Important Local Numbers and Media Information
Rollins College is committed to reducing risk to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. It is the College’s intent to protect members of the campus community against avoidable and undue risks of injury or death due to hurricanes. It is the policy of the College to notify all employees and students of the elements of this plan and to expect them to read and understand its contents.
Definitions
a. Tropical Depression –
An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds* of 38 mph (33 kt**) or less
b. Tropical Storm –
An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)
c. Hurricane –
An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher. Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. A Category 1 storm has the lowest wind speeds, while a Category 5 hurricane has the strongest. These are relative terms, because lower category storms can sometimes inflict greater damage than higher category storms, depending on where they strike and the particular hazards they bring. In fact, tropical storms can also produce significant damage and loss of life, mainly due to flooding.
d. Hurricane Watch –
A hurricane watch indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours.
e. Hurricane Warning –
A hurricane warning indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less.
Responsibilities
· The Department of Campus Safety is responsible for notifying the campus community of this policy through the Campus Safety web site (www.rollins.edu/safety) and for reviewing this policy at least annually and maintaining and updating as necessary. The Campus Safety Department maintains written documentation regarding this policy.
· The Office of Residential Life, whenever possible, is responsible for enforcing, communicating and recommending updates for the Residence Hall Hurricane Safety Policies. Residential Life will alert students in residence halls of the issuance of a Hurricane warning and assisting them to the on-campus shelter if necessary.
· All Department Heads, Deans, Directors and Supervisors are responsible for reviewing and enforcing this policy to those they supervise. Should a department have a separate Hurricane policy document, the department head is responsible for updating it annually and sending a copy to the Safety and Emergency Planning Coordinator for inclusion into this document and/or the Emergency Operations Plan.
· All Employees and Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and adhering to the elements of this policy.
Hurricane Preparedness
Prior to the impacts of a hurricane, as a student, faculty, or staff member you will receive information about the storm, its impact on college operations, and sheltering on campus.
In the event that impacts to central Florida warrant a Hurricane Watch or Warning; there is a chance you will be asked to evacuate all residence halls and shelter on campus in a designated facility. In some types of storms, you may be asked to shelter in place in your residential halls for a period of time rather than moving into the shelter. For any student, faculty, or staff member with family and pet concerns that live off campus; we will also assist you with sheltering on campus if you choose.
If Rollins College activates its hurricane shelter plan, we ask that you bring a few items along with you to the shelter.
Items to Bring:
1. Medicine, prescriptions.
2. Baby food and diapers if you have family with you.
3. Games, books, music players with headphones.
4. Toiletries.
5. Battery powered radios and cell phones with chargers.
6. Flashlights.
7. A blanket or sleeping bag for each person.
8. Identification (you will be required to check in at the shelter).
9. Copies of key papers and vital records.
10. Cash, credit card.
11. If bringing a pet to be placed in the pet shelter, the pet will need to be crated and you must provide food and any other items you would like to have available for your pet. Cats and dogs will only be permitted.
Hurricane Watch or Warnings
1. Rollins Web Site and Information Hotline
The Rollins College emergency web site (emergency.rollins.edu) is the official source for information during an emergency. Depending on the damage caused by the hurricane or weather system, one or all of the following communication tools may be used: Web updates, broadcast e-mail, text, and phone messages, Rollins Information Hotline updates, television screen messages, informational flyers posted on campus and media advisories. Phone updates will be made on (407) 646-2000, which is accessible to general callers to the campus. This number becomes the Rollins Information Hotline in an emergency. Students, faculty, staff and parents may receive recorded updates by calling the main number (if there are separate messages, callers will be prompted accordingly). If the Incident Command Post is activated in 422 W. Fairbanks, we have the option of keeping the hotline with “informational messages” or having the phone answered by a live operator.
2. Weather Alert Radios
Several offices on campus have weather alert radios which will activate in the event of a hurricane watch or warning. Residential Life has been issued weather alert radios by the Department of Campus Safety office for use in each campus residential facility. If you reside on campus, you are encouraged to purchase a weather radio for your room and to keep it on at all times. These radios are especially helpful when you are sleeping and may not hear other forms of notification. Additionally, the Security office monitors the weather alert radio 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
3. City of Winter Park OUTREACH Emergency Alert System
This system, called OUTREACH, provides high speed notification of any and all hazards on multiple communication infrastructures simultaneously utilizing secure, reliable, mobile, interactive technologies. The system allows 9-1-1 operators and emergency managers to generate communications and transmit them via multiple systems such as cell phone (recorded phone call and text message), PDA message, home phone, e-mail, etc. The messages can be sent in a matter of minutes or can be specifically targeted to a group of people based on their need to know about the information. A network of outdoor voice-capable warning sirens/speaker devices have also be installed at strategic locations to give city-wide coverage.
4. Rollins Broadcast E-Mail and Voicemail Messages
Authorized personnel may elect to issue emergency notification information via broadcast e-mail and broadcast voicemails to Rollins e-mail accounts and Rollins phone lines.
5. Door-to-Door Contact
Normally used in the Residence Halls, Rollins officials may elect to supplement emergency notifications by going door-to-door to issue information and ensure that all persons physically occupying a building have been notified.
6. Posting of Flyers/Notices in key locations
College personnel may elect to supplement emergency notifications by posting notices or flyers at key locations throughout campus. This may be used to target visitors to campus who may not receive others forms of communication.
7. Local Media Outlets
The Office of Public Relations & Communications will supply pertinent emergency notification messages to local media outlets—specifically WDBO Radio (AM 580) and Orange Television. During emergency situations, College community members are encouraged to tune to these public media outlets to receive updated information as well.