Direction and Coordination of an Emergency

Victoria College employees are advised to call 9-911 in the event of a major emergency. This will bring local police, EMS, and fire department officers on campus providing expertise and support for campus security personnel.

• The caller should specify the nature of the emergency, the location, and provide other information that may be applicable.
• The employee should then notify campus security at ext. 2580, ext. 3-911 or by calling 220-1389.
• Security will notify the President and Vice President of Business and Administrative Services.
• The President or his representative will determine the appropriate level of emergency response and to what extent the ERT (Emergency Response Team - the Operations Group and/or the Policy Group) will become involved.
• The President or his designee shall declare a state of College Level 4 or 5 emergency when, upon recommendation of the Operations Group Leader, he deems it necessary to place into immediate effect emergency procedures and/or to close the College. This individual will also activate the ERT Policy Group as the situation dictates.
• The President or his designee shall declare an end to the state of emergency when appropriate.

Phone

Each telephone has attached to it the number to dial to contact Police, Fire, or ambulance, as well as the number to contact the Campus Security Officer at extension 2580, extension 3-911 or by calling 220-1389.

Hazardous Materials

A hazardous materials compliance committee is responsible for overseeing all activities necessary to ensure safety procedures are followed in all areas where hazardous materials are found.

Each area containing hazardous materials has been identified and individuals selected to be responsible for:

1. establishing an inventory of all hazardous materials found in the area
2. securing proper labels for the materials
3. securing material safety data sheets (MSDS)
4. proper storage of materials
5. proper disposal of hazardous material.

In the event of an accident involving hazardous material, the following steps should be taken:

1. Evacuate the area
2. Notify the fire department by calling 9-911
3. Be available to advise the fire department of the type and quantity of material involved.
4. Notify campus security, the President or one of the Vice Presidents.

Fire

In the event of a fire, the following steps should be taken:

Step 1: If feasible, extinguish the fire using the fire extinguisher located in the building. No employee is required to attempt to extinguish a fire; instead, they may continue with 2 below. If successful, skip to 3.

Step 2: If the fire cannot be extinguished:

1. Use the fire alarm if available in the building.
2. Notify the fire department by dialing 9-911.
3. Notify campus security, the president or one of the vice presidents.
4. Be available to advise the fire department of the type of fire and location, but do not interfere with their work.
5. All instructors should have their students exit the building.
6. The last person to exit each room should help isolate the fire by closing all windows and doors.
7. Guide students away from the building and make every attempt to account for every student.

Step 3: If the fire has been extinguished, contact the Director of the Physical Plant or campus security and advise them of the location of the fire.

• Exit information is posted in each building for best possible routes for leaving the building.
• Fire extinguishers are located on each floor of every building

Universal Precaution

Across the nation, the Department of Labor and State Health Departments are enforcing precautionary measures in schools with janitorial staffs and teachers.

OSHA recommendations regarding protection from HIV (AIDS Virus) and HBV (Hepatitis B) are based on the Universal Precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for all workers who may be in contact with blood and other body fluids.

In the custodial closet of each building is a kit call RED-Z that is to be used to clean up spilled body fluids. Instructions for use are on the kit, however, only trained employees should use it.

Injury or illness

General Guidelines

If an employee, student or visitor has an accident or experiences illness while on campus, Victoria College employees who are at the scene are responsible for: (1) providing first aid within their scope of knowledge and skill, or (2) immediately referring the matter to another employee who is readily accessible who will manage the situation, or (3) calling 9-911 for an ambulance. No employee is required to personally render aid.

Persons who sustain injuries or experience illness should be encouraged to contact their personal physician for follow-up care.

The Vice Presidents of Student Services, Business and Administrative Services, Arts and Sciences, Workforce and Economic Development or the President (in this order) may be contacted to assist in decision making and implementing appropriate procedures.

College employees are asked not to provide transportation for injured or ill persons under any circumstances. However, if employees choose to transport a victim, they do so at their own risk and liability.

If an injured or ill student requests that a family member or a friend be notified to transport them, contact Student Services to make the arrangements.

An employee should not hesitate when warranted to call EMS even in the event students/visitors state they are unable to pay the ambulance fee and do not have health insurance.

Complete an incident report on all accidents, injuries and illnesses. Employees completing the report should only record facts and direct observations; do not draw conclusions regarding cause. If the person refuses to be transported by EMS, document their refusal on the incident report. Have a witness if possible. Forms are available from campus security. Completed forms should be sent to campus security with 24 hours.

Emergency Equipment

A first aid kit containing Band-Aids, small bandages, antibiotic ointment, tape, gloves, one-way valve equipped mask and sugar concentrate is located at the following locations:

• Administration Building - Business Office
• Academic Building - Room 107
• Allied Health Building - Room 109
• Continuing Education Building
• Fine Arts building - Room 114
• Johnson Hall - Room 100
• Language building - Suite 100
• Library - 1st floor circulation desk
• Museum - reception desk
• Science Building - Rooms 106 and 203C
• Sports Center - gym storage room
• Student Center - Room 101D
• Technology Center - Room 102
• Wood Vocational Building - Room 119

Eye wash equipment is located in the following locations:

• Allied Health Building - Room 121
• Science Building - Rooms 103, 105, 204, 205, 207, and 208
• Wood Building - PTEC and Welding labs

Safety showers are located in the following locations:

• Allied Health Building - Room 121
• Science Building - Rooms 105, 106, 204, 205, 207, and 208

Severe Weather Alert (excessive rain or icy roads)

Call 361-573-3291 for a recorded message about campus closure due to severe weather.

An emergency decision to dismiss classes or close the campus will be made by the President when weather or other conditions pose a potentially serious threat to the health or safety of the College’s students and employees.

The President will make the decision after consultation with appropriate College personnel and representatives of public health or safety agencies. In most situations, the College will close if Victoria Independent School District and the University of Houston-Victoria close.

The decision to close will be communicated using the following process:

1. The President will notify the respective Vice Presidents who will in turn notify their division and/or department heads who will notify the faculty and staff who report to them. This process will be done by telephone if the school day has not yet begun. It may be done in person, by e-mail or by telephone if classes are in session.
2. The President will notify the Public Information Director who will be the first person responsible for notifying the news media of the closing decision. Area radio stations and the local television station will be notified and should be listened to as the principal source of information when a potential emergency condition is present. The following people in priority order are authorized to make this official notice:
   1. Director of Marketing and Communications
   2. President
   3. Vice President of Instruction
   4. Vice President of Business and Administrative Services
   5. Vice President of College Advancement and External Affairs
   6. Vice President of Student Services
3. If the President is not available then the following chain of command shall be followed in making the emergency decision to close:
   1. Vice President of Instruction
   2. Vice President of Business and Administrative Services
   3. Vice President of College Advancement and External Affairs
   4. Vice President of Student Services

The decision to close the campus means that all scheduled classes and activities (both day and night) are cancelled.

Media notified:

• KAVU/KNAL/KTXN Radio - Victoria
• Texas Radio KTXN - Victoria
• KVIC 95 & KPLV & KAMG - Victoria
• KCTI Radio - Gonzales
• KIXS & K107 Radio - Victoria
• KWED Radio - Sequin
• KHMC Radio - Victoria
• KVLG/KBUK Radio - LaGrange
• KVRT Public Radio - Corpus Christi
• KIOX - Bay City
• KVLT K-LITE Radio - Victoria
• Kz105 Radio - Victoria

Severe Weather Resources

Hurricane Preparedness

• Hurricane Preparedness (ms-word)
• Hurricane Preparedness (pdf)
• VC Campus Police & Security - Hurricane Preparedness 2006 (ms-word)
• VC Campus Police & Security - Hurricane Preparedness 2006 (pdf)

Hurricane Checklists

• WCTI News Channel 12 (Eastern North Carolina) Hurricane Checklist
• KHNL News Channel 8 (Hawaii) Hurricane Checklist
• Bay News Channel 9 (Tampa Bay, Florida) Hurricane Checklist

Online Weather Services

• National Weather Service
• Weather.com
• Weather Underground
• AccuWeather
• Intellicast.com

Predicted Emergency

When conditions permit and the impending emergency situation (major hurricane) provides ample time, the Vice President of Business and Administrative Services will assemble the ERT Operations Group to formulate a plan of action for recommendation to the Policy Group.