Emergency Planning

Emergency Communications & Crime Alerts

Davidson communicates with faculty, staff, and students, parents and local media in a number of ways in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation. Please be sure you are relying on only official college messaging during emergency situations.

Emergency Notification (SSAFER)

Davidson's Student, Staff, and Faculty Emergency Response system, SSAFER, uses a layered notification approach to alert students, faculty and staff, to emergencies and provide safety instructions via text messages, emails, voice messages, and live spoken instructions. 

The system enables the college to quickly inform faculty, staff, and students of an emergency, such as an armed assailant on campus, chemical spill, tornado warning, and more. Campus community members are automatically registered for SSAFER when Davidson accounts are created. To ensure you receive notifications, please validate any email or text notices you receive from this system.

The directions communicated in an SAFER alert supersede all other obligations, whether class or work.

Crime Alert (Timely Warning)

A Timely Warning email is sent to faculty, staff, and students when a crime has been reported on or adjacent to campus and the nature of the reported crime creates a potentially serious or continuing threat to the campus community. The purpose of the Timely Warning is to alert the campus community to the potential threat so community members can take appropriate personal safety steps. Examples of reports that may result in a Timely Warning include, but are not limited to, a crime against a person, such as robbery, aggravated assault, or sexual assault.

Informational Message

An Informational Message will be sent via email to the campus community in the case of an event that is not an emergency but is important information to share with the campus community. An example of this type of event is a fire that affects traffic patterns near campus.

Emergency Information Webpage

In the event of an emergency situation, the alerts webpage will be the official source for the most up-to-date information and announcements.

Communications to Parents of Students

In most cases, the text of SSAFER messages, timely warnings, and informational messages will be emailed to parents of current students shortly after the messages are sent to the campus community. Parents are also encouraged to subscribe to the college's social media accounts for updates. Parents or guardians who wish to enroll their own contact information in the SSAFER message system can text DAVIDSONCOMMUNITY to 79516.

Evacuations

Evacuation is the best option when conditions outside are safer than inside.

If an evacuation is announced, it is important that every occupant of the affected building(s) evacuate immediately. Always comply with the instructions of emergency responders (police officers or firefighters) during an evacuation. In some emergency situations, building occupants will be instructed to shelter in place. In that event, it is important not to leave the building until instructed to do so by emergency responders.

At times, exit routes may be blocked by smoke, toxic or super-heated fumes, debris, human threat, or fire. At those times, or if you are physically unable to evacuate through exit routes, it is safer to call 911 to report your location and await aid.

Evacuation drills ensure the sufficient and safe use of available exits, including stairwells, corridors, and impromptu exits. Proper drills familiarize occupants with orderly, controlled exiting, and help to prevent panic in the event of an actual emergency.

When an Evacuation Announcement is Made or an Alarm Sounds

• Take the closest and safest way out (use the secondary route if the primary route is blocked or hazardous).
• Assist those needing special assistance.
• Do not stop to pick up your belongings.
• Go to the designated assembly area.
• Check for injuries.
• Wait for further instructions (public address system and/or text message).

Staff, faculty, and students working in non-primary buildings such as Smith House, Glasgow, or other similar structures should use the above guidelines and get least 200 feet away from the structures to maintain personal safety and allow first responder access.