DSCC updating emergency prep plans

The Messenger 08.13.08

For the last six months, faculty and staff members at Dyersburg State Community College have been reviewing and updating its emergency preparedness plans.
After hundreds of hours of work by four sub-committees, the college has begun testing the plans that will be used to notify and safe-guard students.
To date, two internal drills have been conducted. The first was a tabletop drill under the direction of the Dyersburg Police Department and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). The second was a staged lock-down of the E.B. Eller Administration building on Aug. 8.
On Tuesday,a third more realistic lock-down drill was held in the Eller building, again with the aid of the Dyersburg Police Department.
The college’s goal is to test the plans before students return to campus for fall classes.
“While we cannot anticipate every scenario, we want our faculty and staff to be as prepared as possible,” Dyersburg State President Dr. Karen Bowyer said.
Additional training for faculty and staff will take place at the college’s Fall Update on Monday.
“The revised plans make use of all the communications technologies we have available. Notifications will be made using cell phones, e-mail, text messages and regular phone calls. We have made provisions for external notifications on our web site and through an emergency hotline. We have studied what worked and what did not at other campuses and are putting this knowledge to work for Dyersburg State,” Dr. Bowyer said. “By working closely with the police, we hope to be prepared. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is of the utmost importance.”

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