About

Emergency Preparedness

South Georgia State College has a commitment to ensure the safety and general welfare of students, staff, faculty, and visitors to its campuses. The SGSC Police Department is responsible for Emergency Preparedness and has developed an Emergency Response Plan in an effort to mitigate and prepare for disasters by developing plans to address the threats and risks that may occur on campus. This plan is fashioned in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies that govern emergency preparedness.

Familiarizing yourself with emergency procedures is one of the most important ways that you can be prepared for an emergency; therefore, portions of this plan have been made available for quick reference.  The intent is for the plan to be viewed as a tool to maximize survival, preserve property, minimize danger, and restore normal operations of the college with a minimum of confusion and wasted effort.

Emergency Response Tips

Emergency situations occur each year taking lives, causing injuries, and damaging property.  These events can occur at any time on or near the South Georgia State College (SGSC) campuses and may range from natural disasters to civil disturbances.  Taking preventative measures through preparation and planning will assist in ensuring a swift and efficient response to an emergency.  Although no amount of planning or response can always prevent the loss of life or damage to property, this plan has been developed with the hope that threats to persons or property will be greatly reduced.  South Georgia State College (SGSC) is as diligent as possible in compiling and updating information regarding its Emergency Response Plan. Abbreviated versions of the plan, Emergency Response Quick Reference Guides, have been made available in all classrooms of the Douglas and Waycross campuses.  

Emergencies have been grouped into four categories: natural, accidental, societal, and medical.  For more information regarding hazardous events refer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency by clicking here.  In addition, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency website provides information on various emergency situations.

Emergency Preparedness Quick Links

NATURAL CAUSES

 

Natural disasters can create emergency conditions that vary widely in scope, urgency, and degree of damage and destruction. Weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly and without warning. Always pay close attention to weather conditions via the internet, radio, and/or through personal observation and be prepared to act without notification.

 

As a severe weather condition approaches South Georgia State College, Campus Police (D) and Physical Plant will monitor the National Weather Service radio and other weather information outlets, as much as practicable, for potential severe weather reports. This information will be transmitted via South Georgia State College’s Emergency Notification System to allow the maximum amount of time to prepare for safety and property damage control and to make decisions effecting the operation of the College.

 

However, severe or hazardous weather conditions can develop in seconds and may not allow for formal means of communication.

 

In the event that weather is immediately threatening,

  1. Do not leave the building or initiate building evacuation unless there is a fire.
  2. Save computer information. Unplug all personal computers, and other equipment.
  3. Close and lock windows. Curtains should be fully drawn.
  4. Remove pictures from walls.
  5. Find a wall near the interior of the building. Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
  6. Take cover under desks or tables, if possible.
  7. Crouch in a fetal position near the wall, with hands over head until the weather passes.

 

When severe weather strikes, power may be disrupted, causing alarms to sound. If fire is not immediately present and a clear exit is maintained, everyone should remain in place until the weather passes.

The following is a list of many types of Natural Causes Emergencies that can be experienced in our area:

       Earthquake

       Extreme Heat

       Flash Flood

       Hurricane

       Thunderstorm

      Tornado

      Winter Storm Advisory

ACCIDENTAL EVENTS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Like natural disasters, accidents can create emergency conditions that vary widely in scope, urgency, and degree of damage and destruction. Most accidental events have no warnings as to their occurrence. There are four areas of accidental events:

  • Fires (chemical, natural gas, electrical or ordinary structural).
  • Hazardous chemical accidents or spills (vapor or liquid)/Transportation accidents (airplane, railroad car, vehicle).
  • Explosions (compressed gas, containerized liquid or manmade).
  • Prolonged utility outages (gas, electricity, cooling system, water).

   Fire

   Chemical Spills & Hazardous Materials

   Nuclear Incidents

   Biological Agent Threats

   Explosions

   Prolonged Utility Outages

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

 

REPORTING THE EMERGENCY

    • Contact 911 and advise the dispatcher that an emergency medical situation exists. Give name, location, and information concerning the emergency.
    • Check victim’s breathing and pulse. Give CPR if necessary and you are qualified to do so.
    • Control victim’s bleeding. Apply direct pressure and elevate the wounded limb if no fracture is obvious. If a fracture is suspected, do not move the victim unless necessary.
    • Calm and reassure the victim. Protect the victim from disturbance and exposure. If the situation dictates and you are qualified to do so, assist in providing first aid and CPR, as requested.

 

INFECTION CONTROL

    • Everyone should follow the Universal Precautions as described by the Center for Disease Control. Avoid contact with bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields.
    • Utilizing these precautions, assume all patients are infected with HIV and other blood borne pathogens. All body fluids should be treated as hazardous.

Emergency Notification Systems

COMMUNITY BROADCAST SYSTEM

SGSC employs an outdoor siren to inform the campus community about an emergency. The siren is designed to be heard from a great distance and will broadcast short, pre-recorded messages that advise of the situation at hand.   The siren will sound for imminent emergencies some of which could be life-threatening.    Below are examples of when siren activation may occur

     • Severe weather or tornado warning
     • A major chemical spill or hazard
     • An armed and dangerous person on or near campus

When the threat is over, the siren will sound again with a pulsed-steady tone and a voice message will announce: "Attention, all clear. All clear. Resume normal activities. All clear."

BLACKBOARD CONNECT

Notifying the campus community is crucial in time-sensitive situations. Blackboard Connect communications has been selected to deliver time-sensitive notifications to students and staff. This service provides the ability to reach students and staff members with information and updates during unforeseen events or emergencies, within minutes, through phone calls, e-mails and/or text messages.

Sample Message

Description: Thefts and Burglary

SGSC Police Department has issued a notice to students, staff, and faculty regarding recent thefts from several campus areas including offices, classrooms, and service vehicles on the SGSC campus.

At this time, no students have been victims in any of these incidents.

Staff and Faculty should always be mindful to lock office areas and classrooms.

Please be observant of suspicious behavior and report anything out of the ordinary to the SGSC Police  Department immediately. Individuals with information on these recent incidents should call SGSC police at 911.

Crime Tip:
 Remember to guard personal property by locking your vehicle and your residence hall door. Don't leave valuables in plain sight (even in your vehicle). It only takes a moment for someone to steal unattended items.

NOTIFICATION TESTING

South Georgia State College tests its notification systems monthly. The tests will be conducted the first Wednesday of the each month between 11:30 A.M.. and 12:00 P.M.. The outdoor alarm will sound with a chime and test message.  Blackboard Connect testing will include email, text, and occasionally phone via the Connect system. 

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