Emergency Preparedness: Updates and Information for the Dartmouth Community
Dartmouth is committed to ensuring that its students, faculty, staff and administration live, learn and work in a secure environment. The College continually reviews its emergency management procedures. This involves refining processes designed to deal with various types of emergences, and monitoring developing events and issues in a rapidly changing environment.
Continuous monitoring of U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies is a critical component of our emergency management process. Dartmouth's Emergency Management Group is meeting frequently to assess world events. This web site is updated on an ongoing basis and includes important information concerning emergency procedures and contacts.
Terrorism Alert Status: Condition Yellow
Since April 16, 2003 - Following a review of intelligence and an assessment of threats by the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to lower the threat advisory level to an elevated risk of terrorist attack, or "yellow level." An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
- Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
- Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;
- Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and
- Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.
What Dartmouth is Doing
In addition to the work of the Emergency Management Group, Dartmouth has taken the following recent steps in response to the heightened alert status:
- Safety & Security: Safety & Security officers have increased foot patrols inside and outside of campus buildings. In addition, another campus security vehicle has improved the capacity to accommodate requests for rides across campus. Safety & Security is available for around-the-clock response to any on-campus emergencies or problems. They can be reached at (603) 646-2234.
- Off-Campus Programs: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a travel advisory suggesting that people planning elective or nonessential travel to mainland China and Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hanoi, Vietnam, should postpone their trips until further notice. The CDC also issued an alert for travelers who have recently visited Toronto, Ontario. As a result of the CDC's travel advisory, Dartmouth has decided to cancel the Foreign Study Program in China, which was scheduled for this summer.
At this time, all other off-campus programs are proceeding as scheduled. Any decision to cancel programs will be based upon the recommendations of the CDC, the U.S. Department of State and other agencies, and we monitor their bulletins closely. Under the coordination of the Off-Campus Programs Office, the College has a range of personnel and other resources in place to assist students overseas. The Off-Campus Programs Office maintains regular contact with the on-site directors of its overseas programs. Precautions are being taken and emergency contingency plans are in place. All program directors and students have been briefed on emergency procedures as described in the Off-Campus Programs Directors Emergency Handbook .
How We Plan to Communicate with You
We will continue to monitor situations domestically and internationally and will make information available to students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni through a variety of channels, including, but not limited to:
- This website
- Broadcast bulletins via e-mail
What You Can Do
- Review the Department Safety & Security safety tips.
- Remain calm and go about your normal activities.
- Review tips on how to be alert to suspicious activity.
- Be alert for news and instructions.
- Pay special attention to physical security (do not prop doors open; lock doors that have access to sensitive areas such as residence halls, laboratories, computer equipment, etc.).
- Make it a practice to communicate with friends and family about your daily schedule and plans.
- Review suggestions at other useful websites, such as the Department of Homeland Security
As we have learned in the past several months, security works best when it works collaboratively. If you notice unusual activity or something that doesn't look quite right, please report it to the Department of Safety & Security at (603) 646-2234.
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