RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY

The University of Southern Mississippi has detailed plans in place to deal with emergencies and crisis that may occur on campus.

In the event that the campus community must be notified of an emergency or crises on campus, the following mechanisms could be used:

• E-mail alerts to all faculty, staff, and students
• USM web page
• Phone messaging system
• Voice messaging utilizing alert siren
• Media alerts to local TV and radio outlets
  Note: Text messaging and voice alert system in buildings will be on line in 30-45 days.

If you are notified of or involved in an emergency or crisis, stay calm, assess the situation, and be prepared to take safety precautions based on your personal situation.

• Stay away from the area of the emergency or crisis.
• Find a safe place and stay there until you are notified that the emergency is over.
• If you are directly affected by the emergency, call 911 or USMPD 266-4986 as soon as it is safe to do so. Provide as much information as you can and stay on the phone until told to hang up.
• Alert others if you can without endangering yourself.
• Evacuate the area by a safe route if possible.
• If the emergency is an active threat and you are unable to evacuate the area, attempt to seek an area of safe refuge.
• If you must seek refuge, secure doors and windows as quickly as possible and barricade as many items between you and the threat.
• Do not attempt to make contact with the individual(s) responsible for the threat unless no other option is available.
• Once in a secure location, do not open the door for anyone but the police.

The University of Southern Mississippi Police Department if a fully recognized law enforcement agency by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Officer are highly trained and capable of responding to all types of emergencies that would include the active threat such as a shooter. Officers train for specific types of situations and participate in regular training exercises. USMPD has local agreements with the Hattiesburg Police Department, Hattiesburg Fire/Haz Mat, Forrest County Sheriffs Office, Lamar County Sheriffs Office, Petal Police Department, Forrest General Hospital, and the Forrest County Emergency Operation Center. If the emergency or crisis calls for additional assistance all of these agencies are prepared to respond to USMPD call for assistance.

While we hope that our emergency plans will not have to be put into action, USMPD are prepared to handle any situation that may arise.

EMERGENCY & CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE

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