Emergencies are very rare. However, when they occur, timeliness of communication and response is critical. The University of Lynchburg has instituted emergency procedures to effectively communicate the status of an emergency to the University community and keep everyone as safe as possible.
Please review the emergency information so that you are aware of these procedures.
Emergency Notification
Should a situation arise on or off campus that, in the judgment of the Office of Campus Safety and Security, the Office of the Dean of Students, and/or the Dean on Call constitutes a serious or continuing threat to students and employees, a timely warning is issued without delay.
Most often, the warning is issued to all students and employees via email as a written “security alert.”
If the safety of people outdoors is urgently threatened, the outdoor campus early alert system is used to make audible announcements. (Exception: Initiation of the notification system may be delayed if, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, a timely warning will compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or other mitigate the emergency.)
The purpose of a security alert is to inform the campus community that a crime or other emergency posing a serious or continuing threat to students or employees has been reported and to provide information that will aid personal safety and the prevention of similar crimes.
In general, a security alert includes the subject line “Security Alert,” a description of the safety threat, and of the suspect (if available), suggested actions for protecting oneself, and crime reporting contact information. Follow-up security alerts may be sent to provide new or clarifying information collected as the threat is addressed.
Security alerts are sent via email to all students and employees when classes are in session. During spring, summer, fall, Thanksgiving, and winter breaks in classes, security alerts are sent via email to all employees and to the appropriate subset of students residing on campus.
Depending on the particular circumstances of a threat, the Office of Marketing and Communications may also post a notice on the University’s official website. In addition, printed copies of a security alert may be posted in residence halls; at the front door of each on-campus house, townhouse, and apartment; and in other campus buildings.
Security Alert Text Messages
Additionally, students and employees may elect to receive abbreviated versions of security alerts via text message. To register for this supplemental text message safety notification service, a student or employee must provide a cell phone number on the registration form posted on MyLynchburg (click on “Personal,” then on “My Notifications”).
Anyone with information warranting a timely warning through a security alert 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, or in person at the Information Desk (first floor, Hall Campus Center).
The purpose of a safety announcement is to aid the community in preventing a similar incident, to explain the presence of emergency vehicles on campus, and/or to provide information about crime committed off campus in Lynchburg that may have relevance for the Lynchburg community (e.g., an incident at another local campus, a series of thefts from cars parked on streets near campus).
In general, a safety announcement issued to students and/or employees through the University’s email system by Campus and Security, the Office of the Dean of Students, or the Dean on Call includes the subject line “Safety Announcement,” a description of the safety incident, and suggested actions for preventing similar incidents.
The pre-recorded and live public address announcements that follow the siren tones are prone to echoing among campus buildings; how well one is able to understand the messages will depend on one’s location. All possible adjustments have been made to the system to improve the audibility of the voice messages; however, in some areas of campus, the messages can be very difficult to understand.
There are ten (10) pre-programmed messages on the campus alert system:
- “The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning. Take shelter immediately. Repeat, the National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning. Take shelter immediately.”
- “The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning. Take shelter immediately. Repeat, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning, take shelter immediately.”
- “Attention! Armed and dangerous person alert. Seek a secure location.” Repeats 3 times.
- “Warning, this is an order to lock down. Proceed to a secure location. Repeat, this is an order to lock down. Proceed to a secure location and wait for further instructions.”
- “Attention. Dangerous situation reported on campus. Take cover and stay in place until further information is provided. Repeat. Take cover and stay in place until further notice.”
- “Attention…Attention… Please remain in a sheltered area until further notice. Attention…Attention…Please remain in a sheltered area until further notice.”
- “There is a building-wide power outage. Avoid using open flames or candles during this outage”
- “This is a test of the Campus Emergency Alert System. This is only a test. “
- “This is an all clear. The threat has passed. This is an all clear. The threat has passed. You may now resume normal activities. All clear.”
- “Attention: The University is now closed. Tune to local media for further information.”
If the siren sounds due to severe weather or tornado warning:
- Seek cover in the closest building if you are outside.
- Stay in your classroom, room, or office if it is in the interior of the building; OR go to an interior hallway of the building; OR go to the lowest level possible; OR in a house or apartment, go to the center of the house or the bathroom.
- Stay away from windows, glass doors, and glass walls.
- Monitor the University of Lynchburg website and your email for updates and instructions.
- Call 911 immediately if you have any information about damage or injuries.
- Stay in your area until you receive the “all clear” message from the Crisis Alert Siren or a message from a University official or emergency worker.
If the siren sounds due to an intruder (or if an intruder has been observed):
- Go to the closest classroom, room, or office and stay there.
- Shut the door and lock it, if possible; AND if possible, place a desk or chair in front of the door; AND if possible, wedge a shoe or belt under the door to prevent it from opening.
- Turn off the lights.
- Keep yourself and others in the room as quiet as possible, and switch cell phones to vibrate. Mute all computers, projectors, CD players, and other machines.
- Stay away from windows, glass doors, and glass walls.
- Monitor the University of Lynchburg website and your email for updates and instructions.
- Call 911 immediately if you have any information about the intruder or about injuries.
- Stay in your area until you receive the “all clear” message from the Crisis Alert Siren or a message from a University official or emergency worker.
