CCV’s Emergency Reference Guide was designed as a tool to assist faculty and staff in case of an emergency such as a medical emergency, fire, bomb threat, evacuation, or property damage.
Emergency Notifications
CCV uses a mass text and phone alert system, to communicate information quickly and efficiently about center closings and emergency situations on or around centers. This is a free service, but depending on your plan, your cell carrier may charge a nominal fee for text messages you receive.
These are the two standard emergency messages you may receive from CCV’s emergency alert system and what they mean. Depending on the circumstances, these commands may be accompanied by information specific to the situation: 1) Weather Cancellation, and 2) Emergency Notifications.
Weather Cancellations
Students are encouraged to check their CCV email and the public website homepage at ccv.edu to see if their in-person class is canceled.
In the case of severe weather and a CCV center closure, students, faculty and staff at that center will receive an emergency notification via text and phone informing them of the closure.
Emergency notifications informing students and faculty of individual in-person class cancellations will not be issued; class cancellations will be communicated by faculty and can be found on our public website at ccv.edu.
Emergency Situations
In the case of an emergency event at a CCV academic center, students, faculty and staff will receive an emergency notification via text and phone informing them that access to the facility is restricted and instructing them not to go to the center before checking ccv.edu for updates.
Emergency Evacuations
Emergency evacuations may be triggered by the fire alarm system or the public announcement system.
Fire Alarm System
The presence of an actual or possible fire will be noted by the activation of the fire alarm. This alarm may be activated because of either a smoke or heat detector triggered due to the detection of smoke, dust, combustion, or sudden increase in room temperature in selected areas. An alarm may also be activated by pulling a manual alarm station located near an emergency exit. Once activated, the alarm will sound throughout the building from the red fire horns and visually as a pulsing strobe from the same devices.
All persons (students, faculty, staff, and visitors), unless assigned specific responsibilities, must evacuate the building by the nearest stairwell exit or street level exit to a safe distance from the building. Persons should use the nearest emergency exit unless the primary exit is blocked by fire or smoke. In that event, use the nearest unobstructed exit. Exits are identified by illuminated exit signs located over the exit door. If you are unable to use the stairs to exit the building, let your instructor or a staff member know so they can relay that information to fire personnel. When the fire alarm is activated, the elevators will not work. Occupants should never attempt to board an elevator when a fire alarm in activated.
Public Announcement System (PA)
There may be some cases where pulling the fire alarm is not appropriate. In these cases, the PA system will be used. The PA system will announce an evacuation order that says, “This is an emergency evacuation. Leave the building immediately and proceed to your designated assembly area.”
Evacuation Maps
If you are in a CCV academic center and an evacuation alert is issued, please refer to the evacuation map located on the inside of the room door and make sure you know both the primary and secondary evacuation routes. Locate the fire alarms and fire extinguishers throughout the center.
Once you are at your designated assembly area, do not reenter the building until a CCV staff member directs you.
Active Security Threat
The Community College of Vermont is dedicated to providing a safe atmosphere for learning and success. While Vermont is one of the safest states in the nation, we acknowledge the vital importance of preparing for acts of violence.
If you are in the building and there is danger, it is possible that someone will trigger the lockdown message: “Attention. There is an emergency in the building. Follow run/hide/fight protocol. The police have been notified.”
CCV, in alignment with the other VSC institutions, has adopted the Run, Hide, Fight protocol to prepare our college community for emergency situations involving violence.
In the event of an active shooter or other immediate threat in your vicinity, take these steps, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
- If possible to leave safely: RUN. and get to a safe place, and alert others in the vicinity to do the same. As soon as you are safe, call 911. Stay quiet, turn out lights, lock the door and await instructions.
- If not possible to leave: HIDE. Call 911. Pull blinds, turn out lights and lock the door if possible. Barricade the door with desks, tables, etc. Silence your cell phone. Position yourself away from windows and doors. Stay quiet and await instructions.
- If the threat is imminent and the other 2 options aren’t possible: FIGHT. Improvise weapons from chairs, water bottles, fire extinguishers or anything else easily accessible. Commit to your actions.
The Safety Committee encourages all students, faculty, and staff view this Run, Hide, Fight video that was recommended to CCV by a Vermont municipal police chief.
DISCLAIMER: The video contains content that may be disturbing for some viewers.
Students, please contact your Coordinator of Student Advising (CSA) with any questions or concerns. Faculty, please contact your Coordinator of Teaching and Learning (CTL) with any questions or concerns.