Emergency Procedures

a. When the building fire alarm sounds, or when directed by a CNM Security Officer to evacuate, all occupants will leave the building through the nearest exit. Security Officers or facilities personnel may remain behind for the purpose of assisting other occupants or emergency responders.

• Treat fire alarms as actual emergencies and not drills.
• Quickly gather personal belongings such as coats and car keys.
• Leave the building immediately in a calm, orderly manner through the nearest available exit.
• If there is no one behind you, close doors as you leave.
• Listen for and follow instructions.
• Provide assistance to individuals with functional impairments who may need help evacuating.
• Stay together in a group with your class or work section if possible. Instructors must account for all students. Supervisors must account for all employees in their work sections.
• Move (and remain) at least 150 feet away from the building, and if possible, to the upwind side.
• WAIT for an “ALL CLEAR” from CNM security or first responders. Do not return to the building or move to another side of the building unless told to do so by emergency personnel or CNM Security.

b. Faculty and Staff Responsibilities

• If possible, keep students together in a group during the evacuation and stay with them.
• Account for all students present upon reaching the evacuation point.
• Immediately report any students you believe to be missing to CNM Security, emergency responders, local law enforcement, or fire department.

c. Directed Building Evacuation (Non-Fire Emergency)

• Directed Evacuation is used to get occupants out of the building by a route designed to avoid contact with a potential threat, such as a suspicious package or a hazardous material spill, building flood, or if usual evacuation routes are blocked.
• Directed evacuation procedures are the same as general evacuation procedures.
• Instructions for a directed evacuation may be provided via on-site personnel, CNM emergency notification system, or other appropriate communication.

d. Building Evacuation Signage

• Emergency Exits are to be physically marked by illuminated EXIT signs or similar indicators over each doorway.
• Emergency Exits are to be indicated on floor plan maps located in CNM and CNMI classrooms.

e. Building Evacuation for People with Disabilities

• People with disabilities are encouraged to plan for emergencies by developing an evacuation strategy and sharing it with staff, faculty, and fellow students who can assist them with evacuation. People with service animals should practice evacuating so that their service animal becomes familiar with both primary and alternate evacuation routes.
• Some individuals with mobility impairments utilize special equipment such as wheelchairs. Others, whose impairments are less visible, may have decreased coordination, balance, or stamina and may need to move at a slower pace or rest frequently.
• During an emergency situation, those persons requiring assistance should be consulted regarding their needs prior to assisting them. The suggestions listed below may vary depending on the emergency situation and the needs of the person requiring assistance.

Mobility Impairments:

• Assist and accompany to evacuation site.
• A sturdy chair (or one with wheels) can be used to move the person.
• Help carry individuals to safety, if possible.
• If unable to assist a person, move them to an area of evacuation assistance or staircase. Notify emergency responders.
• Unless your life is in danger, stay with them until an emergency responder arrives.

Wheelchairs:

• Consult the individual before moving them.
• Individuals at ground floor locations may be able to exit without help.

Blind and Low Vision:

• Announce the type of emergency.
• Take directions from the individual about how best to guide them.
• Tell the person where you are going and what obstacles you encounter.
• When you reach safety, ask if further help is needed.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

• Get the person’s attention; waving, making eye contact, tapping on the shoulder, creating a vibration that they can detect, flashing room lights.
• Indicate directions with gestures.
• If possible, write a note with evacuation directions.
• Escort the person out of the building if requested to do so.

Service Animals:

• A service animal may become hesitant or confused during an emergency. Discuss how to best assist the person with a disability if this should occur.

a. Building occupants may be directed to shelter-in-place for situations such as severe weather or an outside hazardous condition where it is safer for people to remain in a building. The nature and location of the incident will determine the extent of shelter-in-place actions.

b. In all instances, be prepared to evacuate the building or relocate to another area within the building. Listen for instructions via the CNM emergency notification system and follow the direction of College or first responder personnel.

c. General Shelter-in-Place Procedures

For severe weather:

• Move away from exterior windows.
• If possible, seek shelter in an interior room with no windows, restroom, or a designated shelter area.

For incidents involving hazardous materials outside the building:

• Close doors and windows.
• Seal doors and windows with tape if available.

a. A lockdown may be ordered for a human threat or police activity in the area. In a lockdown situation, all exterior doors to a building are secured, and occupants are expected to remain inside.

• Stay calm.
• Remain in classrooms or offices. If in a common area, stay away from windows and doors.
• Close and lock doors.
• Do not allow anyone access once the doors are locked, as this may compromise the safety of those inside.
• Do not allow anyone to talk their way inside, as they may be the suspect or may be coerced by the suspect outside of your view.
• Wait for further instructions and do not allow anyone to leave until given the “all clear” signal or message.

b. Individuals who may be on the outside of buildings during a lockdown should move away from the affected area or campus. (as indicated by the presence of emergency personnel and equipment).

a. Run-Hide- Fight will be ordered when an active shooter is actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

b. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

How to Respond If an Active Shooter/Attacker Event Occurs

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that students are likely to follow the lead of faculty/staff during an active shooter situation.

RUN: If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:

• Have an escape route and plan in mind
• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
• Leave your belongings behind
• Help others escape, if possible
• Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
• Keep your hands visible
• Follow the instructions of any police officers
• Do not attempt to move wounded people
• Call 911 when you are safe

HIDE: If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:

• Be out of the active shooter's view
• Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
• Do not restrict your options for movement
• To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:
  • Lock the door
  • Blockade the door with heavy furniture
  • If the active shooter is nearby:
  • Lock the door
  • Silence your cell phone and/or pager
  • Turn off any source of noise (i.e., radios, televisions)
  • Hide behind large items (i.e., cabinets, desks)
  • Remain quiet
  • If evacuation and hiding out are not possible:
  • Remain calm
  • Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter's location
  • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen

FIGHT: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:

• Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
• Throwing items and improvising weapons
• Yelling
• Committing to your actions

Please be aware that if you are safely locked in an office or classroom, police/security officers may take some time to get to you. This is because the priority is to stop the threat. The fact that you may not hear or see officers right away could mean you are safely away from the immediate danger. Wait patiently until a uniformed law enforcement/security officer gives an all-clear. Once you are rescued, the officers will guide you to safety. If you are staged away from the incident, do not leave the area until instructed to do so by a police/security officer. They may want to interview you to obtain information.

"Run. Hide. Fight. Surviving an Active Shooter Incident" short video was produced by the City of Houston through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and can provide you with the basic information you will need to survive an attack.

English Video Spanish Video

Some descriptions and content on Run. Hide. Fight. are taken directly from the Department of Homeland Security for how to properly respond in an active shooter or attacker situation.

a. Emergencies may arise from inclement or severe weather, natural disaster, energy system failures, pandemic, mass casualty, fire, bomb threats, acts of terrorism or other events.

b. To protect the safety of students, faculty and staff CNM will officially close in instances that include, but are not limited to:

• Inclement weather
• Natural disasters
• Mass casualty events or threats
• Utility failures
• Acts of terrorism
• Other emergency conditions that may impact the health and safety of students, faculty and staff

c. The closing, delay or abbreviated schedule may affect all or a portion of CNM Campuses and locations. During such closings, all employees except those who are defined as “critical and or essential” will be requested to leave work or not report for work.

An Avoid the Area alert is a safety message issued to advise people to steer clear of a specific location due to a potential hazard or ongoing emergency situation. The purpose of such an alert is to protect the CNM Community by minimizing exposure to danger and allowing emergency responders to effectively manage a situation.

Central New Mexico Community College is committed to protecting the welfare of its community members and property. In accordance with this commitment, the CNM Risk Management Department and the CNM Security Department developed the Emergency Operations Plan. Through this plan, the college strives to lessen the impact of emergency situations while maximizing the effectiveness of the college’s response and recovery during an emergency.

By working together and being familiar with the Emergency Operations Plan, we can be prepared to meet the critical, fast-moving challenges of unanticipated emergency situations. In order for us to respond to the best of our ability, regardless of where an emergency situation surfaces, CNM expects departments to develop their own plans to effectively organize, coordinate and respond to an emergency situation.

The Emergency Operation Plan includes a chain of command that establishes the authority and responsibilities of college Security officials and employees. The college has designated person(s) who will have the authority to make modifications in emergency procedures and commit resources to emergency response plans as deemed necessary.

The Emergency Operation Plan is designed to provide guidance to the appropriate college employees to respond effectively in an emergency situation. It’s critical for all employees who would be assigned specific responsibilities in a CNM emergency response to clearly understand their roles and undergo training on related processes to help keep our students, employees, visitors and community safe. Although these incidents are unpredictable, the plan allows for an immediate response by Security, college employees, outside police resources and emergency agencies in a collective effort to minimize the danger to people on CNM grounds, as well as to the college.

Faculty and staff should understand their role in an emergency situation. Please take time to review the information on this website so you can support the Emergency Management Office in their efforts to protect our students, faculty, staff and visitors should an emergency arise.

If faculty and staff are involved in or witness a life-threatening emergency, they are required to immediately call 911 or 505-224-3001 (Campus Security). All CNM employees have a personal responsibility to know what to do before, during, and after an emergency in order to ensure their own personal safety. College employees should read and be familiar with safety and emergency information posted on CNM’s website.

They should also know the locations of emergency exits, fire extinguishers, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and designated evacuation assistance areas, as well as emergency phone numbers to communicate to CNM dispatch. It is important to remember that while first responders will do their best to assist people during an emergency situation, individuals (including those with access and functional needs) are ultimately responsible for their own safety.

If students are involved in or witness a life-threatening emergency, they are required to immediately call 911 or (505) 224-3001 (Campus Security). Students are required to implement protective measures in an orderly manner when directed by campus security, faculty, staff, emergency response personnel, or a AttentionCNM (emergency notification system) message. Students are also responsible for familiarizing themselves with emergency preparedness resources, campus emergency procedures, and evacuation routes in the buildings they use frequently.

This information is accessible through the CNM website at CNM.edu or can be requested at the CNM Security Office. Students are responsible for maintaining their contact information for Attention CNM Alerts to maximize the College’s capability to notify them of a life-threatening emergency and issue appropriate protective actions. Information regarding Attention CNM Alerts is accessible through the CNM.edu website.

If an active shooter incident develops, CNM will implement its notification system, to alert the CNM community. Timely warnings/information will be distributed as the incident progresses from the beginning until the all-clear is given. Sign-up today if you are not already receiving CNM Alerts and advisements of campus closures.

General Campus Safety & Emergency Response training is available online through the Employee Training Department. You are encouraged to view the video in its entirety.

• All students and employees shall be familiar with fire evacuation procedures.
• A floor plan identifying escape routes and locations of fire extinguishers will be placed conspicuously.
• Building Administrator will discuss fire evacuation procedures as frequently as necessary, but at least once per quarter.

If You Discover a Fire

• Stay calm and above all do not jeopardize your personal safety.
• Activate the nearest fire alarm and alert students and employees in the immediate area about the fire.
• Call the fire department at 911 if applicable and 505-224-3001.
• Remove anyone in immediate danger.
• Confine the fire by closing windows and doors, as much as possible.
• Very small fires (incipient stage) can be put out with a fire extinguisher.

Evacuation Due to Fire

• If the fire cannot be immediately contained, evacuate the facility. Consider the possibility of toxic fumes or explosions from burning materials and especially from compressed gas.
• Stay low when moving through smoke.
• Assist persons with disabilities.
• When passing through an exit, move quickly away from the exit to avoid creating a bottleneck that slows the escape of others.
• If you are trapped inside a room, keep the doors closed and seal any cracks with wet towels, if possible.
• Open a window for air and call for help. Do not break the glass unless necessary (outside smoke could be drawn into the room).
• Do not panic or jump.
• Close as many doors between you and the fire as possible.
• Do not reenter the building after you have exited but proceed directly to the building's designated assembly area.
• Follow the directions of the security officers present and the emergency personnel at the scene.
• If someone is missing, do not attempt to reenter the building. Notify the firefighters or emergency personnel at the scene and describe where the person was last seen.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes occur more frequently in the spring and early summer months, although they can occur at any time. Supervisors should pay close attention to weather reports during tornado "season" and be prepared to implement appropriate emergency procedures when notified by local authorities or the sounding of tornado sirens.

If You Are Inside

• Proceed to a central hallway of the building, if possible.
• If there is no time, crouch under a desk or table, away from windows or glass dividers.
• Stay away from tall objects, such as file cabinets.

If You Are Outside

• Seek cover in low-lying depressions away from buildings, trees, telephones, and electric lines.

Earthquakes

Although earthquakes do not often occur in New Mexico, they can occur anywhere. Students and employees should know the appropriate actions to take.

Earthquakes strike without warning and may range in intensity from slight tremors to major shocks. They may last only a few seconds or several minutes. After a major earthquake, "aftershocks," generally less violent, should be anticipated. The great majority of injuries experienced in earthquakes are the result of people being hit by falling objects. Therefore, it is extremely dangerous to rush outside immediately, where considerable falling debris may be encountered.

If You Are Inside

• Stay in a doorway, or crouch under a desk or table, away from windows or glass dividers.
• Stay away from tall objects, such as file cabinets.

If You Are Outside

• Stay away from buildings, trees, telephones, and electric lines.

A bomb threat involves threatening to detonate an explosive device with the intent to cause injury, death, or property damage, whether or not a device actually exists. Bomb threats may be communicated verbally or non-verbally and indicate that a bomb has been or will be placed somewhere to cause harm.

In the event a bomb threat is received by telephone, the following procedures will be followed:

1. Employee receiving bomb threat should remain calm!

2. Write down the number displayed on caller ID display of your telephone if available.

3. Attempt to identify background noises that may help to determine location from where call is made, such as traffic, music, laughter, etc.

4. An educated guess should be made such as SEX, AGE, VOICE or TONE of the caller, or if a disguised voice was used.

5. Employee should ask the caller what TIME the bomb is scheduled to explode, the LOCATION of the bomb and, if possible, the REASON for the threat.

6. Employees receiving the call should complete the “Bomb Threat Checklist” while the details are still fresh in their memory.

7. Employee should immediately notify SECURITY OFFICE at Ext. 3001. Security will notify the Administration and the Marketing and Communications Office. DO NOT USE A CELL PHONE.

Bomb Threat Checklist (English) Bomb Threat Checklist (Spanish)