The College of Southern Maryland Public Safety and Preparedness Department (PSD) will conduct a lockdown drill on Thursday, June 14, 2018, simultaneously at all campuses. This drill will take place before noon and will last approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
All CSM text users, CSMD.edu email recipients and CSM desktop computers at all campuses will be notified through a CSM text, e-mail, and desktop alert when the lockdown drill begins to signal it is underway and again at the end of the drill to signal its conclusion.
The scenario around the drill will be the report of an armed person on campus. All messaging regarding the drill will include the language “This Is Only A Drill.” Should any real-world emergency occur during the drill that results in the need for emergency communication, CSM’s messaging will clearly indicate, “This Is A Real World Emergency.”
During the drill, PSD and other personnel will be checking door and room security on all campuses, and identifying any gaps or concerns that will need to be addressed.
During any campus lockdown, anyone on campus should take the following actions:
If you are in your normal work area, immediately take action to secure your workspace and move your peers into secure areas. Lock your doors and turn off the lights. Consider any action you can take to enhance the security of your door, such as barricades and door wedges.
If you are in a hallway, space, or room with no means to lock down, seek shelter in a room close by that you can secure.
If you are outside, seek shelter in a building, and find a space you can lock or barricade.
The safety of the CSM community during an emergency is predicated on advance planning as well as building awareness about how the plans will be implemented. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will be better prepared in an emergency if they know how the college will respond, where they can find information and what they should do. Key to that awareness is good communication and planning. Ongoing drills will continue to be held.
For information about Public Safety and Preparedness, visit the college’s ready page at http://ready.csmd.edu/. For questions regarding this drill, contact PSD Executive Director Bill Bessette at wbessette@csmd.edu.