Students are encouraged to utilize our Operation Registration process as referenced later in this Guide. Fire Should the fire alarm in your residence hall be activated, every resident is required to evacuate the building immediately using the nearest stairwell or exit. Upon moving into your residence hall, please review all emergency evacuation plans posted throughout the building. In the event of a fire, please keep the following tips in mind while evacuating the building: ✓ Feel the door from top to bottom. ✓ If the door is cool, crouch low and open the door slowly. ✓ If visibility permits, exit by using the stairwells. ✓ Remember to stay as low as possible, crawling if necessary when smoky conditions exist. ✓ If you encounter heavy smoke in a stairwell, go back and use another set of stairs. ✓ If you are not in your room when the alarm sounds, proceed directly to the nearest exit. DO NOT RETURN TO YOUR ROOM. ✓ If trapped in a room take the following steps: ▪ If possible, call 911 and report your situation. ▪ Wedge wet towels or clothing under the door jam to keep smoke out. ▪ Keep a soaked towel over your head. ▪ Stay low, try to breathe fresh air near the window. ▪ Open window and signal fireman with a sheet or blanket. ✓ Do not return to the building until the all-clear is given by the fire personnel or staff. Failure to evacuate the building will result in disciplinary action. Anyone setting off a fire alarm by pulling the alarm or any form of tampering with smoke detectors will be held accountable through the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities. Please see the Northern State University student handbook for further disciplinary information. Tornadoes In South Dakota, tornadoes generally occur during the months of March through September. Be alert for these danger signs: severe thunderstorms with frequent lightning, hail, roaring noise, funnel clouds, heavy rain, strong winds, and loss of electricity. A tornado watch indicates that conditions are conducive to the development of a tornado. The local office of the National Weather Service will issue a warning bulletin to local authorities as well as the local media (TV networks and radio stations). When a tornado watch is issued, students are not required to seek shelter. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sited or detected by radar. Residents must seek shelter immediately. Each Residence Hall has a weather monitor that will notify them of any warnings in the vicinity. You will be alerted about severe weather, even during evening and night hours. Please follow the procedures listed below when seeking shelter: ✓ Go to the lowest possible floor ✓ Stay away from windows and do not open any windows ✓ If possible, go to an area that is reinforced (i.e. a bathroom or shower stall) ✓ If time allows, get a mattress/pillow to help shelter from flying debris ✓ Stay in a crouched position until the hall staff has cleared you to return to your room Missing Person Policy A student is missing when the student’s whereabouts are unknown and unexplained for a period of time that would be regarded as highly unusual or suspicious by persons familiar with the student’s plans, habits or routines. It is not necessary to wait until the student has been missing for twenty-four hours before making a report.
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