"Crisis Management Team" Archive

Emergency response, evacuation procedures and notification of immediate threat

This information in this post is provided by Wake Forest University Police Department

The University maintains a Crisis Management Team which may be activated by senior University officials for response to emergencies on campus. The Team follows the guideline of the University Crisis Plan and the accompanying Incident Command System for the Wake Forest University Crisis Management Plan. Team members and University Police have received U.S. Department of Homeland Security Incident Command training. The University Crisis Management Team conducts emergency response drills annually and includes County Emergency Management, Winston- Salem Police, Fire and EMS.

BUILDING EVACUATION

How to evacuate:

  • When you hear a fire alarm, leave the building immediately.
  • Alert others as you leave and ask if they need help.
  • Close doors to slow the spread of fire.
  • Do not use elevators unless told to do so by emergency workers.
  • Do not attempt to extinguish a fire yourself if you risk putting yourself in danger.

Things to watch for:

  • Watch for people who need help, particularly people with limited mobility or physical disabilities.
  • Activate an alarm if told to do so by police or emergency workers.
  • Remain at an emergency assembly point. A head count may be taken, and emergency workers may have additional instructions.
  • Do not go back into a building until firefighters, police or University officials say it is safe.

How to prepare for a fire-related emergency:

  • Know your building’s floor plan. Remember where the stairs, fire extinguishers and emergency exits are located.
  • If you regularly visit the same location within a building, know exactly how many doors you will pass along your evacuation route before you reach the nearest exit.
  • Exit signs may be obstructed by heavy smoke, so you must know how to find an exit.

How to prepare for general emergencies:

  • Know your building’s floor plan. Remember where the stairs, fire extinguishers and emergency exits are located.
  • If you regularly visit the same location within a building, know exactly how many doors you will pass along your evacuation route before you reach the nearest exit. Exit signs may be obstructed in heavy smoke, so you must know how to find an exit.

How to prepare to leave campus:

  • If the campus is evacuated, or you choose to seek shelter with family or friends, plan ahead.
  • Tell your family and friends what your plan is, what route you will take, what means of transportation you use and when you expect to arrive.
  • If you have a vehicle, ensure that it is in good condition and keep at least half a tank of gas in the vehicle. If you do not have a car, plan for alternative means of transportation.
  • Take an emergency kit with you.
  • Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
  • Be sure to keep your campus ID and vehicle registration with you. Access to the campus may be restricted by closing gates and staffing the gatehouses.

University assessing conditions caused by storm; operations normal

This announcement was emailed to students, faculty and staff on Oct. 11 through the Wake Alert system:

The University’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) and other University officials have stayed alert throughout the day to the storm that passed through the area and continue to monitor the effects on campus and at University facilities, including Wake Downtown and the Charlotte Center.

At present, the University is operating normally. The CMT and others will continue throughout tonight and Friday to survey University facilities and respond to storm-related issues as needed.

Off-campus there are a number of problems caused by the storm, including power outages in Winston-Salem and other nearby areas, flooded roads, and downed trees. Affected areas include neighborhoods adjacent to the campus. Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to stay alert to any hazards they may encounter.

Officials are working now to assess which University-owned houses around the perimeter of campus may be without power.

On campus, the Porter Byrum Welcome Center and nearby Starling Hall are currently without electricity, and it is not known when power will be restored.

On campus, a tree came down and blocked Allen Easley Street for a short time this afternoon before it was removed. Trees also have been reported down at other University locations, such as Graylyn Conference Center, Reynolda House and the adjacent Reynolda Village. The University has contractors on hand to respond to downed trees.

Minor water leaks have been reported in some campus buildings, including residence halls.  Facilities and Campus Services staff are responding to all reports of leaks or any kind of water intrusion.

Flash flooding occurred at various locations on campus today, particularly in some parking lots.  University officials are attempting to determine if any vehicles experienced damage from flash flooding. Such flooding has been receding late today. All on campus are cautioned to stay alert to any flooded streets, parking lots, sidewalks and other areas they may encounter on or off campus. They are also encouraged to stay alert during drives off campus in the days ahead.

University officials urge that no one walk or drive through standing water. In addition, all are encouraged to stay alert to any potentially downed power lines they may see.

If anyone sees a hazardous condition on campus, please report it to University Police at 336-758-5911.

Wake Forest monitoring Hurricane Irma, preparing for potential effects

This message was emailed on Sept. 7 to students, faculty and staff by Communications and External Relations:

Wake Forest is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma as it makes its way across the Caribbean as a Category 5 hurricane.

The University’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) is communicating directly with local and state officials to plan appropriately while the path of the storm and its impact on North Carolina are still unknown.

Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency effective today for all of North Carolina.  Such a step is taken to help North Carolina prepare in advance for any effects that Hurricane Irma may have on the state.

At Wake Forest, there is no higher priority than the safety of our University community.  The University will continue to keep students, staff and faculty informed, as well as others.  Expect more communication as the potential impact becomes clearer.

If emergency conditions were to occur at Wake Forest, the University’s Wake Alert Emergency Notification System will be activated.  In an emergency, alerts and updates would be posted on the Wake Alert web site and distributed through other methods.

Frequently updated information on weather conditions at Wake Forest is available through WeatherSTEM.  The information is available through Facebook and Twitter (@WakeForestWxSTEM).  WeatherSTEM also offers apps for iOS and Android.

You may visit Irma.weatherstem.com to see Hurricane Irma’s proximity to Wake Forest.  Enter 27109 as the zip code.  You may also text Wake Forest’s zip code, 27109, to 336-750-6434 to get a text back in real time with Hurricane Irma information from WeatherSTEM.

Students whose families have been, or could be affected, by the storm may find the following resources helpful:

Wake Forest Communications and External Relations

If you're wondering how hot it is, just check WF weather stations

WeatherStemInsideWFUNow is the time of the year when many at Wake Forest are asking, “How hot is it?” Two new weather stations installed on campus will answer that question and many others about the weather around the clock.

The WeatherSTEM stations were installed, recently, on top of the Miller Center and the scoreboard at BB&T Field.  They use a combination of weather instruments and sensors to take environmental measurements and offer frequently updated details on temperature, humidity, the heat index, barometric pressure and much more.

Each station includes a sky camera, with one directed toward Kentner Stadium, Farrell Hall and Wait Chapel, while the other camera is directed across BB&T Field.

While the weather stations are useful for anyone interested in weather at and around the University, they offer valuable information to a number of University departments and groups, including the Wake Forest Police Department and the University’s Crisis Management Team.

Anyone with access to the internet can visit the web sites for the weather stations located at the Miller Center and BB&T Field.  Each web site–forsyth.weatherstem.com/wfu and forsyth.weatherstem.com/wfufootball–has a link to the other. The links are labeled “WEATHERSTEM UNITS” and can be found at the top right side of the sites. Read more

New Wake Forest weather stations offer weather data for all

WeatherStemInsideWFUNow is the time of the year when many at Wake Forest are asking, “How hot is it?” Two new weather stations installed on campus will answer that question and many others about the weather around the clock.

The WeatherSTEM stations were installed, recently, on top of the Miller Center and the scoreboard at BB&T Field.  They use a combination of weather instruments and sensors to take environmental measurements and offer frequently updated details on temperature, humidity, the heat index, barometric pressure and much more.

Each station includes a sky camera, with one directed toward Kentner Stadium, Farrell Hall and Wait Chapel, while the other camera is directed across BB&T Field.

While the weather stations are useful for anyone interested in weather at and around the University, they offer valuable information to a number of University departments and groups, including the Wake Forest Police Department and the University’s Crisis Management Team.

Anyone with access to the internet can visit the web sites for the weather stations located at the Miller Center and BB&T Field.  Each web site has a link to the other. The links are labeled “WEATHERSTEM UNITS” and can be found at the top right side of the sites. Read more

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