York College Emergency Procedures

Quickly determine the best way to protect yourself. Initial alerts will not indicate the location of the shooter and are general in nature.

Upon receiving the alert, look and listen to determine if the shooter is nearby and would pose a threat to you if you try to evacuate the building you are in.

If you determine that the shooter is not nearby:

• Run — Have an escape route and plan in mind. Quickly exit the building you are in and get to a safe location off campus.
  • Leave your belongings behind.
  • Keep your hands visible to responding police officers.

If you determine that the shooter is inside the building you are in or is just outside and you cannot safely evacuate:

• Hide — Hide in an area out of the shooter's view. Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors. Silence your cell phone.

If you are actually confronted by the shooter, don't be an easy victim:

• Fight — As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression and use improvised weapons such as a fire extinguisher or chair.

The armed intruder/lockdown alert will be implemented in a situation where there is an individual on the campus who is known or believed to be armed and who poses a danger to the campus community. In this case, a campus lockdown will be communicated through the Emergency Alert System.

The intent of the lockdown is to limit access and hazards by controlling and managing staff and students in order to increase safety and reduce possible victimization. In a lockdown, buildings will have restricted access until the 'All Clear' is given, or until individuals are directed to evacuate by law enforcement, Campus Safety or other emergency personnel.

Lockdown Basics

• Remain calm
• If safe, check halls and clear them of students and staff
• Lock all doors and/or barricade with furniture if necessary
• Lock windows and close blinds
• Turn the lights off and remain quiet
• Turn off radios, computer monitors and silence cell phones as necessary. After securing the room, everyone should be positioned out of sight and behind items that might offer additional protection — walls, desks, file cabinets, etc. Do not unlock doors or allow anyone in or out until ordered to do so by proper authorities or until the 'All Clear' message is sent.

If you find yourself in an open area:

• Immediately seek protection
• Put something between you and the shooter
• Is escape your best option? Do you know where the shooter is? Is escape immediately available?
• If in doubt, find a safe area and secure it the best way you can

If you are not on campus when you receive the alert message, do not come to the College until the 'All Clear' message is sent.

No college or university can be completely locked down.

Should an employee receive a bomb threat, it will be treated as a serious threat to human life. The recipient shall attempt to learn as much information from the caller as possible.  

Some strategies to use are:

1. Keeping the caller on the telephone line as long as possible; asking the caller to repeat the message.
2. Listening closely to voice quality, accents and speech impediments; listening for background noise such as music, traffic, running motors, etc.; associating these sounds with possible locations.
3. If available, use the Bomb Threat Checklist Form to record every detail of the call.
4. Do not hang up the phone from which the call was received.

Immediately after learning of the threat, the recipient will notify Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone).

In the event of a campus or local emergency that requires the evacuation of the York College campus, the Emergency Alert System will be activated. Resident students will be directed to return to their residence halls and will receive instructions to report to one of the two evacuation sites listed below. 

Students with vehicles on campus are encouraged to carpool with those without transportation. Students without means of transportation from campus will be directed to report to the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center, where the campus shuttles will be used to provide transportation off campus. 

Commuter students and staff will be directed to secure their offices and work areas and evacuate the campus. If you are not on campus when you receive the alert message, do not report to the campus.

York County Emergency Evacuation Sites

• New Oxford Jr/Sr High School* (to the west of the College) — Make a right from the main College entrance onto Country Club Rd. Make a right onto Richland Avenue and follow to West Market Street. Make a left onto West market Street, which turns into Rt. 30 West. Follow Route 30 West (approx 14 miles) to the reception center: New Oxford Jr/Sr High School complex.
• Susquehannock High School* (to the south of the College) — Make a left from the main college entrance onto Country Club Road. Make a right onto S. George Street. Take I-83 South to the Glen Rock Exit, to route 216 West to Route 616 South to Fissels Church Rd. to the reception center: Susquehannock High School.

*Designated county-wide evacuation sites.

Building Evacuation

• All building occupants are required to evacuate when the fire alarm sounds or upon the order of an authorized College official, such as a Campus Safety officer.
• If time permits, stabilize lab procedures, turn off stoves and ovens, and unplug or disable any device that could make a dangerous situation even worse.
• Move to the closest exit and proceed down to the EXIT stairwell in a safe and orderly manner. Take personal belongings with you. Do NOT use elevators.
• Remain at least three hundred (300) feet outside of the building and evacuate to the designated location. Keep roadways open and beware of approaching emergency vehicles. Notify emergency responders of anyone trapped, especially anyone with a physical disability who cannot evacuate.
• Do not go back in the building for any reason until an authorized College official deems it safe to re-enter.

Large-Scale Evacuation

• If evacuation of part or all of the campus is necessary, monitor email, YCP Portal, and YCP Alerts for additional information.
• Those in need of transportation, unless otherwise directed, shall report to the Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center and await transportation to an off-campus site.
• Commuter students and staff will be directed to secure their offices and work areas and to evacuate the campus.
• If you are not on campus when a campus evacuation is initiated, do not report to campus.
   

Evacuating the Disabled

Pre-Planning is Important. If you feel that you may need assistance evacuating in an emergency, you should pre-plan and contact the Student Accessibility Services office at 717.815.1785. The Student Accessibility Services office works with the Office of Residence Life regarding the living arrangements of disabled students. Physically disabled employees should contact the Campus Safety office directly for assistance in pre-planning.

• Evaluate your need to identify yourself as someone who requires assistance during an evacuation. Some people who may need assistance have no visible disability.
• Master the skill of giving quick information on how best to assist you. Be clear and concise. If you have difficulty speaking, consider creating a preprinted message you could carry with you in case of an emergency.
• Establish a personal network consisting of people who are regularly in the same area as you. Do not depend on any one person, as they may not always be available. Assess your own abilities and communicate your capabilities and limitations to those in your network.
• Determine all of your evacuation options and prioritize them. Consider the pros and cons of each:
  • Being carried - You have a chance to get out, but you and/or your helpers may be injured in the process.
  • Evacuation chairs - Evacuation chairs are safer than being carried, and you don't have to wait for the fire department to reach you. These take practice to use safely, however, and the device has to be nearby.
  • Area of Rescue Assistance - Clearly marked area in select buildings for disabled persons to seek rescue by first responders during an emergency.
  • Use of elevators - Elevators are useful in non-fire emergencies; however, they are shut down automatically if the fire alarm is activated. The elevator shaft could also become a chimney for smoke, or the power could go out leaving the elevator stuck between floors.

Evacuation Procedures

• Attempt a rescue evacuation only when a physically disabled person is in immediate danger and cannot wait for professional assistance.
• If the building has an Area of Rescue Assistance, assist the disabled person to that area. If possible, at least one person should wait with the disabled person. For buildings that do not have an Area of Rescue Assistance, the disabled person should be moved to the nearest stairwell, or a room with the door shut, which is well clear of any hazardous area.
  ● Ask others leaving the building to notify emergency responders that a physically disabled person needs assistance in evacuating. Give the specific location.
  ● If waiting for rescue is not an option, two physically capable occupants of the building should be invited to volunteer to assist the disabled in evacuating. Ask how the disabled person can best be assisted or moved, and whether they require any special considerations or items that need to come with the person. Keep in mind that you may need to clear debris in order to safely evacuate.
  ● Do not use elevators unless told to do so by emergency responders.
   

Suspicious Letter or Package

If a suspicious unopened letter or package is discovered, or is marked with a threatening message such as "ANTHRAX:"

• Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
• Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
• If you do not have a container, then cover the envelope or package with anything (e.g. clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) and do not remove the cover.
• Then leave the room and close the door.
• Contact Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone).

Envelope with Powder Spill

If an envelope with powder is discovered and powder spills out onto surface:

• Do not try to clean up the powder. Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g. clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) and do not remove the contents.
• Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
• Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
• Contact Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone).

Chemical Spill

• Notify Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone). immediately.
• Do not attempt to clean up the spill.
• Remove yourself and others from the area (if outside, evacuate upwind).
• Close doors to isolate the area.
• If anyone has come into contact with the hazardous material, they should be isolated and await treatment by emergency responders.
• Do not pull the fire alarm unless there is a fire.
• Provide first responders with information about the spill, the chemical, and the spill area.
• Evacuate the building if first responders issue the evacuation order.
• Re-enter the building only when an "all clear" is provided by first responders.

If you discover fire or smoke, your first thought should be to get to a safe place and warn others.

• Pull the nearest fire alarm.
• Call 9-1-1; state the nature of the emergency (fire or smoke), location, and your name. Although this is important, never call from a place where you are in danger.
• Evacuate the building immediately by way of the nearest exit and proceed to the designated assembly area for your building (see below).
• Building occupants should use the stairs to exit the building. Elevators will be recalled to the first floor in the event of an alarm and will be inoperable.
• You can help to confine the fire if possible, by closing doors and windows while exiting.
• Assist anyone who needs help evacuating.
• Remain outside at your assigned assembly area until directed to re-enter by the fire department or Campus Safety personnel.

Should York College be advised that a weather emergency such as a tornado, hurricane, severe thunderstorm, flood, or other condition will pose an imminent threat to the campus community, the Emergency Alert System will be activated. In these circumstances, students and staff will be directed to shelter in place. It is safer to keep everyone inside a building rather than expose them to possible harm by allowing them to leave.

Shelter in Place

• If you are inside, remain in the building; do not attempt to leave
• If you are outside, seek shelter in the nearest building available
• Discourage others from leaving the building while keeping it open for entry
• Stay away from windows and exterior doors
• Seek refuge in interior hallways on the lower floors of the building
• Remain in your sheltered location until the 'All Clear' message is sent

Winter Storm

York College implements the following procedures for announcing operational changes during periods of inclement weather:

• The decision to delay or close the College due to inclement weather is made by the President, Dean of Operations, and in consultation with other senior College officials.
• Closings and delays are announced using the following methods:
  • YCP Notification (voice and text messaging)
  • YCP Email
  • College Website and Portal
  • YCP Facebook and Instagram
• Do not come to campus when a weather-related closing is announced. Employee access to the inner campus is typically limited to essential personnel, emergency vehicles, and snow removal personnel. If a weather closing is possible, take any needed items from campus in advance, as you may not be permitted to enter until snow is removal is complete.

Tornado

• A Tornado Watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes are possible in the area.
• A Tornado Warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar in the area.
• Monitor local TV stations and weather websites for severe weather updates.
• The campus siren system and YCP Alert will also be activated if the threat is imminent to York College. (Be sure to keep your cell phone charged and handy.)
• Be prepared to take shelter on the lowest level of your building or residence hall if a tornado warning is issued.
• Do not pull the fire alarm to alert others of a tornado warning.
• Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
• Move to an interior hallway for shelter
• Wait for an “all clear” notification prior to returning to your work area, classroom, or living area.
• If outdoors, lie in a ditch, low-lying area, or crouch near a building if shelter in not available or if there is not time to get indoors.

Incidents can also be reported via the Spartan Shield application on your mobile device.

Get a kit of emergency supplies.

• Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer. While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water and food. Always have a ready supply of water along with some non-perishable food – enough to get through a few days.

Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency.

• Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation. Use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Work out a communication plan with your family in the event that cell service is not available. Consider how far you would have to travel to get home and where you might go if you were unable to initially go home. Do you have friends or relatives within driving distance of York College? Communicate in advance with your family in advance in the event you lose communication with them.

Be informed about what might happen.

• The YCP Alert system is the College’s primary method of emergency communication. Register online for the YCP Alert system.
• Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family emergency plan, are the same for both natural and manmade emergencies. However, there are significant differences among potential terrorist threats, such as biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear, and radiological, which will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. 

By beginning a process of learning about these specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency.

Utility Failures:

• Immediately report utility failures during regular work hours (Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) to the Facility Services Office at 717.815.1351.
• Immediately report utility failures after regular work hours, on weekends, and on holidays to Campus Safety at 717.815.1314.

Phone & IT Failures:

• Call the LTS Helpdesk at 717.815.1559 during normal business hours to report an outage. If this number is not working or it is after regular working hours, on weekends, or on holidays, call Campus Safety at 717.815.1314.

If you become trapped in an elevator, the following actions should be taken:

• DO NOT panic. Use the elevator phone or your cell phone to call for assistance.
• Press the ALARM or HELP button to notify others who may be nearby.
• DO NOT attempt to force the door open or attempt to climb out of the elevator car. The elevator may restart without warning.
• Your best course of actions is to relax, get comfortable, and wait for professional assistance. Even if the air temperature feels warm, there is plenty of air circulating in the elevator and throughout the shaft.
• Provide the following information to Campus Safety:
  • Your name
  • Total number of people in the elevator
  • Report any injuries, medical conditions, or disabilities.
• Campus Safety will contact Facility Services and/or the fire department to get you out.

One or more of the following methods may be used to notify the campus community of various emergency events that may impact students, staff, faculty, and visitors on the campus.

• YCP Alert: Important emergency alerts, notifications, and updates are sent to all registered devices, including cell phone and email accounts, when there is an immediate threat to the safety of the College community. Students, parents, and employees may opt into the YCP Alert system by registering online.
• College Portal: Critical information is posted on the York College Portal for students, faculty, and staff.
• Email: Broadcast emails are sent to York College students, faculty, and staff.
• Telephone: Broadcast phone calls and text messages are sent to all enrolled YCP Alert members.
• Siren and PA system: During critical incidents, such as an active shooter or tornado, this system may be utilized to warn all persons on campus of an imminent threat to life.
• Spartan Shield: Push notifications may be sent through the application to subscribed users. Spartan Shield may be downloaded from:
  • Apple iOS
  • Google Play

In the event a student, staff person, or faculty member becomes ill while on campus, or suffers an accident that warrants prompt medical attention, the following procedures should be followed:

Non-Life-Threatening Situations

For non-life-threatening situations, contact the York College Department of Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone). Campus Safety will determine if the situation necessitates calling 9.1.1 or if the subject should be escorted to the Campus Health Center. If 9.1.1 emergency assistance is not needed, Campus Safety or a fellow student may escort the subject to the College Health Services Center in the lower level of the Student Union.

Campus Safety may transport students or employees in need of medical attention to the two local hospitals or Urgent Care. Campus Safety must have adequate manpower available. 

The student/employee:

1. Shall not have any injury/condition outside the realms of basic first aid.
2. Shall not be intoxicated.
3. Shall be 18 years or older.

Life-Threatening Situations

For life-threatening emergencies or serious accidents, contact 9.1.1. first and then contact Campus Safety at 717.815.1314 (ext. 1314 from an on-campus phone) for assistance.