Emergency Preparedness Plan

Jump to: Providing a Safe Campus Environment | Campus Safety Contact | Law School Crisis Response | Emergency Communications | Lockdown/Shelter-in-Place Procedures | Timely Warning | Testing and Evaluations | Building Evacuation | Building/Facility and Assembly Point | Publicize | Documentation

The Department of Campus Safety provides daily coverage of our Wilmington Campus.

A Crisis Management Plan is in place with procedures to initiate a rapid response by law school personnel and external emergency responders. The Crisis Management Plan is initiated in the event of a serious crime, emergency, or threatening situation. Delaware Law takes all incidents affecting the safety of our students, staff, and faculty seriously and will react immediately.

Providing a Safe Campus Environment

Delaware Law has devoted significant resources to providing a safe campus environment while also ensuring the safety of our community members. Campus Safety officers provide on-campus coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The officers patrol the campus by foot, bicycle, T3, and vehicle. All of our officers receive mandatory on-the-job and in-service training and are instructed by the American Red Cross in first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Our Department of Campus Safety maintains an excellent relationship with local and State law enforcement departments. Campus Safety officers are identified under the Delaware Code as proprietary agents of the Law School whose authority is limited to the immediate and adjacent vicinity of Law School property. Officers do not have the authority to arrest.

Delaware Law promotes the belief that “safety is a shared responsibility.” We encourage the members of the campus community or any visitor to immediately report suspicious activity or an emergency to our Campus Safety department. If an emergency requires the assistance of an outside agency, Campus Safety will contact the appropriate organization as the situation dictates.

You may report a crime to the Campus Safety Office in person, by phone, or by email.

Campus Safety Contact

In person: Concord Hall, first floor, Campus Safety Office

Phone: 302-477-2200

Email: [email protected]

Law School Crisis Response

When a serious incident occurs that causes an immediate threat to the campus, the first responders to the scene are usually the Campus Safety officers, local police or fire departments, and emergency medical services. These groups respond and work together to manage the incident. Depending on the nature of the incident, other Delaware Law departments and other local government agencies could also be involved in responding to the incident.

In the event of an emergency or dangerous situation, the Campus Safety department should always be contacted. Officers will respond to assess the situation and determine what internal and external emergency response is required. Individuals can contact the Department of Campus Safety using this phone number: 302-477-2200.

If there is confirmation of an immediate or ongoing threat, significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of some or all members of the Law School community, President’s Office, Campus Safety, and Public Relations will collaborate to determine the appropriate segment or segments of the campus community to receive a notification. These offices will also determine the content of the message and if some or all of the emergency notification systems will be used to communicate the threat to the Law School community or to the appropriate segment of the community. The President’s Office, Campus Safety, and Public Relations will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless issuing a notification will, in the judgment of the first responders (including, but not limited to: Campus Safety, local police and/or the fire and emergency medical services), compromise the efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

Delaware Law has the capability via the One Card System to control access to most buildings on campus. This is an access control system, not a security system, but it can regulate what buildings cardholders may enter.

Emergency Communications

In the event of a serious incident that poses an immediate threat to members of the Delaware Law community, the Law School has various systems in place for communicating information quickly. Some or all of these methods of communication may be activated in the event of an immediate threat to the campus community.

Methods of communication include the following:

Delaware Law Website

• Websites - widener.edu or delawarelaw.widener.edu
• Critical information is posted on the Law School’s home page and may be viewed both internally (students, faculty, and staff) and externally (parents, alumni, and other constituents).

Email

• Broadcast emails are sent to Delaware Law students, faculty, and staff.

Phone

• Broadcast voice mails are sent to staff and faculty and can be accessed both on and off campus through their individual voicemail
• An information telephone line is available to receive updates about emergency situations and school closings. You can use the following number: Wilmington campus, 302-477-2149.

e2Campus Alert

• Important emergency alerts, notifications and updates are sent to all registered devices, including cell phones and email accounts.
• Widener community members may register for this service thru the Widener website.

Computer Notification

• Emergency messages will scroll across computer screens when logged into the University system.

Postings

• Campus Safety or other Delaware Law staff will post emergency information or timely warnings on law school facilities and in public areas.

Personal Interaction and Connection

• Campus Safety officers and other law school staff can make personal contact with persons in buildings on campus.
• Many buildings on campus have a designated facility coordinator who will assist in building evacuation and notification.

Lockdown/Shelter-in-Place Procedures

A lockdown/shelter-in-place notification may come from several sources which include the  Department of Campus Safety, residence life staff, other law school employees, or other law school authority using Delaware Law’s emergency communication tools.

No matter where you are, the basic steps to lockdown/shelter-in-place will generally remain the same. Should the need ever arise, follow these steps:

1. If you are inside, stay where you are. Collect any emergency shelter-in-place supplies and a telephone to be used in case of emergency. If you are outdoors, proceed into the closest building quickly or follow instructions from emergency personnel on the scene.
2. Locate a room to shelter-in-place. It should be an interior room, above ground level, and without windows or with the least number of windows.
3. Shut and lock all windows and doors.
4.  Turn off air conditioners, heaters, and fans.
5. Close vents to ventilation systems if you are able.
6.  Remain calm and silent.
7.  Silence any noise producing devices (radios, TV’s, cell phones, etc.)
8. Make a list of the people in the room with you and ask someone to call the list into the Campus Safety department so they know where you are sheltering.
9.  Await further instructions from emergency communications or the website.
10.  Follow the instructions of law enforcement or Campus Safety officers when you are rescued.

Timely Warning

Campus-wide timely warnings are provided to give students, faculty, and staff timely notification of crimes and other events that may represent a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. Timely warnings may also seek information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or substantial crimes against property have been reported.

The Campus Safety department is responsible for issuing a timely warning when a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of Campus Safety or other campus security authorities, and that crime represents a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of members of the Law School community. Information for timely warnings may also come from other law enforcement authorities. Campus Safety will communicate with local police departments to ensure we receive immediate information in regards to threats to our Delaware Law community. Every attempt will be made to issue the warning as soon as possible after the incident is reported to Campus Safety; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Timely warnings are initiated and/or approved by the Department of Campus Safety and/or his or her designee and/or the combined efforts of the president and/or his or her designee, the provost and/or his or her designee and/or the senior vice president for Administration and Finance and/or his or her designee and are distributed by the Campus Safety department and/or his or her designee.

The Department of Campus Safety may prepare a timely warning whenever a report is received of a violent crime against a person, a substantial crime against property or an emergency situation on or near campus that represents a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Crimes for which a timely warning may be appropriate include, but are not limited to: murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, arson, motor vehicle theft, hate crimes, violations of liquor and drug laws, and illegal weapons possession.

Testing and Evaluations

Delaware Law routinely examines the Crisis Management Plan to ensure the Law School remains current with the best practices. The Executive Team, Crisis Response Team, and Campus Safety Staff receive yearly training on crisis management and emergency preparedness. During these trainings, mock scenarios are created to walk thru different emergency situations that could occur and discuss potential outcomes. Members of emergency external agencies (police and fire) are also invited to attend these seminars. These trainings are designed to assess and evaluate the emergency plans and capabilities. These trainings are scheduled at least once a year. Communication technology is also tested at least twice a year to ensure it is in proper working order.

After an emergency situation has occurred, the Executive Team and members of the Crisis Response Team will meet to discuss the performance of the University during the crisis.

Building Evacuation

Delaware Law community members will be notified to evacuate a building in the event of a fire or other emergency by life safety devices (fire alarms, sprinklers, etc.) or one of the methods of emergency communication already listed. Law school community members participate in at least one evacuation drill each academic year. Law school community members are instructed to evacuate the building in a calm and orderly fashion.

Each Delaware Law facility has a pre-designated assembly point on campus. Assembly points are the locations at which occupants of buildings should assemble in the event of an evacuation. The following campus assembly points are listed:

Building/Facility and Assembly Point

Town Houses:
Town House Lot

Concord Hall:
Town House Lot

Shipley Hall:
Town House Lot

Barristers Club:
Concord Lot

Geesey House:
Concord Lot

Bookstore:
Concord Lot

Temporary Buildings:
Concord Lot

Polishook Hall:
Concord Lot

Passmore House:
Town House Lot

Maintenance Building:
Town House Lot

Law Building -3rd & 4th Floors:
Town House Lot

Law Building -2nd Floor:
Town House Lot

Admissions:
Town House Lot

Student Affairs:
Town House Lot

Clinics:
Town House Lot

Law Building - Library:
Town House Lot

Law Building - Ground Floor:
Town House Lot

Publicize

Information about the Emergency Preparedness Plan will be published at the start of each academic year and posted on the Delaware Law Campus Safety website. Additional information about timely warnings, emergency notifications, and building and campus evacuations can be found on the Law School website and within the Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report that is published prior to October 1st each year.

Documentation

Evacuation drills are coordinated by Campus Safety and the Fire Marshal’s Office for all residential and academic buildings on campus. All tests that occur are documented by a Campus Safety administrator or the Law School fire marshal. A description of the exercise, the date, start and end times, and whether the test was announced or unannounced are included.