The information contained in this guide is to acquaint you with the methods of communication and notification that we use here at CSUN in significant emergency or critical situations.

CSUN has developed a communication plan to foster a safe environment as well as to provide real-time information. We use a layered communication approach and several technologies because no one method can reach everyone, everywhere, and at every time, our systems must be redundant, each communication method augments the others.

An important part of a robust communication and notification system is testing. Tests are conducted on a bi-annual basis and allow us to make adjustments as needed.

Our emergency communications systems will be used to immediately notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, staff, or faculty occurring on the campus, unless issuing a notification would compromise efforts to contain the emergency.

We sincerely hope this guide helps you better understand CSUN’s emergency notification systems.

To ensure that you are always in the communication loop, please make sure you emergency contact information in the myNorthridge web portal is up to date. Thank you for taking the time to read the information on this important subject.

ANNE P. GLAVIN, Chief of Police

CSUN Faculty, Staff and Student Responsibilities:

· Ensure your emergency contact information is up-to-date in the myNorthridge portal. This information is used with our mass communication system to notify you of a critical or emergency situation.

· Listen carefully when faculty, staff and emergency personnel tell you what to do.

· Take drills seriously and encourage others around you to do the same.

· Know the location and content of building evacuation maps, including the designated outside evacuation areas.

· Note: Building evacuation maps are located near the elevators.

· Learn about what to do in an emergency – know about the campus emergency procedures such as how to respond to a medical emergency, fire/explosion, hazardous materials spill, bomb threat, earthquake, etc. To learn more about response procedures during an emergency, please go to our web site at: http://www-admn.csun.edu/publicsafety/emergency/index.htm

· Create a family Emergency Communications Plan – determine how you and your family will stay in contact if separated by a disaster; chose an out-of-state friend or relative as a “check-in contact”.

Communication Methods:

· Connect-ED – Mass Communication System

CSUN has a mass emergency communication system that can send messages to all faculty, staff and students.

The Connect-ED system allows Cal State Northridge administration or emergency response personnel the ability to send all students, staff and faculty time- sensitive information about unforseen events and emergencies using voice, email and text-messaging. The system can be used to broadcast pertinent information and provide details on appropriate response.

· Campus Carillon – Outdoor Public Broadcast System

The Carillon is an outdoor public broadcast system.

It is intended to alert persons who are outdoors and is not designed to be heard inside buildings. Real-time messages and emergency instructions can be broadcast.

· CSUN Home Page

Another source for emergency information is the CSUN home page: http://www.csun.edu. During a critical incident or emergency, information will be prominently displayed on the home page.

· CISCO IP PHONE Alert

The campus CISCO IP telephones allow CSU Northridge administration and emergency response personnel the ability to simultaneously send an audio and text message to office phones.

· Emergency Signage

Emergency signage may be placed along the campus perimeter and within the campus to alert you to campus evacuation, closure, partial closure or testing of emergency communications.

The signs include the LED message boards, the electronic marquee on Zelzah and laminated signs on sandwich boards strategically placed around the campus.

· CSUN Campus Status Information

You may call the toll free numbers during a campus emergency or critical incident for information on the status of the campus., i.e., if the campus is closed, if classes have been cancelled, or other announcements.

Faculty and Staff: 866-535-2786

Students and Community: 866-515-2786

· Two-Way Radios

Campus employees who utilize two-way radios for routine business (for example, Police, Physical Plant, etc.) will also receive alerts and warnings via their radios.

· Hand-Held Megaphones

Specially trained staff and faculty acting in the capacity of volunteer Building Marshal or CSUN CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members have access to hand-held megaphones to assist in communicating information during an emergency or critical incident.

· Reporting an Emergency

To report an emergency, faculty, staff and students can utilize the blue light phones located on the campus. When activated, the phone connects directly to a CSUN police dispatcher. There are 60 blue light phones strategically placed on campus. There are also yellow emergency call boxes that are TTY compatible for the hearing impaired.

· 911

To report an emergency from any campus phone, dial 911. You will be connected directly to the CSUN police dispatch center.

Useful Emergency Telephone Numbers at CSUN:

· Cell Phone

To report an emergency from your cell phone, dial 818-677-2111.

You will be connected directly to the CSUN police dispatch center.

· 24-hour Emergency 911

(CSUN Police, Fire or Medical)

· 24-hour Non-Emergency 677-2111

(or if using your cell phone)

· Amber Light Program 677-2157 or 677-2111

Vehicle jumpstarts or

Key Lock Out Assistance

· Emergency Preparedness 677-5973

· CSUN Threat Management Unit 677-3901

· Office of the Chief of Police 677-2201

· Crime Prevention Unit 677-5042 or 677-5048

· Matador Patrol 677-5042 or 677-5048

· (Personal Safety Escorts)

· Environmental Health and Safety 677-2401

· Klotz Student Health Center 677-3666

· Physical Plant Management 677-2222

Information on Communication Notification in Emergency Situations

Presented as a Service by:

Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management & Preparedness

Message from the Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety:

CSUN Faculty, Staff and Student Responsibilities:

Communication Methods:

Useful Emergency Telephone Numbers at CSUN: