
• Foothills Higher Education Center – Information Desk & Workforce Development
• H Building – Rooms 21, 2, 121, and 122
• Hildebrand Hall – Room 10A (near lobby), Room 10 (gym)
• J Building – Rooms 30, 35, 40, and 50
• Jim Burnett Hall – Security Office, Room 151, Room 261
• M Building – Rooms 105 and 112
• Moore Hall – BLET Office Room 103B, Business Office, Information Desk
• Patton Hall – Rooms 15, 104, and 112
• Phifer Hall – Library – Reception Desk
• Richardson Complex – Learning Center Room 210, Information Desk & Room 115A

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

Locations of Defibrillators

• Breeden Hall – Seminar Room 35 (break room)
• Cosmetology Center – Room 102
• Emergency Services Training Center – Tower
• H Building – Room 207
• Hildebrand Hall – Fitness Room (master key unlocks wooden door
• Foothills Higher Education Center – Information Desk
• Jim Burnett Hall – Security Office Room 151
• Moore Hall – Mail Room
• Phifer Hall – Library Reception Desk
• Richardson Complex – Room 115A (Workroom)

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

Locations of Ambu Bags

• Breeden Hall – Seminar Room 35
• Carr Hall – Room 141
• E Building – Room103A
• Cosmetology Center – Room 102
• Foothills Higher Education Center – Information Desk
• Hildebrand Hall (Student Services) – Room 125 (rear lobby cabinet 10)
• Jim Burnett Hall – Security Office Room 151 & Security Office Car
• Maintenance Director’s Vehicle
• Moore Hall – Information Desk; Room 10 in the closet by the time clock with wheelchair
• Phifer Hall – Library Information Desk
• Richardson Complex – Room 115A (Workroom)

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

Locations of Wheelchairs

• Jim Burnett Hall – Room 153
• Moore Hall –Room 10 in the closet by the time clock with wheelchair

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

Locations of Blankets

• Security Car
• Carr Hall – Room 141 (supply closet)
• Cosmetology Center – Room 102
• Moore Hall – Mailroom
• Richardson Complex – Room 115A

If you need general locations of buildings, consult the online campus map.

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Page updated January 24, 2022