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Emergency Communications

  1. Emergency Notifications
  2. Campus Blue Light Phones
  3. Reporting an Emergency
  4. Announcement of Curtailed Operations

Probably the most critical aspect of planning for emergencies is communication. The College will do everything possible to communicate to you before, during, and after emergencies. This would include providing detailed instructions to you about the emergencies and what you need to do to ensure your own safety. Emergency response communication mechanisms are in place to allow for broadcast voice mail and e-mail messages for faculty, students, and staff should an emergency rise to the level of needing to communicate to the KSC community.

In an emergency, the College will speak with one voice. In general, all informational communications regarding emergencies to students, faculty, staff, the public, and the media will be made by Marketing and Communications. Marketing and Communications will work with emergency responders through a preset process to ensure that all information being reported is timely, factual, and informative.

Immediate decisions and orders requiring communications, such as evacuations, will likely be made by emergency personnel on the scene. But even then, unless it is a life-threatening situation, they will rely on Marketing and Communications to forward that information to you through other means, such as text messaging and website postings.

Emergency Notifications

Please check your voice mail or Outlook Exchange e-mail account regularly for any updated messages. Updated bulletins will also be posted on the home page at www.keene.edu and on MyKSC should an event occur that requires a campus-wide notification. You may also call the Keene State College Information Phone Line (800-352-1909).

When a situation exists that presents an imminent danger to the campus, the College uses an emergency notification system which is designed to send emergency messages to enrolled campus members via SMS (text) message, cellular telephone and/or e-mail. An “imminent danger” is one that threatens the immediate safety of the campus community, is not anticipated, and failure to provide such a warning may result in serious harm. Examples of such emergencies are a large scale chemical or hazardous material spill, an armed and actively violent person or a tornado. Messages will not be used unless the situation is determined to be imminent and requires immediate action.

More information and to enroll in the emergency notification system.

For faculty and staff, there is a place to indicate your office/work location (building) so messages can be sent out to individuals in specific buildings if necessary.

The College also has an outdoor warning system with voice notification capabilities. The siren system will only be used if the situation is determined to be imminent and requires immediate action. When the system is activated, a siren will be sounded and then followed by one of four pre-recorded voice messages, including:

  • Severe weather warning. Seek shelter immediately.
  • Attention: An emergency condition exists, stand by for instructions.
  • This is a test of the emergency warning system.
  • All clear. The emergency is over.

The siren system is also capable of live public address. A microphone or radio at Campus Safety or the Campus Emergency Operations Center can be used to broadcast critical communications specific to the event.

Campus Blue Light Phones

Learn the locations of the emergency blue light telephones which are placed throughout the campus and do not hesitate to use them to summon a Campus Safety Officer. These phones connect directly and immediately to the Campus Safety dispatcher, while relaying the exact location of the caller.

To operate the phones in academic buildings, simply lift the receiver from the cradle. To operate outdoor phones, turn the handle, open the box, and push the red button.

Reporting an Emergency

When calling Campus Safety or 911 to report an emergency, be prepared to answer the dispatcher’s questions (be as detailed as possible):

  • What is the nature of the emergency? Tell the dispatcher to call for paramedics if it is a life-threatening emergency.
  • Where is the emergency?
  • Where are you?
  • When did it happen?

Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. You may be given instructions to assist a victim, provide additional information, or wait for responding emergency personnel.

Announcement of Curtailed Operations

In the event of extraordinary weather conditions (or other emergency), the President may declare curtailed operations for Keene State College. The decision to curtail operations is made because road conditions are dangerous, campus conditions are dangerous for parking and pedestrian traffic, or there are utility and power outages. In that case, the College will close regular operations and essential personnel from the staff will provide necessary services.

Decisions on curtailed operations will be made by 6 a.m. for morning closings and by 2 p.m. for evening closings.

The decision will be communicated in the following ways: voice mail to all campus phones, broadcast e-mail, an announcement on the home page at www.keene.edu, and/or a news item on MyKSC. The following television and radio stations will also be notified: WMUR-TV (channel 9) in Manchester; the local radio stations WKNE (103.7 FM), WKBK (1290 AM), WZBK (1220 AM), WOQL (97.7 FM), and WINQ (98.7 FM); WTSA (96.7 FM) and WKVT (1490 AM) in Brattleboro, Vt.; WEVO (89.1 or 90.7 FM) in Concord; and WYRY (104.9 FM) in Winchester. The information is also available via the College’s 800 number: 800-572-1909.

Some departments or buildings on campus, including those providing services to on-campus students, are considered essential and, as such, may be required to remain open during curtailed operations. “Essential personnel” are drawn from administration offices, Residential Life, Campus Safety, and Physical Plant and are determined by the area principal administrator. Unless an emergency requires a complete evacuation of the campus, housing and meals will always be available.

For more information, go to www.keene.edu/administration/policy/detail/weather/.

Emergency Handbook – Page 2 of 12

About this Policy

Ownership: Environmental Health and Safety; Campus Safety
Last Modified: Mar 25, 2021 – bcaulfield@keene.edu
Categories: Safety
For questions regarding this policy, please contact the policy owner.
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