Current Status: Campus OPEN
Your safety and well-being is the overarching goal of the Nebraska Methodist Emergency and Safety Procedure Manual. The existence of these policies and procedures means nothing without the active support of the students, faculty and staff. Everyone at NMC should be prepared to take appropriate and deliberate action when an emergency arises because safety is everyone's responsibility.
Report any incident or occurrence that is out of the ordinary (including, but not limited to, complaints from external constituents, missing persons or any situation not related to illness or injury).
While there is no evidence to suggest one right way to respond to the threat of violence, there are some general recommendations to follow if, and only if, you deem it safe to do so.
If an active shooter situation develops, NMC will implement its emergency response plan and work with law enforcement to support their efforts to manage the situation.
CALLING 911- Emergency situations should be reported to law enforcement. Dial 911 (or 9-911 from a campus phone), stay on the phone until it is answered (may take several rings) DO NOT hang up. Be prepared to provide as much information as possible including:
Evacuation is required when the safety of the College community is best served by requiring everyone to vacate the building(s). Situations include fire, in the event of a bomb threat, or if other hazard is detected.
Everyone is to evacuate the building immediately and report to the designated Collection Point at the far south parking lot.
Steps to Take
All safety and security incidents should be reported directly to the NMHS Security Department at (402) 354-4055. After business hours and/or in the case of an emergency, dial 0.
Information Desk Receptionist, Clark (402) 354-7000
7:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday-Thursday
7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday
7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday
11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Sunday
Security Officer on-duty on-campus (402) 354-4055
24 hours/day, 7 days/week
A threat of violence may include, but is not limited to, a person on or near campus with a weapon, the lockdown of nearby schools, or significant law enforcement action in the neighborhood adjacent to campus. In the event of any threat that has the potential of causing harm or injury to any person(s) on campus, the College may "lock-down" to protect occupants and minimize the overall exposure to danger.
The term 'lockdown' can be defined as an emergency course of action taken by an agent of authority, such as security, administration, or law enforcement officials, to contain a problem or incident within the area of its origin by controlling the movement of people.
At NMC, a Campus Lockdown means that the doors leading outside of the building are locked and access will be restricted. Security supervision of individuals wishing to exit the building is strongly encouraged and may be required in certain situations.
Lockdown Procedures:
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, formerly the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, requires institutions of higher education participating in Title IV programs to annually disclose information related to security policies and specific crime statistics to all current students, employees and the Secretary of Education. This information must also be provided to prospective students and employees upon request.
If you notice or become suspicious of any criminal activity, secure your safety first, and then report the incident or concern by following the following steps. It is everyone's responsibility to be alert to and report any criminal activity or suspicious behavior.
If you are outdoors and you feel that you are in danger or fearful for your personal safety:
When reporting an incident or emergency, provide the following:
Questions/concerns regarding emergency preparedness topics can be forwarded to the NMC Safety Compliance Officer at (402) 354-7259, the Methodist Health System Safety Department at (402) 354-4048 (Safety Officer) or (402) 354-4068 (Methodist Health System Safety Compliance Officer)
Release of Student Information in Connection with a Health or Safety Emergency
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"), NMC may disclose a student's education record, or information contained therein, in connection with a health or safety emergency. In making a determination of whether to disclose a student's information, NMC will take into account the totality of the circumstances of the health or safety of the student or other individuals involved. If NMC determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose information from the student's education records, or parts contained therein, to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.
Updated: August 2015
Announcements concerning disruption in NMC operations will be:
Sign up to receive emergency text alerts
Nebraska Methodist College primarily serves students in the greater Omaha area, but we also have many students throughout greater Nebraska and across the nation. Because of this geographical diversity, it is impossible for us to make effective emergency closure decisions for all geographic areas. We will be as comprehensive as possible when making announcements concerning emergencies, but the ultimate decision for safety rests with the individual student or staff member.
*Emergency events that give little or no forewarning will be communicated through the activation of the NMC Emergency Phone Tree, in addition to the text message, email and website alert. If you have additional questions concerning attendance, please call your Program Director for further guidance. The ultimate decision concerning personal safety lies with the individual, regardless of the final decision of the College.
Steps to take:
Utility | Service | Additional Steps to Take/Persons to Contact for Info |
---|---|---|
Electricity | Normal | Use flashlights, check elevators for people |
Water | Domestic Water | If flooding occurs, contain water. Notify floor below. |
Steam | Heating, Cooking, Hot Water | Contain, if possible. |
Sewer | Sanitary, Storm | If flooding occurs, contain water. Notify floor below. Use standard precautions. Do not use water. Do not flush toliets. |
HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning | Call building management to report outage at 4111. |
Elevators | Elevators | Reassure occupants trapped in elevators that help is on the way. Mainatin communication. Call building management at 4111. |
Steps to take:
Who to contact:
Take the following actions but DO NOT use elevators
Drills will be conducted according to National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) guidelines.
When a red "X" is found:
Evacuate - Upon issuance of "Code Red", all persons will evacuate to their fire evacuation collection points.
Job Specific Duties During Evacuation:
Published: October 2019
Introduction: Any institution that offers on campus housing must report annually the Fire Statistics for any Residential Facility as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315). The following public disclosure report details all information required by this law as it relates to Nebraska Methodist College.
Fire statistics for on-campus student housing:
From 2015-2017 for buildings 563, 567, 559, 571, 564 and 628:
View an image of these fire statistics in table format.
Campus Housing Fire Safety Systems:
Number of regular mandatory supervised fire drills:
Mandatory, supervised, announced and unannounced fire drills are conducted in the fall and spring semesters by the Safety Department. The Resident Assistants and Security assist in these drills.
If you are involved in an accident or unusual occurrence that may cause actual or potential injury, proper documentation of the incident must be made within 24 hours. A completed Incident Report Form documenting the incident will be filed in the Campus Health Office.
What to Do
NMC employees are not permitted to transport a sick or injured student under any circumstances. Employees may assist a student in contacting a friend or family member, or if necessary emergency personnel, to arrange transportation to a healthcare facility or other location.
If a student is involved in a blood/body fluid (BBF) exposure incident at any campus or clinical facility, the following procedure is to be followed.
For employee injury or illness, follow the policies and procedures briefly described below. Please refer to the "Work-Related Injury/Illness" policy and "Return to Work Following Any Injury/Illness" policy for complete information. Please find these documents on the MHS Intranet under Policies in the main site navigation.
The Employee Health Department is the first resource for employees for the treatment/screening of work-related injuries/illnesses. The Employee Health Department is responsible for triaging non-emergency work-related injuries/illnesses, and for maintaining work-related injury/illness statistics.
What to Do
Any institution participating in a Title IV federal student financial aid program that maintains on campus housing facilities must establish a missing student notification policy and related procedures for those students who live in on campus housing and who have been missing for 24 hours.
The health and safety of Nebraska Methodist College students is of utmost concern to the institution. It is this concern that underlies NMC's commitment to and compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act's requirement for colleges and universities to establish a missing persons policy for its residents and to inform students of the policy.
For purposes of this policy, a student resident may be considered a "missing person" if the person's absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and it is suspected that unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, a report or suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug dependent, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student's welfare.
If, when based on facts and circumstances, it is determined that a student resident is missing, the following individuals will be notified: 1) the appropriate College officials, 2) law enforcement, and 3) the student's parents/guardians and/or other persons designated as emergency contacts by the student.
The Higher Education Act requires institutions of higher education to provide students the option of designating a confidential contact person who is not necessarily a parent or legal guardian. The institution may contact this person if the student is deemed missing. If no contact person is designated, the institution will contact parents or a legal guardian. In addition, whether or not a student identifies a contact person, the Higher Education Act requires Nebraska Methodist College to notify local law enforcement no later than 24 hours after the time the student is deemed missing.
Further, the Higher Education Act requires that NMC, for each such student who is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, notify a custodial parent or guardian not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing in accordance with such procedures.
When a student moves into NMC campus housing, he/she will provide emergency contact information on a form provided by the College. The contact person(s) designated by the student will become the primary contact(s) during a missing person's investigation.
If a member of the NMC community believes a student resident is missing, he/she should notify Security, the Executive Director of Operations or the Dean of Students Office immediately and provide as much information as possible. These offices will undertake an immediate investigation and make efforts to contact the student, his/her friends, acquaintances, and professors in an attempt to locate the student.
If it is determined that a student is indeed missing, the Executive Director of Operations and/or the Dean of Students will begin calling the person designated as the emergency contact by the student and/or the student's custodial parent or guardian of a non-emancipated minor. If these calls do not resolve the situation or locate the missing student, local law enforcement/911 will be notified immediately. These notifications (to the student's emergency contact or custodial parent/guardian and local law enforcement) will be made no later than 24 hours after the time the student is deemed missing.
Section 488 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008; 34 C.F.R. 668.46(h)
Updated: November 2015
If someone claims to be a private investigator, immediately call campus security and ask for identification. The individual is not permitted past first floor reception and must wait for campus security to arrive.
Proper identification must be produced on demand. A badge is not considered proper identification. Investigators and detectives are issued hard plastic identification cards by the Secretary of State licensing division and identification cards show a photograph of the investigator, their legal name, license number, identification card issuance and expiration dates and Private Detective Agency affiliation (if applicable). If identification is not produced or you have doubts that the identification is real, immediately call 911.
If the private investigator is posing as a law enforcement officer and demanding access or information, immediately call 911.
If private investigator provides valid investigator's identification, campus security is to communicate to the investigator that it is NMC policy not to give out employee or student information to private investigators and any questions or concerns should be directed NMC Director of Compliance, at ((402) 354-7259) during regular business hours. Then, escort the individual out of the building and ask them to leave campus immediately. If the individual refuses to leave and remains or returns to campus without permission, immediately call 911.
Updated: November 2015
In the event that a tornado watch or warning is issued for Douglas County during the hours of normal college operations (M-F 8 a.m.-10 p.m.):
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop.
Employee/Student Steps to Take:
A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted, sirens are sounding, and the National Weather Service is advising everyone to take cover.
Steps to take:
Tornado Shelter
The tornado shelter locations on campus are:
Download Weather Related Emergencies
Download the Tornado Evaluation Form for Staff
Threats are delivered in a variety of ways. All threats should be treated seriously and handled according to this procedure. Do not ignore any threat; it must be treated as real until properly evaluated. The following procedures will be used in the event of a written or telephone bomb threat or if any explosive/incendiary devices are directed at or found anywhere on the premises.
The police, security and administration will complete a threat assessment for all threats. Evaluation will be made on the basis of facts at the time. Many of the available facts will be obtained from the person who received the threat or who might have been exposed to the threat. When the threat is judged not to be credible, no further action needs to be taken. However, if a threat is judged to be credible, the building will be evacuated.
Building evacuation procedure (all College buildings ): Everyone is to evacuate the building immediately and report to the designated Collection Point at the far south parking lot (lower level parking lot south of Riley-Leinart Center).
Steps to Take
When directed by administration, security or other law enforcement personnel, Front Desk Staff will make an announcement with overhead paging system to follow Evacuation Procedures.
Recognizing common features of suspect letters/packages are:
Steps to take:
Steps to notify security and administration:
The Methodist Health System prohibits all persons who enter the premises from carrying or otherwise possessing a handgun, firearm, or prohibited weapon of any kind, regardless of whether or not the person is licensed to carry or possess the weapon. This policy applies to all persons on Methodist Health System premises, including employees, contractors, visitors, patients, and physicians, except as noted in the "Exceptions" below.
Employees are also prohibited from carrying or otherwise possessing a weapon while in the course and scope of performing their job, whether or not they are on Methodist Health System premises at the time and whether or not they are licensed to carry or otherwise possess a weapon. This policy also prohibits weapons at all Methodist Health System sponsored functions such as parties, picnics or continuing education.
The only exceptions to this policy are: