Emergency (Immediate) Alerts Policy

To inform individuals that an emergency condition exists that threatens the campus   community’s health and/or safety, and to provide action recommendations.

 Policy Owner: Department of Security

 Policy Purpose

To inform individuals that an emergency condition exists that threatens the campus community’s health and safety, and to provide action recommendations.

 Policy Scope

All students, faculty and staff.

Policy Statement

The university will make every attempt to communicate to the campus community before, during, and after emergencies. This includes providing detailed instructions to the campus about the emergency and what actions are necessary to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, staff and the general public. 

Procedures/Guidelines

• An emergency incident in progress; active shooters, bomb threats, civil unrest, and evacuations
• Potential impending emergency incidents such as tornado warnings and other serious weather events
• Safety messages regarding suspicious persons, area or school closures, crimes against person where the suspect is not apprehended
• Termination messages including all clears, status updates or re-opening of campus or buildings

Compliance Reference

According to Federal legislation (Clery Act), any incident that represents a serious or continuing threat to the students and employees shall require a timely warning to be issued.

Responsibilities

The Florida Tech Department of Security shall 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: the Melbourne or Palm Bay Police Departments, and/or the Melbourne or Palm Bay Fire Departments), compromise the efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency. Before sending a message, the incident must be confirmed through one or more of the following methods:

1. Confirmation of an emergency in progress is subject to:
1. Confirmation of the incident by an emergency responder in the area
2. Visual confirmation via CCTV systems
3. Audible confirmation either in person or via telephone systems
4. Three (3) unique reports of the incident from members of the public or University community
2. Confirmation of an impending emergency is subject to confirmation of the incident by an emergency responder or relevant agency

The system will be tested during the Fall and Spring semesters. Users opt-in to receive phone, text message or email. Every member of the Florida Tech Community is encouraged to opt-in to the safety alert system.

Florida Tech community members can sign up to receive messages through Regroup. For additional information visit: https://www.fit.edu/security/safety-alerts/