Emergency Response and Procedure

In a campus emergency or severe weather event, Northeast Iowa Community College will issue an alarm and/or an appropriate announcement. Each classroom and office on campus has posted emergency plans for internal/external disasters, shelter-in-place and violent intruder procedures. All staff and students are asked to review the information as needed. Each building has lighted emergency exits and severe weather locations indicated. The College encourages each staff member and student to be aware of emergency procedures.

NICC has a training video to serve as an overview in the event of a violent intruder on campus. Run. Hide. Fight: Surviving an Active Shooter Event (see video below) provides information on what to do in the event of an active shooter. In addition, NICC has participated in A.L.I.C.E. training and drills.

RAVE Alert Messaging

The College has the capability to notify students and staff of a dangerous situation by email and text messaging using the RAVE emergency alert system. Emails and text messages will be generated when a message is sent by the College. At the beginning and periodically throughout each semester, an invitation will be emailed to students to opt-in to the RAVE Alert Messaging system. Students may register for RAVE safety alerts online. Instructions are available.

Reporting Crimes

NICC recognizes the reality that crime on campus requires special attention and special efforts by College officials. The College recognizes the importance of maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. Students are encouraged to report all criminal and/or suspicious activity to any College staff. All reports will be investigated. If, at any time, an emergency occurs, call 911 to expedite the appropriate response by authorities.

Additional Emergency Information

A medical emergency may involve a person with any of the following symptoms: weakness, dizziness, paleness, chest pains, breathing difficulty, nausea, high pulse rate, heart palpitations, fainting and/or serious bleeding. In a medical emergency, the following steps should be taken:

  1. Call 911 and then notify the Operator (Dial 0 from an on-campus phone) and report location (building, floor, room number or area) and the nature of the problem.
  2. Make the person comfortable and attempt to keep the person calm. If certified in CPR and AED and the situation warrants, begin CPR.
  3. Inform the person that the College will contact a family member on their behalf.
  4. If medical service responders determine the person needs further attention, he/she will be transported to the hospital.
  5. The staff or student who first happened upon or determined the medical emergency will initiate a medical incident report form and turn it into the associate vice president of operations or designee immediately.

Simple injuries occur from an accident while the individual is on campus. First-aid kits are available at the Front Desk and at various areas throughout the campus buildings. All injuries must be reported to the vice president of operations or a campus dean or designee, with a medical incident report form filed within 24 hours.

Automated External Defibrillators on Campus

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a medical device used to recognize the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation, a serious cardiac rhythm disturbance, and rapid ventricular tachycardia, extremely rapid heartbeat. An AED can also determine whether defibrillation, an electrical shock to the heart, should be performed.

An AED is only used on unconscious victims who are not breathing normally and is used with CPR in instances of sudden cardiac arrest. AED locations on each campus are listed below.

AEDs on Calmar Campus

  • Ag Tech Building Lobby
  • Child Development Center (Upper Level) Lobby
  • Darwin L. Schrage Administration Building: Outside Restrooms
  • Industrial Technologies Building: Outside Southeast Restrooms
  • Max Clark Hall 106 and 206
  • Student Center  outside Elevators (Library)
  • Wilder Business Center 107

AEDs on Peosta Campus

  • Child Development Center: Lobby
  • Industrial Technologies Building: Levels 1 and 2 Outside Restrooms
  • Gas Utilities Building: Lobby
  • Main Building L249 (outside of Science Lab), 201 (Internet Cafe), 105A (Across from Vending Machines), Conference Center Lobby
  • NECAS AG 7

AEDs are also available in the lobbies of the Dubuque Center and Town Clock Business Center.

If inclement weather would make driving hazardous, students are asked to monitor MyCampus and Brightspace for announcements and tune into local radio or television stations for NICC campus cancellations or delays. The College will notify students of closures and delays by email and text messaging using the RAVE emergency alert system. Please take advantage of this communication tool and sign up online. Instructions are available in MyCampus under RAVE Notification.

With any weather event, the conditions across the NICC district can vary greatly. All staff and students are asked to monitor conditions in their area should the campus be open for operation. If conditions in your area appear hazardous, each person is asked to monitor for driving decisions. Full weather information (PDF).

Each classroom has posted access to Emergency Response Guides that provide instruction and contact information in the event of fire, severe weather, urgent situations, and violent incidents on campus. Emergency exits and shelter areas are identified in each classroom. The College participates in fire and tornado drills. Students should acquaint themselves with emergency guidelines and location of shelter areas in each building.

The College security procedures for a hostile person/intruder on campus guide staff response if they witness behavior that includes, but is not limited to:

  • Conduct that is hostile, aggressive, physically threatening or passively resistant
  • Threats and/or presence of a weapon

The safest approach is to extract yourself from the direct threat environment and immediately contact staff or call 911 for assistance. When calling for assistance, please clearly state the location and nature of the incident.

When a security incident is activated, the NICC incident command team or local law enforcement will manage the situation and all staff will follow their directions until relieved of their duties.

Students and staff are encouraged to view the Run, Hide, Fight video which provides safety strategies in the event of hostile threats.