Emergencies

The purpose of an Emergency Notification is to advise students and employees of a significant emergency or dangerous event that poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of the campus community. An Emergency Notification will be issued immediately upon confirmation of the situation.

Should a situation arise on or off campus that, in the judgment of Campus Safety and Security, constitutes a serious or continuing threat to students and employees, an emergency notification is issued without delay. The University employs the Livesafe platform to communicate emergency notifications with community members. Emergency communications are sent via email, SMS, and push notifications. If building evacuation is an appropriate response to the safety concern, the building’s audible fire alarm may be activated. (Exception: Initiation of the notification system may be delayed if, in the professional judgment of Campus Safety and Security, such communication will compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.)

A Timely Warning is a notification to students and employees through LiveSafe by Campus Safety and Security. The purpose of a Timely Warning is to inform students and employees of crimes that occurred and represent a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community. These are crimes normally covered under the Clery Act and reported to campus security authorities. Timely Warnings will be issued as soon as the information is available

Depending on the particular circumstances of a threat, notice may also be posted on the University’s official website. In addition, printed copies of the notice may be posted in residence halls; at the front door of each campus house, townhouse, and apartment; and in other campus buildings.

Anyone with information warranting an Emergency Notification or Timely Warning or with information about any crime or safety threat should immediately contact Campus Safety and Security by telephone (emergency: 434.544.5555; non-emergency: 434.544.8102), by emergency phone (see “Emergency Telephones”), or in person at the Campus Safety and Security office (first floor, Hall Campus Center).

A safety announcement is different from timely warnings and emergency notifications as it provides information about a crime that has occurred but does not pose an immediate threat. Its purpose is to aid the campus community prevent a similar incident from occurring, explain the presence of emergency vehicles on campus, or provide information about a crime committed off campus that may have relevance for the campus community. In general, a safety announcement is issued through the LiveSafe App by CSS. It usually includes the subject line “Safety Announcement,” a description of the incident, and suggested actions for preventing similar incidents.

Depending on the nature and severity of an emergency, the campus may be subject to evacuation. First responders and University officials will employ emergency actions deemed appropriate for the nature and severity of the emergency. The response may include a specific type of evacuation:

• Shelter in place:  Individuals should stay where they are, or if possible, go to an interior safe area of the building (see “Shelter-in-Place Procedures”).
• Building evacuation: One or more buildings, but not the entire campus, must move to a designated location.
• Campus-wide evacuation to on-campus location(s): Everyone on campus must move to designated on-campus location(s).
• Campus-wide evacuation to off-campus location(s): Everyone on campus must leave the campus and go to a designated off-campus location(s).

During an emergency, Campus Safety and Security may modify evacuation plans or decisions as deemed appropriate to the emergency and/or through consultation with the Student Development professional on call, the Crisis Management Team, and/or local police or fire officials.

Shelter in Place (or Place of Refuge) refers to taking refuge in a designated area of safety, such as a small, interior room with no or few windows (if possible), when it is not safe to go outside. The need for shelter in place may arise from air contamination, severe weather, an armed and dangerous person, or other criminal activity. Because different emergencies can require different safety locations, all students, employees, and campus visitors should follow the shelter-in-place instructions provided. Announcement of the need to shelter in place will be made via LiveSafe App, (email, SMS, and push notification) and/or text messages.

Components of shelter-in-place procedures include:

Shelter-in-Place for Contamination

• Close all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
  • If the danger includes possible explosions, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, if possible.
• Select interior room(s) above the ground floor with the fewest windows or vents and with adequate space for everyone to be able to sit.
• Bring everyone into the room(s) and shut the door(s).
• Remain in place until you are told all is safe or to evacuate. Updated information will be sent through the Livesafe App including an all-clear when the emergency is over.

Shelter-in-Place for Severe Weather

• Close all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
  • If you are in a laboratory equipped with a fume hood and/or a biosafety cabinet, close hoods, and sashes.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, if possible.
• Select interior room(s) below or at ground level with adequate space for everyone to be able to sit.
• Bring everyone into the room(s) and shut the door(s).
• Remain in place until you are told that all is safe or to evacuate. Updated information will be sent through the Livesafe App including the all-clear when the emergency is over.

Shelter-in-Place for Active Shooter or Other Criminal Activity

If an armed and dangerous person or an active shooter is outside your building and you cannot escape:

• Proceed to a room that can be locked. Close and lock all windows and doors and turn off all the lights.
• If possible, get everyone down on the floor and ensure that no one is visible from outside the room.
• One person in the room should call 911 and Campus Safety and Security (434.544.5555). Inform the dispatcher of what is happening and your location.
• Remain in place until the police, or a University of Lynchburg administrator known to you, gives the “all clear.” Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe spaces.
  • To verify the authenticity of instructions given to you by an unfamiliar voice, call the police or campus dispatchers (911, 434.544.5555) to establish a code word for the dispatcher to relay to the individual speaking to you on site. Wait for the person speaking with you on-site to convey the code word before following that person’s instructions.
• Do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that a police officer is issuing them.
• Updated information will be communicated as soon as possible through the Livesafe App

If an active shooter is in the same building as you:

• Determine whether the room you are currently in can be locked. If so, follow the same procedure recommended for a shooter outside your building.
• However, if your room cannot be locked, you should try to locate a nearby area that can be reached safely or exit the building safely, if possible.

If an armed and dangerous person or an active shooter is in the same building as you:

• Determine if the room you are in can be locked. If so, follow the same procedure described for an armed and dangerous person or an active shooter outside your building.
• If your room cannot be locked, determine if there is a nearby location that can be reached safely and secured, or if you can safely exit the building.

If an armed and dangerous person or an active shooter enters the room where you are located:

• Try to remain calm.
• Call 911 and Campus Safety and Security (434.544.5555) and alert police to the dangerous person’s location. If you cannot speak, leave the telephone connection open so that the dispatcher can listen to what is taking place.
• You can make attempts to:
  • Hide and shelter in place
  • Escape
  • Negotiate with the armed and dangerous person
  • Overpower the armed and dangerous person (which should be considered a last resort)
  • If the armed and dangerous person leaves the area, proceed immediately to a safer place. Do not touch anything that was in the vicinity of the armed and dangerous person.

Under all circumstances, if you decide to flee during an active shooting situation, make sure you have an escape route and plan in mind. Do not attempt to carry anything while fleeing; move quickly, keep your hands visible, and follow the instructions of any police officers you may encounter. Notify authorities where the injured are located as soon as possible. Do not try to drive off campus until advised that it is safe to do so by police or University administrators.

Other Criminal Activity

• Do not approach or attempt to apprehend the person(s) involved.
• Call Campus Safety and Security (434.544.5555) if you observe an ongoing crime or behavior you suspect is criminal. Also, call 911 (Lynchburg City Emergency Services). Report information, including:
  • The direction of travel, when last seen
  • Location
  • Physical and clothing description
  • Vehicle description, license plate number
  • Weapons or tools involved
  • What the person is doing
• If you believe you are safe, stay on the phone with the police dispatcher until instructed otherwise.
• Updated information will be communicated as soon as possible through the Livesafe App