North Central Missouri College in Trenton uses many methods to notify its employees and students of an emergency on campus, with these procedures being part of NCMC’s Crisis Management Plan.
The plan outlines specific actions taken to assure the safety of those associated with the college. It also includes the formation of a Crisis Management Team and preferred avenues for communication between this team and the college community, city, county and state officials and the news media.
“A recent search for an individual by law enforcement officials near North Central Missouri College prompted us to a initiate a precautionary lockdown,” Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations Tyson Otto said. “Because NCMC has an established crisis plan in place, our faculty and staff were able to take decisive steps to secure people and buildings in a timely manner. Fortunately, events that day did not result in any harm to NCMC or its constituents, and they provided us with an opportunity to evaluate our emergency responses in real time.”
Otto said NCMC wants the public to know that the college has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of individuals on campus.
“We realize that, at any one time, there could be hundreds or even thousands of people on the grounds or in our buildings,” he said. “Therefore, multiple lines of emergency communication have been established.”
Advanced technology is vital, according to Alan Barnett, Chief Information Officer.
“Multiple campus buildings have integrated speakers in the public areas and audible warnings can be sent electronically to play through these speakers and every campus telephone simultaneously,” Barnett said. “The warning message can be live or pre-recorded. A text and email version of the same message is sent (and displayed on the college’s website) through the use of Community Connection, a free service offered by the Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri.”
NCMC patrons may sign up for this service by visiting www.onlinefarmersbank.com/community-connection.
The college’s crisis plan can be viewed on the NCMC website home page (www.ncmissouri.edu) through an app called “In Case of Crisis,” Barnett said. This is a free app which can be downloaded to any mobile device.
“The use of this multi-faceted communication system is necessary for the notification of students and staff in the event of an emergency and we strive to deliver quick and accurate information to ensure the safety and well-being of our patrons,” Otto said.
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