Emergency and Alert Information

Additional information for the TCC community in the event of an emergency, inclement weather and more.

Situation Updates - Aug. 17, 2023

Per the National Weather Service, a heat advisory for the South Sound area remains in effect, with temperatures expected to hit the mid-90s on both Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16 before falling back down into the high 80s on Thursday, August 17. You’re invited to keep cool at TCC, along with your friends and family members. The college has set up three Cooling Centers to help you beat the heat: Two on the Tacoma campus and one at the Gig Harbor campus.

Tacoma:

Students who need a cool and quiet place to study are invited to head to the Building 7 Library. Students, employees and their friends and family members are invited to head to the Building 11 Student Center.

Gig Harbor:

Students, employees and their friends and family members are invited to head to the Gig Harbor campus at 3993 Hunt St. NW.

The cooling centers will provide a low-temperature environment and cold drinks.

A few things to note:

TCC does not allow animals in buildings, except for service animals. Here are safety tips about caring for pets during hot weather.

The cooling centers will be open during regular college hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sign up for emergency notifications

The TCC Alert emergency notification system is operated by Omnilert. You must "opt-in" to this service. You will be notified in the case of an emergency, such as campus closures, inclement weather and more. You must select how you want to be notified via text and/or email (we highly recommend both, especially text, for the most timely notification). If you haven't checked on your account recently, we encourage you to do so to ensure your contact info is up-to-date.

Inclement weather: Decisions are usually made the night before or by 5:30am on the day operations are affected. Please note that unanticipated weather or emergency conditions may alter this schedule. It is our goal to notify the community as early as possible.

Emergency situation: You will receive a TCC Alert via text and email. Follow those instructions. More information will follow via TCC Alert and on TCC Facebook, Twitter, website and this webpage, email and our hotline at 253-460-2001. Check those channels frequently for updates. We encourage you to become familiar with all of these communication channels before an incident takes place.

Emergency Responses

Actions to take in the case of an emergency

A “lockdown” is a temporary technique utilized to limit exposure to an apparent life-threatening, hostile or hazardous situation or threat.

When a lockdown is declared by administrative officials, occupants of any building within the impacted area are to remain in their respective spaces locking all doors and windows, not allowing entry or exit to a secured area until the “all clear” confirmation has been given. Individuals must follow directions given by administration officials and appropriate law enforcement officials. Example of a life-threatening or hazardous situation includes, but is not limited to:
1. Someone has a gun or weapon on campus or there is an active threat or shots are heard on campus.
2. Execution of a high risk search or arrest warrant of a potentially dangerous suspect
3. Serious crime that is actively occurring on campus (e.g.: homicide, hostage situation, aggravated assault, robbery with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, etc.)
4. Serious crime committed in close proximity to the campus or a campus building (e.g.: homicide, hostage situation, aggravated assault, robbery with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, etc.)

If a communication orders you to lockdown, immediately do the following:

CLASSROOMS/LABORATORIES & WORK AREAS

1. Secure the door by locking it. If you don’t have a key, wedge a door stop and/or other material against the door to prevent anyone from opening the door.
2. Turn off the lights and close the blinds. If possible, covers the window in the door to prevent someone from seeing into the room.
3. Move away from the door and out of sight of the door.
4. Seek concealment underneath a desk or behind another piece of furniture. Stay as low to the floor as possible.
5. Turn off all cell phones or set them on silent mode. Use one phone to quietly call 911 and Campus Public Safety (ext. 5111) to notify them of an active threat and give them your location and the number of the cell phone that you are using.
6. Remain in your concealed area until local law enforcement or Campus Public Safety says it’s clear.

HALLWAYS AND OTHER OPEN AREAS INDOORS OR OUTDOORS

If you are in a hallway or other open area when you recognize an active threat, immediately do the following:
1. If you are indoors, seek concealment in an open room or behind a substantial object.
2. Do not expect those in barricaded rooms to open the room to admit you because they have no way of knowing that you are not the suspected shooter.
Shelter-in-Place is used in some emergency situations when it is best to stay in the site to remain safe and to isolate staff, students and visitors from the outside environment.

This procedure outlines the steps to be taken by staff, students and visitors to prevent injury or death during an incident. The procedure covers staff and students who are indoors and outdoors. The need to shelter will be based on notification from local officials or weather forecasts.

Respond to a bomb threat or other threats

In the event of a bomb threat or threatening call do not dismiss or treat the call as a prank.

Do not hang up. Try to keep the caller talking to gain as much information as possible (see list below).

If possible notify someone nearby that you are talking to an individual making a bomb threat and have the person call TCC Campus Public Safety at 253-566-5111.

1. Write down the information relevant with the call and as close to verbatim as you can.

Date
Time
Number on which the call was received?
Caller ID displayed?

2. Write down the exact wording of the threat.

3. Ask the following questions and write down the answers:

When is the bomb going to explode?
Where is the bomb right now?
What does it look like?
What will cause it to explode?
Did you place the bomb?
What is your name?

4. Note your impressions of the caller’s voice:

Checklist for characteristics of caller's voice:

____Calm	____Stutter	____Slow	____Deep	____Loud
____Deep Breathing	____Cracking voice	____Crying	____Normal	____Distinct
____Accent	____Laughter	____Familiar	____Disguised	____Slurred
____Nasal	____Excited	____Raspy	____Soft	____Clearing throat
____Angry	____Lisp	____Rapid	____Ragged

5. Did you hear of any background noises?

Safety Links

CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY

TCC Public Information Officers

Tamyra Howser, Executive Director, Marketing + Communications
Phone: 253-566-6050
Email: thowser@tacomacc.edu

Rachel Payne, Senior Communication Specialist
Phone: 253-460-4381
Email: rpayne@tacomacc.edu