El Paso Community College is ramping up efforts to keep its campus community safe with a new emergency preparedness program. Starting this month, the college introduced district-wide emergency drills, aiming to prime students, faculty, and staff for a range of potential crises. These exercises are a practical response to the need for heightened awareness and readiness, as reported by EPCC News.
According to the EPCC News, the drills will cover various scenarios such as evacuations and shelter-in-place situations. The goal is not just to test the current systems and response protocols; it also serves to encourage everyone in the campus community to stay informed and prepared. The college has stressed the importance of knowing emergency exits and doors, following campus alerts, and taking the drills seriously, an approach that underscores the collective responsibility for safety.
At the heart of the initiative, awareness for individuals with disabilities is prominent. Evacuation chairs are installed in all EPCC stairwells, and for those unable to evacuate, the college recommends finding areas of refuge and promptly alerting first responders. Compliance during a "shelter-in-place" directive includes remaining indoors, drawing the blinds, silencing cell phones, and locking doors, as the directives from EPCC's Tejano Alert system or EPCC Police will indicate when it's safe to resume normal activities.
