Emergency Information

Hope College students should dial 911 (the United States' primary emergency response system) from any phone if they or someone else experiences a medical or mental health emergency. Students can also contact Hope College’s Campus Safety office in any kind of emergency situation, and Campus Safety will contact the necessary emergency response service.

NON-EMERGENCIES

• Hope College Campus Safety: 616.395.7770
• Ottawa County Central Dispatch: 1.800.249.0911

Emergency Instructions

LOCKDOWN

A lockdown involves staying in a secure location and not evacuating. Do not sound the fire alarm. If a lockdown is issued, follow these directions:

• Immediately secure yourself and those around you in a room by locking the doors and barricading the door with available objects.
• Lock and cover windows. Turn off lights and studio equipment. Stay away from windows. Move to a location in the room on the same wall as the door at the opposite end, which is not visible to someone looking through the door. Everyone should be on the ground if gunshots are heard. Take adequate cover (e.g., concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets, etc).
• Students and staff in hallways must proceed immediately to a classroom or an office. If a classroom or office is locked, look for the closest unlocked room to take shelter in.
• Stay out of open areas and be as quiet as possible. Silence cell phones. Do not use cell phones except for emergency notification of pertinent information to Campus Safety at 616.395.7770.
• Keep classrooms and other places of refuge secure until police arrive and give you directions.

ACTIVE SHOOTER

Provide the following information to the dispatcher or any officer on scene:

• The nature of the incident
• Specific location and number of people at your location
• If medical assistance is needed and types of injuries
• Give the assailant's location, identity (if known) and description of the person (clothing, hair color, hat, backpack, etc.)
• Type of weapon (long gun or handgun)

In the event of an active shooter or shooter on campus: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT!

RUN and escape, if possible

• Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority.
• Leave your belongings behind and get away.
• Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
• Warn and prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.
• Call 911 when you are safe, and describe shooter, location and weapons.

HIDE, if escape is not possible

• Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet.
• Silence all electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate.
• Lock and block doors, close blinds and turn off lights.
• Don’t hide in groups — spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter.
• Try to communicate with police silently. Use text message or social media to tag your location, or put a sign in a window.
• Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
• Your hiding place should be out of the shooter's view and provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.

FIGHT as an absolute last resort

• Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible against the shooter.
• Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the shooter.
• Recruit others to ambush the shooter with makeshift weapons like chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc.
• Throw items and improvise weapons to distract and disarm the shooter.

Additional information and training is available through the Campus Safety office.

BOMB THREAT

In the event there is a bomb threat, Hope College Campus Safety will initiate a professional, systematic response to the incident and will coordinate the response with other agencies, as necessary, to ensure the safety of all persons affected by the threat.

Telephoned Bomb Threats

• Employees that receive a telephoned bomb threat should obtain as much information as possible from the caller, recording the information requested on the Bomb Threat Checklist. Attempt to determine the origin of the call (caller ID on the phone display or ask them where they are calling from).
• If possible, the employee receiving the bomb threat should signal neighboring employees that a bomb threat is taking place, and to notify Hope College Campus Safety.
• Immediately upon hanging up, the employee who received the threat should complete the Bomb Threat Checklist to the fullest extent possible and provide the completed form to Hope College Campus Safety. Keep bomb threats confidential to avoid potential panic.

Evacuation Decisions

• The Emergency Response Team will determine if evacuation is necessary.
• Doors to all areas will be left open upon exiting the area.

ASSAULT

In the event there is a serious assault, follow the suggested procedures:

• Check that the area is safe to approach. Is the suspect still around?
• Call Hope College Campus Safety.
• Render assistance to the victim.
• Protect the scene as best you can. There is often evidence that you cannot see.
• Encourage victim not to use the restroom or to shower to prevent valuable evidence destruction.

Sexual Assault

Reports can be made to Campus Safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 616.395.7770. Staff will assist you with immediate needs and safety concerns while also providing you with options for seeking medical assistance and/or reporting to law enforcement.

Campus Safety staff are mandatory reporters, so reports filed with them will be shared with the Title IX coordinator.

Campus Safety staff will do everything in their ability to respect the wishes of the victim regarding next steps. However, if they determine a potential on-going or immediate risk either to the victim or to others on campus, a Timely Warning Notice will be sent to the campus community. (In the case of a timely warning, the identity of the victim will remain confidential.)

Confidential Resources and Support

• Christian Gibson, Sexual Harassment Policy Educator: 616.395.7800
• Hope College Counseling & Psychological Services: 616.395.7745
• Hope College Campus Ministries: 616.395.7145
• Resilience – Advocates for Ending Violence: 616.392.2829 or 1.800.848.5991

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE Nurses) provide free forensic sexual assault exams and can administer a forensic exam within the first 120 hours following a sexual assault. In circumstances of sexual assault, if victims do not opt for forensic evidence collection, health care providers and SANE Nurses can still treat injuries and take steps to address concerns of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted disease. If you are interested in a forensic sexual assault examination, please contact Resilience (information below) to schedule an appointment.

Resilience

411 Butternut Drive
Holland, Michigan 49424
24-hour Crisis Line: 800.848.5991
*Preserves evidence up to 12 months

Things to Know Before Your Forensic Exam

If the sexual assault occurred within the past 120 hours, it is important that you not:

• Bathe
• Douche
• Smoke
• Discard or wash clothing (store in a paper bag)
• Clean the bed/linen/area where you were assaulted (if applicable)

Refraining from the above will preserve evidence which could strengthen your case if you decide to obtain a personal protection order or in proving that the alleged criminal offense occurred or is occurring.

Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and dating violence are encouraged to also preserve evidence by saving text messages, instant messages, social networking pages and other communications, and keeping pictures, logs or other copies of documents that would be useful to college investigators or police.

FIRE

In Case of Fire

• Call Campus Safety
• Pull the nearest fire alarm pull box to activate the alarm and notify others of the fire.
• Exit the building by the nearest available exit.
  • Do not use the elevator to evacuate.
  • Do not return to the building until the audible from the fire alarm stops sounding or you are given permission by fire safety officials. 
• Notify Campus Safety or Fire Department personnel of anyone trapped in the building, injured or unaccounted for.
• Report all fires and fire emergencies to Campus Safety, even if the fire has been extinguished or the emergency resolved.

If you cannot leave the building or are mobility impaired:

• Proceed to the nearest available stairwell or safety phone. Keep as many fire doors closed between yourself and the fire as possible. Fire doors are located in hallways by stairwells, and they keep smoke and fire out of the stairwell.
• Call Campus Safety and notify them of your position, or have someone else in the building make the contact for you. Usually there are other people in the building who can assist you.
• Wait for the Fire Department to get you out. Their first priority is going to be life safety and making sure everyone is safely out of the building before fighting the fire.
• Stay low to the floor where the air is less toxic and wait for assistance.

Report any fires or explosions Campus Safety at 616.395.7770 or to Physical Plant at 616.395.7835.

CHEMICAL THREATS & TRAIN DERAILMENT

Chemical or Biological Threat

1. Call 911
2. Stay away from the agent and leave the building if possible
3. Keep others away from the agent
4. Stay upwind
5. Contact authorities immediately:
   • Campus Safety department: 616.395.7770
   • Campus chemical spill information: 616.395.7999
   • Chemistry department lab director: 616.395.7640

Chemical or Biological Threat guides:

• Chemical threats FEMA guide
• Biological threats FEMA guide
• Bioterrorism Response

Chemical Spill and Train Derailment

Because of the close proximity to the railroad tracks, Hope College needs to be prepared to respond should a train carrying toxic chemicals derail. If there is a train derailment you will be notified on what to do next. Be prepared to: 

• Stay upwind of the accident
• Prevent others from going outside to see what happened
• Keep an eye on local news and the college website for instructions on what to do next:
  • hope.edu
  • woodtv.com
  • WHTC 1450AM (616.392.3121)
  • WTHS 89.9FM
• Prepare (if asked to do so) to evacuate the area nearest the railroad tracks and proceed to the college rally area located between the Schaap Science Center and Van Zoeren Hall (if inclement weather, gather inside these buildings). (See map below)
• Call 911 if you are trapped or need assistance in getting to the rally area.

SEVERE WEATHER

Emergency Alerts

Campus Safety sends emergency notification texts, including notice of weather-related closures, via the HOPE ALERT system.

Sign up for emergency alerts or verify that your information is correct 

TORNADO WARNING

Hope College will issue a HOPE ALERT will be generated by Campus Safety whenever a tornado warning is issued.  When you become aware of a weather warning you should do the following:

In the event of a tornado warning (actual sighting of a tornado or funnel cloud by spotters or Doppler radar in the Ottawa County area):

• Immediately seek shelter in the nearest designated shelter area.
• Continue to monitor email, local radio and television for indications from the National Weather Service that the tornado warning is lifted. Do not clear your shelter area until officially given the all-clear for Ottawa County by the National Weather Services via local television or radio. Hope College will not issue an all-clear unless it is based on official information from the National Weather Service.

Severe Thunderstorm or High Wind

Severe thunderstorm and wind advisories are frequently issued for the West Michigan area. If a high-wind advisory (sustained winds of 50 mph or more) is issued by the National Weather Service a HOPE ALERT will be generated. Severe thunderstorm advisories are issued frequently, and the HOPE ALERT will not be generated unless the status is issued as a warning and presents an imminent threat to the Holland area.

If lightning is detected outdoors, activities should be postponed for 30 minutes. Each time lightning is detected, the 30-minute clock will be reset. If lightning has not been detected in the past 30 minutes, the event will continue.

Prepare ahead of time for an emergency! Know in advance where to go and how to get there. Shelter Area Maps are posted in classrooms and on the Campus Safety website.  If your building does not have designated shelter areas, go to the lowest level. Interior rooms without windows, such as bathrooms or closets, serve as good shelter areas. Stay away from windows or open spaces, especially near the southwest corners of the building.

Winter Weather/Snowstorms

A decision to close campus offices and cancel classes is typically announced prior to 6:30 a.m. In the rare event that offices are closed and classes are cancelled, you can find the announcement in the following places:

• Hope website: The announcement will be posted on hope.edu/alert and InHope.
• Media: The announcement will be shared with local media, including WTHS radio and WOOD, WZZM and WWMT television stations.
• Text alert: The announcement will be issued via the HOPE ALERT emergency text messaging system. Please take a few minutes to verify that your emergency contact information is current by doing the following:
  • Go to plus.hope.edu. 

  • Select “Personal Information.” 

  • Select “Update Emergency Contacts.” Your name (Relationship: Self) and cell phone number 
entered as an Emergency Contact will register you to receive HOPE ALERT messages.

Remember, our proximity to Lake Michigan affects our temperatures and precipitation. This means that conditions on Hope's campus may be very different from conditions on other college campuses across the state, even those nearby. If you see that a college in West Michigan is cancelling classes, please do not take it as an indication that Hope will, or should, cancel classes.

When weather-related closures/cancellations occur, essential personnel (e.g., Campus Safety staff, snow plow drivers, etc.) are expected to report if at all possible. If you are unsure whether you are expected to report, please contact your supervisor directly.