Western Piedmont Community College
Western Piedmont Community College

Lockdown Procedures

Upon discovery of an armed intruder on campus, a hostage situation, and/or any other situation that may be deemed dangerous that would expose individuals to greater harm if they did not remain in a sheltered area, faculty and staff should immediately report any safety concerns to the front desk at (828) 448-3500 or campus security at (828) 448-6196 or 911.

In the event of a critical incident, it will be the responsibility of the President of Western Piedmont Community College or his/her designee to make an initial assessment of the incident and determine which lockdown procedure, if any, should be implemented. If he/she determines that a situation exists that warrants lockdown conditions, then he/she will notify college staff via the Emergency Messaging System (EMS).

Preventative Lockdown: Condition Yellow

Preventive Lockdown: Condition Yellow 

Definition

A preventive lockdown is a way to rapidly enhance the level of security in the facility. It means that a dangerous situation exists around the campus area that warrants staff and students remain inside.All exterior doors will be locked so that only an  emergency exit is allowed Security and administrative staff will see that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors remain inside until the all clear signal is given. No one will be allowed to move from building to building. This type of lockdown does, however, allow staff and students to continue with classes within that particular building.

Procedures for Preventive Lockdown Condition Yellow
  1. The president or his/her designee will alert faculty and staff that a preventive lockdown is in effect via EMS (Emergency Message System) and/or email, text messaging, telephone, or siren.
  2. The president or his/her designee will notify Morganton Public Safety to make sure that they are aware of the situation requiring a lockdown. Specific details should be given.
  3. If it is safe to do so, security and college lockdown coordinators will immediately conduct a check of the campus to ensure that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors go inside and remain inside.
  4. If it is safe to do so, security, environmental services, and college lockdown coordinators will verify that all exterior doors have been secured. Lockdown coordinators should continue to monitor their building to ensure that all persons are adhering to the lockdown procedures. Security will continue to monitor the entire campus.
  5. The president or his/her designee should brief staff as soon as it is possible. This could be accomplished in person, by telephone, pager, or email. All communication lines will remain open until the situation is resolved.  Everyone needs to be prepared to upgrade to an emergency lockdown (condition red) if the situation requires it.
  6. Once the situation is resolved and the president or his/her designee has deemed the situation safe, he/she may then implement condition green, all clear. All campus activities should resume normal operations.
Emergency Lockdown: Condition Red

Emergency Lockdown: Condition Red

Definition

An emergency lockdown (condition red) is a response to an actual emergency situation on the campus. It means that an armed intruder or hostage type situation actually exists on the campus and that the potential for great harm is imminent for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This type of lockdown is used to rapidly enhance the level of security on the campus. This type of lockdown further requires that all staff and students immediately seek safety from the potential threat in a secured and locked classroom or office.

Procedures for Emergency Lockdown Condition RED
  1. The president or his/her designee will alert faculty and staff that an emergency lockdown (condition red) is in effect. This will be communicated via the EMS (Emergency Message System), email, text messaging, telephone, and/or siren.
  2. The president or his/her designee will notify Morganton Public Safety informing them of the situation and that the College is in an emergency lockdown. Specific details should be given to law enforcement, so they can plan their response.
  3. All faculty, staff, students, and visitors will immediately seek safety in the nearest classroom or office. Faculty will ensure that students are safely led to a classroom or office area and that the hallways are clear.
  4. Once students are secured inside, faculty or staff will close and lock the door to the area where they have sought shelter and turn off the lights. All will remain quiet and out of sight.
  5. Do not open the door for persons claiming to be law enforcement or other emergency responder unless their identification can be verified, or you have been instructed by verified college administrative staff.
  6. Do not respond to any fire alarms. Armed intruders have been known to activate the fire alarms in order to get persons to move from their secured areas. If there is an actual fire alarm, you will be notified by the administrative staff.
  7. The president or his/her designee should, when safe to do so, brief administrative staff as soon as possible.
  8. College faculty and staff will utilize the RED CARD to notify emergency responders only if someone is injured or in need of medical attention or there is some other life threatening  emergency  This card should be slid under the entrance door and/or placed on an exterior window  of the occupied room, so that when emergency personnel are searching the building they will know the status of the area.
  9. The president or his/her designee will remain in close communications with emergency responders. When it has been determined that the potential threat is over and/or has been eliminated, the president or his/her designee along with the incident commander may implement the all clear (condition green), or they may decide to down grade to a preventive lockdown (condition yellow). If the all clear signal is given, then the College may resume normal activities. If the preventive lockdown is implemented, then the procedures for condition yellow will be followed until the all clear signal is given. This will be communicated via the Emergency Message System (EMS), text message, email, telephone, in person, and/or siren.
  10. Following any lockdown procedure, the president or his/her designee should meet with security, college lockdown coordinators, and other designated administrative staff and faculty to conduct a briefing and evaluation of the incident. All faculty and staff should be made aware of why the lockdown was implemented.
  11. In some situations, your best option may be to  hide, run or fight.  Use your judgment given the circumstances. Policy should never override commonsense or experience.

Command Post

If it is determined that the College should be in a full lockdown (condition red law enforcement will designate a secure area for the command post. It will be the responsibility of the president or his/her designee to maintain communications with emergency personnel so as to keep responding personnel abreast of the current conditions, so that they can make a proper evaluation of the situation at hand.  Administrative staff should not place themselves at risk by exiting a secured location to perform any function. It is imperative that college officials understand that they are a valuable source of information to responding emergency personnel, and they can only be a resource if they do not jeopardize their own safety.

Conclusions

All faculty, and staff are required to have the computer on in their classroom or their office area at all times, so that if a lockdown procedure is implemented they will be able to receive the alert. Faculty and staff may be asked to submit a cell phone number in order to receive emergency text messages regarding a lockdown. Each building should have designated persons that will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the persons in their building and that lockdown procedures are being followed.