Emergency Response

When an emergency takes place, a number of activities will occur, nearly simultaneously. In order to focus on the most appropriate actions, the following are general priorities for emergency response.

Priorities for Emergency Response

  • Protect the lives, safety, and health of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors at all campus locations, facilities, and events.

  • Respond quickly and effectively to emergencies to minimize damage to facilities, infrastructure, and property.

  • Assist with the transition from response efforts to recovery measures for the continuity of campus operations and services.

Building Captain Program

Central Piedmont is dedicated to providing a safe environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Building Captain program has been established in order to continue that commitment during an emergency. This volunteer staff program is operated and maintained by Emergency Management as a function of the Safety and Security Division.

Building Captains will partner with personnel from College Security in order to assist students, faculty, staff, and visitors in the safe evacuation or Shelter-in-Place procedures in times of crisis. They are volunteer faculty or staff members who will help to coordinate and direct Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place procedures within their immediate work area. Emergency Management will provide annual training and equipment.

Emergency Response Teams

Emergency Management has a three-tiered response structure designed to use all the college's applicable resources to respond effectively to any situation. The structure includes tactical/operations, support, and strategic response teams.

The three components are:

– Crisis Management Group 

– Core Response Team

– Emergency Support Functions

Each campus has directors and assistant directors of security, security officers, Allied Universal officers, and other personnel to support response efforts, including first responders. 

Emergency Operations Center

This is a physical (e.g., a conference room) or virtual (e.g., telephone conference call) location designed to support emergency response, business continuity, and crisis communications activities. Staff meets at the Emergency Operations Center to manage preparations for an impending event or manage the response to an ongoing incident.

Partners

Internal: 

– president

– Cabinet 

– Business Continuity and Emergency Management

– College Security Services dispatch

– Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations 

– Core Response Team

– each campus College Security office

– Emergency Support Functions

– Enterprise Risk Management

– Environmental Health and Safety

– Facilities Services

External:

– Charlotte Fire Department

– Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office

– Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

– Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

– Huntersville Fire Department

– Huntersville Police Department

– Matthews Fire Department

– Matthews Police Department