Preparing Yourself For Emergencies

The first step in preparing for emergencies is to take the time to discuss preparedness with your family or circle of friends. When an emergency occurs, it is not likely that everyone in your family or circle of friends will be in the same place at the same time. Therefore, the first thing to do is open a discussion on what each person will do during an emergency. It is also important to include in the discussion other people with whom you are dependent upon for assistance. Listed are links to obtain general preparedness information and material to assist you in personal preparedness planning.

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency-State of Hawaiʻi
• Department of Emergency Management-City and County of Honolulu

What To Do If An Emergency Occurs On Campus

Emergency Response and Action Plan

WCC’s Emergency Response and Action Plan provides procedures for managing emergencies that may threaten the health and safety of the WCC community or disrupt its programs or other activities. This Plan outlines emergency preparedness requirements and responsibilities and identifies and individuals who are directly responsible for emergency preparedness, response and recovery. This Plan will also provide the necessary guidance to organize and direct Windward Community College’s operations in the event of an emergency and/or civil defense action.

Evacuation Information

If an evacuation from a structure is required (e.g., a fire incident), the fire detection system will sound an alarm. Upon hearing this alarm, follow the posted exit signage as well as any instructions provided to you by Campus Security Department personnel and/or faculty and staff.

Evacuation locations are dependent on many factors. The location choice will be determined based on the information received such as the incident area and the type/severity of the emergency. Therefore, we recommend that you be especially alert to instructions provided to you by campus officials and act quickly upon their guidance and direction. If there is no location provided to you, exit the area away from the threat (if it is a fire, find a location away from the direction of the smoke and as far away as possible; for examples, the Great Lawn or a parking lot).

From time to time, the campus will conduct a fire drill to test the readiness of both the campus response personnel and the campus community. It is important that these drills are taken seriously; and, that you actively participate in the evacuation processes. Drills provide valuable information on issues that can arise during evacuation. This information is used to make improvements to evacuation procedures.

Seeking Shelter or Shelterin-In-Place

Should there be an incident that requires seeking immediate shelter or sheltering-in-place (e.g., an incident involving a person with a gun or knife), the Campus Crisis Management Team will—based on the assessment of Campus Security Department personnel or other Campus Security Authorities—initiate an emergency notification through the UH Alert System. If you have not already opted to receive messages on your smart phone, sign up for UH alerts here.

If you are confronted with such an immediate, threatening situation, Windward Community College recommends that you utilize the “Avoid, Deny, Defend” (ADD) concept which has been adopted by the Honolulu Police Department. To learn more about your personal safety options during such a confrontation, go to the internet to view the video “Avoid, Deny, Defend”

Although the video scenario is for an active shooter incident, the “ADD” concept can be applied to other situations involving an immediate threat to your health and safety.