Packing for disaster
How to prepare
for an emergency
College evaluates readiness
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEBBIE FOX
The w orld carries m u ltip le th rea ts,
in c lu d in g b u t n o t lim it e d to
e a r th q u a k e s and m a ss m u rd ers.
Clackamas Com m unity College could
face any catastrophe.
In lig h t o f th e Oct. l sh o o tin g at
U m pqua C o m m u n ity C o lle g e, th e
question rem ains: is CCC prepared
for an unexpected event?
G regg R am irez, C la ck a m a s Fire
D istrict No. l E m ergency M anager,
s a id , “ P r e v e n t io n s h o u ld b e
addressed as w ell as respo n se tips.
T h e re sh o u ld b e a ca m p u s -w id e
a w a re n e ss p ro gram fo r so m eo n e
experiencing a m ental health crisis
and reporting suspicious activity or
packages. If you see som ething, say
so m eth in g.” Ram irez also suggests
quarterly fire drills, earthquake drills
and active threat drills. Practice w hat
should be done in an actual event.
The Clackam as Fire Prevention and
Education d epartm ent recom m end
a s tu d e n t sh o u ld h a v e in th e ir
possession a cell phone and charger,
a fam ily com m unication plan and a
72 -h ou r kit in their car or a student
backpack em ergency kit. FEMA has
a ch ecklist available onlin e, free o f
ch a rg e, te llin g p eo p le w h a t th e y
should be carrying in an em ergency
kit.
Bobby Sm ith, Director o f Cam pus
Safety said, “ We are rather fortunate
here because a lot of our structures are
concrete based, so it w ill w ithstand a
lot from some of the natural disasters
and w eather disasters that follow. We
alw ays recom m end, like th e y have
always taught us, go to a secure part
o f the building — a doorw ay.”
If a ll p o w er is lo s t and th e ce ll
towers are down, CCC w ill have to rely
on the old-fash ion ed way, according
to Sm ith. Cam pus officers w ill go to
each building, checking to see if there
are still people inside and assistin g
4 Clackamas Print OCTOBER 2 8 .2 0 1 5 theclackamasprint.com
in evacuation efforts. Building
m anagers w ill be n otified and
o fficers w ill go door to door to
let s ta ff know o f the outage.
Lori Hall, Public Inform ation
O fficer a t CCC said, “ I th in k
the ready.gov w ebsite, because
th e y d eal w ith a ll e m erg e n cy
p re p a re d n ess, e s p e c ia lly th e
w e a th e r o n e s, are im p o rtan t
for people to kn o w .”
W hen
th e
u n e x p e cte d
happens, be part o f the solution,
n o t th e p ro b le m . P re p a re
and be read y fo r a ll ty p e s o f
d is a s te rs . Be aw are o f yo u r
surroundings. Take in ven to ry
of your environm ent and gather
im portant facts. These tips may
m ean th e d ifferen ce b e tw ee n
life and death.
In the event that there is a shooter on campus,
take precautions to ensure your own safety.
According to the Active Shooter Reference
Guide from U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, In m ost cases, active shooters
use firearm s and th ere is no p attern
or m ethod to th eir selection o f victim s.
Knowing w hat to do can save lives. When
law enforcem ent arrives, remain calm and
follow instructions. Drop items in your hands
including your coat, purse, backpack or
anything else that might contain a weapon.
Raise your hands and spread your fingers,
k eep in g your hands visible at all tim es.
A void quick m ovem ents toward officers,
such as holding on to them for safety and
avoid pointing, scream ing or yelling. Do
not ask questions w hen you are evacuating.
Im portant in form ation to provide to
911 operators includes the location o f the
active shooter, the num ber o f shooters,
p h y s ic a l d e s c rip tio n o f s h o o te r (s ),
n u m b er and ty p e o f w ea p o n s used,
and p o te n tia l v ic tim s at th e location .
W h en an a ctiv e sh o o ter is in yo u r
v ic in ity , you m u st be p repared b o th
m e n ta lly and p h y sica lly to deal w ith
th e situation . You have th ree options:
1 Run. Create an escape route and plan
in mind and leave your belongings behind.
Evacuate, regard less o f w h eth e r o th ers
agree to follow. Don’ t try to be a hero, but
h elp o th ers escap e, if p o ssib le. Do not
attempt to move the wounded, but prevent
o thers from entering an area w here the
active shooter m ay be.
2
ffA M E l
H ide. H ide in an area o u t o f th e
sh o o te r’ s view . Lock th e door or b lo ck
en try to your hiding place. Silence your
cell phone (including vibrate mode) and
rem ain quiet.
3
Fight. This is a last resort and only when
your life is in im m inent danger. A ttem p t
to unarm the shooter, acting with as much
physical aggression as possible. Improvise
w ea p o n s or th ro w item s at th e a ctive
shooter. Com m it to your actions because
your life depends on it.