ALERT: Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Emergency Response and Evacuation Testing

2021 Plan Testing

Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) recently completed a test of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), including emergency response and evacuation. The test included two components, an exercise and a drill. The exercise was held on December 16, 2021 at 10am and had been announced and scheduled for the leadership team of the College and local first responder representatives. The exercise consisted of a tabletop exercise held virtually and the exercise scenario involved an explosion in a College building and a bomb threat that tested various components of the Emergency Operations Plan.  The second component of the test was the drill, which was conducted on December 16, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. and tested LSCPA’s eLerts Emergency Notification System. The test message went to LSCPA students, faculty, and staff that have not opted out of the system. 5,080 emails and 1,978 text messages were received by the recipients. If you need to reactivate emergency messages through the eLerts system, you can do so by contacting the Office of Public Information at dickertgl@lamarpa.edu.

Emergency Response and Evacuation

Lamar State College Port Arthur regularly reviews and annually updates plans and procedures for emergency response and evacuation for the campus community. Emergency plans and procedures as well as a variety of additional resources are available for viewing through the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) & the Hazardous Communication Program (HCP). These plans outline incident priorities; emergency notifications; campus organization; specific responsibilities of particular units or positions; and shelter-in-place and evacuation guidelines

The primary law enforcement response to emergencies occurring on LSCPA property are LSCPA Campus Security, Port Arthur Police Department, and Fire Department/EMS (Emergency Medical Services). Emergency response is provided by local EMS services. LSCPA Campus Security is usually first to respond to emergencies occurring on the LSCPA campus and works with the City of Port Arthur first responders when necessary to resolve the situation.

Emergencies occurring on campus should be reported by calling 911 or the Campus Security Office at 409-984-6255 (extension 6255 from on-campus landlines). After hours and on weekends, the Campus Security Office can be reached at (409) 548-2048. 

General information about the emergency response and evacuation procedures for LSCPA are publicized each year as part of the institution’s Clery Act compliance efforts, and that information is available on the College website and accessible via the Campus Security web page at https://www.lamarpa.edu/security.

Evacuation Procedures

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

The emergency evacuation procedures are tested at least twice each year. Students and employees learn the locations of the emergency exits in the buildings and are provided guidance about the direction they should travel when exiting each facility for a short-term building evacuation. The Campus Safety Committee does not tell building occupants in advance about the designated locations for long-term evacuations because those decisions are affected by time of day, location of the building being evacuated, the availability of the various designated emergency gathering locations on campus, and other factors such as the location and nature of the threat. In both cases, Campus Security staff on the scene will communicate information to students regarding the developing situation or any evacuation status changes.

The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency. At LSCPA evacuation drills are used as a way to educate and train occupants on fire safety issues specific to their building. During the drill, occupants ‘practice’ drill procedures and familiarize themselves with the location of exits and the sound of the fire alarm

General Evacuation Procedures

If you receive instructions to evacuate or a fire alarm is activated, immediately proceed to the nearest exit and leave the building. During an evacuation, the fire alarm will generally be the first notification system utilized. However, depending upon the circumstances of the emergency, you may receive a text message through the eLERTS system (Blackboard Connect). If you are the first to recognize a fire situation, activate the alarm, evacuate to a safe location using the nearest exit, and notify the LSCPA Campus Security Office at 409-984-6255 or dial 911.

During an evacuation, please follow the following guidelines:
  • Remain calm.
  • Do not use elevators, use the stairs.
  • If needed, assist persons with access or functional needs.
  • If a person is unable to evacuate, attempt to move them to a safe location. Once you have evacuated the building, immediately inform first responders of the person’s location.
  • Proceed to a clear area at least 150 feet from the building. Keep all walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
  • Do not re-enter the building.

Shelter-in-Place Procedures

What it Means to “Shelter-in-Place”

If an incident occurs and the buildings or areas around you become unstable, or if the air outdoors becomes dangerous due to toxic or irritating substances, it is usually safer to stay indoors, because leaving the area may expose you to that danger. Thus, to “shelter-in-place” means to make a shelter of the building that you are in, and with a few adjustments this location can be made even safer and more comfortable until it is safe to go outside.

Basic “Shelter-in-Place” Guidance

If an incident occurs and the building you are in is not damaged, stay inside in an interior room until you are told it is safe to come out. If your building is damaged, take your personal belonging (purse, wallet, access card, etc.) and follow the evacuation procedures for your building (close your door, proceed to the nearest exit, and use the stairs instead of the elevators). Once you have evacuated, seek shelter at the nearest College building quickly. If police or fire department personnel are on the scene, follow their directions.

How You Will Know to “Shelter-in-Place”

A shelter-in-place notification may come from several sources, Campus Safety Office, Housing Staff members, other College employees, Port Arthur Police Department, or other authorities utilizing the College’s emergency communications tools.

How to “Shelter–in-Place”

No matter where you are, the basic steps of shelter-in-place will generally remain the same. Should the need ever arise, follow these steps, unless instructed otherwise by local emergency personnel:

  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 inside. It should be:
  • An interior room;
  • Above ground level; and
  • Without windows or with the least number of windows. If there is a large group of people inside a particular building, several rooms maybe necessary.
  1. Shut and lock all windows (tighter seal) and close exterior doors.
  2. Turn off air conditioners, heaters, and fans.
  3. Close vents to ventilation systems as you are able. (College staff will turn off the ventilation as quickly as possible.)
  4. Make a list of the people with you and ask someone (hall staff, faculty, or other staff) to call the list in to Campus Safety Office so they know where you are sheltering. If only students are present, one of the students should call in the list.
  5. Turn on a radio or TV and listen for further instructions.
  6. Make yourself comfortable.