Homeland Security for TCNJ Faculty & Staff

The current state of world events has prompted a number of questions regarding our preparedness for emergencies. While The College has received no direct terrorist threat, it is important for The College of New Jersey's students, faculty and staff to know that our campus is well prepared to respond to both natural and man-made emergencies. It is equally important to note that although the United States Department of Homeland Security recently raised the Homeland Security Advisory System threat alert level to HIGH (orange), we will continue to go about our normal everyday business, but will do so while also being more aware and attentive to our surroundings.

The College has in place comprehensive emergency plans to be activated in the event that our campus is confronted with a crisis. These plans are designed to deal with critical and emergent issues that impact the safety and welfare of our campus community. In addition, we have established and have maintained a multitude of partnerships with outside law enforcement agencies (e. g. the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Jersey Office of Counter-Terrorism, the New Jersey State Police, Ewing Township Police Department) and emergency response organizations (e. g. American Red Cross) that will provide the requisite resources necessary to assist us with any crisis. The College also receives the most up-to-date information available from our partners on risks as well as threats, and prepares accordingly.

In addition to our external partners, the campus community also benefits from a complement of very skilled employees who are trained, certified and/or licensed in law enforcement, security, fire rescue, emergency response, medical care, and counseling. These employees are prepared to provide whatever response and support is necessary to guide the campus community through, and beyond, any critical incident.

Because any disaster can strike quickly and without warning, it is incumbent upon everyone to prepare in advance. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your personal responsibility. The College will provide instructions about a specific situation, but students, faculty and staff can prepare for emergencies by following these guidelines both at work and at home.

Be Prepared

Learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Create your own family emergency plan, and prepare a disaster supplies kit. While The College has sufficient food and water supplies in all of its dining facilities, you should keep your own personal supplies of non-perishable food and water, batteries, flashlights, basic first-aid supplies, and medications on hand in case you must "shelter in place" for any given period of time.

Stay Informed

To stay informed about threats and emergencies, consider monitoring news media reports and subscribing to news Web sites offering free e-mail news subscriptions. The New Jersey emergency alert system coverage for Mercer County can be found on Channel 19 and on WPST 97.5 FM.

If you wish to obtain additional emergency response information, please be advised that the State Office of Emergency Management has developed a Family Preparedness Guide that details steps the public can take to prepare themselves for an emergency, which can be accessed at http://state.nj.us/njoem . Additional resources can be found at:

• NJ Emergency Management Association
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Department of Homeland Security
• American Red Cross
• State of New Jersey
• Centers for Disease Control

Stay Alert

As individual members of our community, we have a shared responsibility to assure that a vigilant posture is maintained on campus. To that end, we continue to ask that you be particularly alert to any suspicious behavior, circumstances or vehicles, such as:

• Persons who appear suspicious, or do not have reason/authorization to be in the area they are occupying.
• Persons, other than police or security personnel, or college staff, who appear to be monitoring buildings, or doors/areas within buildings.
• Persons soliciting information that they do not appear to need for any practical purpose.
• Persons wearing clothing that are not consistent with the weather conditions.
• Persons leaving packages, parcels or briefcases unattended in any area, particularly areas of high pedestrian concentrations or vehicular traffic.
• Persons attempting to access utility locations who are not authorized to do so.
• Non-TCNJ decaled and/or unregistered vehicles that are unattended for longer than 12 hours.
• Large panel or delivery trucks which would not normally be present or expected.
• Consistent or random presence of the same vehicle in a specific area over a period of time.
• Any vehicle being operated in a suspicious manner, vehicles containing suspicious parcels or materials, or substances leaking or spilling from vehicles.

If you observe, encounter or experience any of the aforementioned situations, please contact the Office of Campus Police Services immediately at (609) 771-2167, or 9-1-1 in an emergency, from any campus or pay phone. Please note that if you dial 9-1-1 from your cell phone, you will be rerouted through the State's emergency management system, and precious moments will be lost. To counter this problem, please program 609-771-2167 into your cell phone for quick access. Also, if you wish to report something and remain anonymous, please consider using the police tip line at 609-538-8180.

In addition, there are several basic, but proactive security measures that can be taken in order to ensure a safe and secure campus. These include the following suggestions:

• Become familiar with the emergency exits in your building and know at least two ways out.
• Do not prop doors or windows open; close any door or window found open; and, report the occurrence to Campus Police.
• Do not leave keys or identification cards unattended, and do not lend keys to any person. If they are lost, immediately report the loss to your supervisor, as well as to Campus Police.
• Secure and lock all doors when leaving your room or office. Carry your employee identification card with you at all times.
• Immediately report any evidence of tampering with locks or doors to Campus Police.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and follow your instincts. If something looks out of the ordinary or out of place, report it to Campus Police.

Shelter in Place or Evacuation

In certain emergencies (e. g. the release of hazardous materials), the campus community should expect to be directed to remain inside or to take shelter indoors on campus in the closest building where toxic vapors are reduced or eliminated. Doing so will eliminate any uncertainty of what is occurring outside.

To "shelter in place", or to stay in a safe place protected from the hazard, you should close all doors and windows. Move to an interior room away from as many windows as possible. It may take time for local authorities or college officials to advise you about what is happening. Remain in your shelter until emergency response or college officials notify you that it is safe to leave. Until then, do not try to contact your family or friends to come to campus to pick you up. Tell your family now that you expect to seek shelter on campus during a hazardous materials emergency. Make plans now for your own emergency communications. Discuss those plans with your co-workers, family, and friends. If such an emergency occurs when you are at home, do not come to campus until officials announce that it is safe to do so.

For a specific building incident (e. g. fire), evacuation plans have been posted on the Office of Campus Police Services website www.tcnj.edu/~tcnjpd . While these plans direct you to a specific location outside and away from the impacted building, you should also know two means of egress out of every building you may work in. You should patiently wait in this location until further instructions are received from emergency response personnel and college officials.

Finally, an informed, alert and attentive campus community will result in a safer and more secure campus environment. By following the guidelines noted above, being aware of our surroundings and being informed, we will be prepared to respond to any emergency. As members of this community and citizens in this nation, your partnership in matters of safety and security is not only necessary; it is everyone's responsibility.