Emergency Preparedness Guide

SUNY WCC Alert is the official source for emergency alerts, warnings, and information for Westchester Community College. This system can send alerts to students, faculty, and staff through the following delivery methods within minutes:

• Email
• SMS Text
• Indoor and Outdoor Loudspeakers
• Digital Signage
• Desktop Alerts

Multiple alerting methods allow redundancy in case of a  failure in any one system.

To update your contact information for SUNY WCC Alerts:

1.Log into MySUNY

2.Click on the “Student Self Service Center” pane

3.Click “Profile”

4.Click “Contact Details”

5.Add or change a phone number and mark it as “Preferred” (only one  SUNY WCC Alert number allowed)

Click “Save” at the bottom

Campus Closures, Class Cancellations & More

TIP: Please ensure SUNY WCC has your current contact information so that you receive emergency notifications!

All information regarding campus closures, class cancellations, evacuation, and re-openings will be communicated through:

• Website Alert System
• Calling the college at 914-606-6900
• Phone/Text message

Some emergency events can occur quickly or without advanced warning. Information regarding class cancellations, campus closures, or evacuations will be communicated with students, faculty, and staff as quickly as possible.

Create a checklist, fill out this information to always know who to contact and where to go during emergencies.
* Ask about allergies, lifesaving medical or accessibility devices.

TIP: Take a picture of this page to keep on your phone and send to friends and family.

Household & Roomate Information

Emergency Contacts

• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary

Other Important Numbers

• Poison Control
• Doctor
• Dentist
• Medical Insurance
• Homeowner / Rental Insurance
• Veterinarian

Emergency Meeting Places

Gather the following items in case you need to shelter-in-place or evacuate for a few days.

• Water (1 gallon per person per day for several days + 1/2 gallon per day for pets)
• Food (non-perishable items and dry goods for several days)
• Backpack or duffle bag (to store supplies)
• Manual can opener
• Hand-crank or battery-powered weather radio
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Medications
• Portable phone chargers (back-up charging cables)
• Cash
• Extra clothes
• Toiletries (soap, toothbrush & toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
• First aid kit
• Blanket or sleeping bag

Also consider the following items, if needed:

• Pet supplies (leash, food, medication, toys)
• Baby/Child supplies (formula/food, diapers, medication, toys, books)
• Recovery tools (tarp, rope, trash bags, dust masks, duct tape, etc.)
• Important documents folder (copy of ID, medical and housing information)

For more resources check The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Safety and Prevention Page at:
https://www.dhses.ny.gov/safety-and-prevention

Have several ways to obtain emergency information.

TIP: Keep your supplies in a backpack, suitcase, or other storage bin that is easy to move in case you need to evacuate.

SUNY WCC Alerts are the best way to get WCC-specific emergency information. Use these other methods to receive non-WCC alerts, or if the SUNY WCC Alerts system is down

County of Westchester
https://www.westchestercountyny.gov/
Facebook: Westchester County Government
X: @westchestergov

Westchester County Dept. of Emergency Services
https://emergencyservices.westchestercountyny.gov/
Facebook: Westchester County Department of Emergency Services
X: @westchestergov

Westchester County Emergency Alert System
www.westchestercountyny.gov/alerts/emergency-alert-sign-up

NOAA Weather Radios
NYC Frequency: 162.550
Riverhead Frequency: 162.475

National Weather Service New York City
www.weather.gov/okx
Facebook: US National Weather Service New York NY
X: @NWSNewYorkNY

WARY-FM
Westchester: 88.1 FM

Westchester Community College is vulnerable to a number of natural and technological, or human-caused, hazards, such as:

• Nor’easters and Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Flooding / Flash Flooding
• Severe Weather and Extreme Cold & Heat
• Utility Disruptions
• Law Enforcement Action (terrorism, bomb threat, active threat, civil disturbance, etc.)
• Cyberattack
• Wildfire and Structural Fires
• Wintery Precipitation (snow, sleet, freezing rain)
• Hazardous Materials
• Infectious Disease
• Geological Movement / Earthquake
• Transportation Disaster (aviation, rail, mass transit)

“Watch” vs. “Warning”

The National Weather Service will issue a “watch” or a “warning” for most weather-related hazards. What’s the difference between them?

Prepare Your Office

1. Keep updated digital and hard copies of all important information, like critical contact numbers, emergency plans, policies and procedures, etc.
2. Digital files can be kept on cloud-based servers, such as SharePoint, or on external drives, like flash drives.
3. Unplug electronics, raise equipment off the floor, if possible, and cover with plastic sheeting or trash bags in case of water intrusion.
4. Learn your building evacuation plan and participate in fire drills.
5. Do not hang anything from sprinkler heads. Know where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them.

Prepare Your Home & Apartment

Take pictures of items, such as furniture, electronics, appliances, jewelry, etc.

Make sure your insurance is up-to-date and covers what you need.
Homeowners & renters insurance typically does not cover flood damage, so you may need to purchase additional flood insurance.

Strengthen your home as best you can.

• Install hurricane-rated roof straps, windows, or shutters.
• If you do not have hurricane-rated windows or shutters, board up windows with wood.

Prepare an evacuation plan in case of fire or hurricane.

• Most house fires start while cooking – keep a fire extinguisher in a kitchen cabinet.
• Plan to travel tens of miles, not hundreds, to evacuate a hurricane, check local shelters.

Automated External Defibrillators are located in all administrative and academic buildings on the WCC Main Campus as well as all WCC Extension Centers

Personal Protective Actions

• If under some kind of weather warning, shelter in an interior room without windows.
• If under a flash flood warning, seek higher ground or stay on high ground, if safe.
• TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN®. Do not walk or drive through flooded areas. The water could be deeper than you think or can be moving fast and sweep you away.
• WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS. Seek shelter in a permanent structure if you hear thunder or see lightning.
• Picnic areas, tents, or other semi-covered outdoor structures are not safe.

In an active assailant situation follow Avoid. Deny. Defend. Request trainings with WCC Security.

• Avoid!
• Deny!
• Defend!

Tap into assistance provided by campus and government organizations after a disaster.

Damage Assessment

• Take photos of all damaged items.
• Wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long sleeved shirts, and a dust mask if cleaning up.
• Do not walk or drive through flooded areas. There could be unseen hazards, such as sharp debris and downed power lines, that you cannot see.

Power Outages

• Report power outages to your utility company.
• Place all generators outside. Running generators indoors can cause carbon monoxide poisoning from the emissions.
• Frozen food can be stored safely for two days if the freezer door is kept shut.
• Refrigerated, perishable foods should be moved into an ice- filled cooler after four hours.

Personal Preparedness

Personal preparedness ensures individual safety and resilience during emergencies or disasters. Individuals can respond effectively when disaster strikes by having a plan in place, knowing evacuation routes, assembling emergency supplies, and staying informed. Personal preparedness helps reduce panic, minimize harm, and increase the likelihood of a quicker recovery. It also supports the broader community by easing the strain on emergency services, allowing first responders to focus on the most critical needs. Being personally prepared is vital to protecting yourself and those around you during an emergency.