Emergency Weather Plan

Dear College of Charleston Families,

Events unfolding around the world as well as potential weather conditions bring thoughts of safety, security and family contingency planning to mind for many. As a member of the College of Charleston family, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that we, too, have taken the time to review our plans for all emergency situations -- events for which we must be prepared but hope not to confront.

Emergency out of area evacuation plans offer transportation, housing and meals to meet the essential needs of our residence hall students and those commuter students who notify the College that they require assistance once an evacuation has been decided or ordered. In the event that an emergency occurs and evacuation is not an option, we will, in concert with county emergency management operations, put in place campus operations that provide temporary shelter, food and medical assistance for our students. Student access to phones and e-mail will be available and an emergency information line for parents will be activated. Our Public Safety Division has an established liaison with the Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Committee and an expansive network has been established with local agencies and businesses that have committed to providing assistance.

In addition to our professional staff of health and emergency professionals, our location within a downtown complex of medical facilities such as the Medical University of South Carolina, Roper Hospital and County Medical offer readily accessible medical treatment capability for our community. As needed, our campus Counseling services staff will have extended hours to address any immediate needs or concerns of our student body and outreach programming within the community is an ongoing activity.

Our office of International Education and Programs monitors world developments through the U.S. Department of State. In the event that a specific travel warning is issued or a major incident occurs, our crisis management plan will be initiated and under the directives of the Department of State.

Like any family, we look to preparing our plans before disaster strikes. I encourage you to discuss with your student any prearranged meeting places, e-mail contact, instructions and alternate communication methods you might wish if any emergency were to occur. It is through our combined efforts that we provide both direction and stability in times of crisis. We have prepared an Emergency Information WebPages for your convenience which highlights pertinent information in the event of any emergency that could affect students and the operations of the College of Charleston.

Again, we hope we never have to initiate an emergency plan under any conditions. However, if the need arises, we are prepared as we now and always will have the safety and security of our students as a paramount concern.

Sincerely,

Victor K. Wilson
Executive VP for Student Affairs