For more information on emergency / disaster preparedness, visit

www.ready.gov

Emergency Notification

During a sudden severe weather emergency, such as a tornado, Daytona State College uses the following systems to quickly notify the College community of danger and to provide clear information and instructions.

• DSC Alert Emergency Notification System

Notification via text messages, phone calls, and emails to all Daytona State College students and employees.

• DSC Informacast Emergency Notification System.

Notification via message alerts to indoor and outdoor speakers and all IP network phone speakers throughout Daytona State College campuses.

• Portable Loudspeakers (Bullhorns)

Bullhorns are available for deployment to Campus Safety officers to disseminate instructions during an emergency

Before and after a hurricane, information and updates regarding the status of the College will be provided to students and employees through the DSC Alert system, official Daytona State College Facebook and Twitter accounts, DaytonaState.edu, and the Daytona State College HELP Line at (386) 506-HELP.

Student Residence Hall Hurricane Response

The Daytona State College Student Residence Hall is located on the Daytona Beach Campus at 1200 West International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL. Centered in the heart of the main Daytona Beach Campus, the Student Residence Hall provides state-of-the-art living, study, and recreational space and has 24-hour staff support and security.

Preparing

Students moving into the Student Residence Hall are encouraged to develop a personal disaster plan. Information about hurricane and natural disaster preparedness can be found on The Florida Division of Emergency Management’s website at www.floridadisaster.org.  This website provides step instructions on preparing in advance for a disaster and making a personal disaster plan.

As part of this plan, students are advised to make arrangements for where they will go in the event the Student Residence Hall is evacuated.  Students may discuss any questions or concerns they have regarding evacuation in advance with the Residence Life Coordinator and Resident Assistants.

Before the Storm

The Daytona State College Critical Incident Management (CIM) Team monitors tropical activity and is activated whenever the potential exists for tropical weather to impact our area. The CIM Team will make decisions on the status and response of the College, including whether the Student Residence Hall will be evacuated. Decisions are based on factors such as the likelihood and potential strength of the impact.

During this time, students should be prepared to implement their personal disaster plan.

The CIM Team may order a mandatory evacuation of the Student Residence Hall before any evacuation orders are issued by local emergency management officials.

Evacuation

When the CIM Team issues the order to evacuate the Student Residence Hall, students will be notified directly by the College.

If a local evacuation order is in place, students should use proper evacuation routes specified by local emergency management officials.

Volusia County Emergency Management evacuation and shelter information:

https://www.volusia.org/services/public-protection/emergency-management/get-prepared/.

Students who need to use a local shelter may contact the Residence Life Coordinator for assistance in locating a shelter. Prior to sheltering, these students should obtain an adequate supply of all medications they require.

Before leaving the Student Residence Hall, students should properly dispose of all perishable foods and beverages.

Students should not leave behind any expensive portable electronic devices, money, or valuable personal items. Before leaving, students should make sure the doors to their residences are closed and locked.

Communication

Residence Life will communicate specific updates to student residents in the Residence Hall throughout the entire weather emergency event. The College will send out communications before and after a hurricane via text and email using the DSC Alert system. Students are enrolled in the DSC Alert system upon enrolling in classes. The DSC Alert system uses contact information students have on file with the college. Instructions on updating contact information are available here https://library.daytonastate.edu/student-falcon-self-service/personal-info.

For more information on the DSC Alert System, email DSCAlert@DaytonaState.edu.

Updates on the status of the College will be available on the College website at DaytonaState.edu.

Messages on the status of the College during an emergency will also be available at (386) 506-HELP (4357).

After the Storm

After the storm passes, students who have evacuated the Student Residence Hall should continue to monitor official Daytona State College communications on the status of the College.

If the storm affects our area, Daytona State College Campus Safety and Facilities Services personnel will inspect the Student Residence Hall to determine whether it is safe for students to return.

When the CIM Team determines that students may return to the Student Residence Hall, students will be notified directly by the College.

Students may not return to the Student Residence Hall until authorized by the College.

Upon returning to the Student Residence Hall, students should report any dangerous conditions, damage, loss of property, or any other related issues they encounter.

Students may always contact Campus Safety for assistance at (386) 506-4444.

Shelter-In-Place

Daytona State College uses the term Shelter-In-Place to refer to seeking immediate indoor shelter and remaining there during an emergency when a sudden outdoor hazard, such as a weather emergency, (e.g. tornado or high winds), or chemical cloud, makes evacuating unsafe.

Shelter-in-Place Recommendations for Weather Emergencies

• Try to reach the lowest level of the building that time allows.
• Seek shelter a safe room or area in the interior of the building
  • Put as many walls as possible between yourself and the outer walls of the building.
  • Stay away from windows and glass.
  • Flying debris is a potential danger. Consider the potential for flying debris, large, heavy objects falling from above you, etc. when choosing a room for shelter.
  • Do not open windows.
• Close the door and go to center of room.
• When possible, get under something sturdy
• Cover your head with a blanket, pad, or cushion, if available. If nothing is available, cover your head with your arms and hands.
• Remain in shelter until given an “all clear” by authorities

(Do not assume a calm in winds means the danger has passed).

Tornado Safety

• D.U.C.K.
  • Down to the lowest level.
    • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of the building possible, away from windows, glass, and potential flying or falling debris.
  • Under something sturdy.
    • If possible, get under something sturdy enough to protect you from falling debris
  • Cover your head.
    • Use whatever is available, (cushion, blanket, etc.), or your arms.
  • Keep in shelter.
    • Do not leave shelter because you’ve heard the weather calm. Stay in shelter until you are advised that the danger has passed.
  • Get out of automobiles and mobile homes
    • Most deaths from tornadoes occur in automobiles and mobile homes.
    • Find a sturdy structure if possible.
    • If no sturdy structure is available, lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and cover your head with your arms/hands. Be alert for flash floods.

Post-Storm Safety

Don’t leave shelter too soon

• Stay in shelter until the winds have stopped.
• Falling tree limbs and other debris can be deadly.
• Debris such as tree limbs weakened by the storm can fall even when wind speeds start to decrease as the storm passes.

Be careful during clean-up and repairs

• Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
• Avoid wading in floodwater, which may contain dangerous debris or may be electrically charged by downed or underground power lines.
• Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. Learn portable ladder safety, especially if you are not used to working on a ladder.

Electrical Safety

• Never use or touch electrical equipment when it is wet or when you are standing in water. Remember that floodwaters can be electrically charged by downed power lines.
• If water has been present anywhere near electrical circuits or equipment, turn off power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not turn the power back on until the equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician.
• Improper use of generators after a storm causes a risk of electrocution for line workers, other repair workers, and people in nearby buildings.
  • When using a portable generator for a residence, use heavy-duty, outdoor extension cords with an adequate wire gauge to plug appliances directly into the outlets on a generator that is positioned outside of the structure. Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
  • When using a gasoline or diesel generator to supply power to a structure, make sure the main breaker or fuse on the service panel is in the off position prior to starting the generator.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

• Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if the windows are open. Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home.
• Fumes can kill. Do not use grills inside your home. Keep grills at least 20 feet from your home. Do not heat your home with a gas oven.
• Never run a vehicle inside your garage, even with the garage door open.
• Consider installing battery operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area of your home.

Flood Safety

• Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
• Don’t drive through floodwater– it may be deeper than you think.
• A shallow depth of fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. Even six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet, and two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
• Keep in mind that floodwater can contain:
  • Downed power lines
  • Human and livestock waste
  • Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)
  • Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium, and mercury
  • Other contaminants that can lead to illness
  • Objects such as lumber, vehicles, glass, metal fragments, and other debris
  • Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes
• If you come in contact with floodwater:
  • Wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.
  • Take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary.
  • Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent before reusing them.
• If you must enter floodwater, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles.

Food Safety

• When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away the following foods after a hurricane:
  • Food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
  • Perishable foods (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) in your refrigerator when the power has been off for 4 hours or more.
  • Food not in packages or cans.
  • Canned foods or food containers that are bulging, opened, or damaged.
  • Packaged food: Throw away food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps, twist caps, flip tops, and snap-open, and home-canned foods. Throw away food in cardboard containers, including juice/milk/baby formula boxes.

Water Safety

• Listen for announcements from local officials to find out what to do. They will tell you if there are germs and/or chemicals in the water.
• Boil water if instructed. Boil it for at least one minute (start counting when the water comes to a constant boil). Let the water cool sufficiently before drinking. Boiling kills germs in the water.
• Use bottled water if instructed. Sometimes after a disaster, there may be chemicals in the water that boiling cannot remove.
• Do not use water you suspect or have been told is contaminated to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula.

Animal and Insect-Related Hazards

• Avoid wild or stray animals. Call local authorities to handle animals.
• Secure food sources and items that may attract animals and provide shelter for rodents.
• Be aware that snakes may be swimming in water or hiding under debris.
• The types of mosquitoes that spread viruses may increase two weeks to two months after a storm. To prevent mosquito bites:
  • Use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Remove items outdoors that hold water where mosquitos can breed.

Beware of Scams

• To report any suspected fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721
• Only deal with licensed, insured, reputable contractors. Never pay large amounts of money up front. Get a written contract detailing the work that will be done, the materials that will be used and the prices for labor and materials.
• Never sign over the right for a contractor to deal directly with your insurance company, (assignment of benefits), without making sure the contractor is reputable. Research assignment of benefits (AOB) scams, which are very common after a disaster.
• Beware of fake flood insurance phone calls. Contact your insurance company directly before giving any information or payment.
• Beware of imposters posing as FEMA inspectors. FEMA never charges for home inspections, and the only information they request is a nine-digit FEMA registration code. Call FEMA if you are suspicious of someone claiming to be a FEMA inspector.

Other Considerations

• One of the most common causes of deaths after a hurricane is exacerbation of existing medical conditions due to factors such as stress and anxiety, heat and interruption of medical treatment.
• Make sure your preparation includes refilling prescriptions, having a plan if your treatment is dependent on electricity, and other necessary preparations related to your health care.
• Consider strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
• Don’t overdo it on cleanup and repairs and stay hydrated.

Enhanced Fujita (EF) Tornado Damage Scale

Implemented Feb. 1, 2007 as an update to the original Fujita (F) Scale

Atlantic Seasonal Forecast for 2026 Hurricane Activity

Colorado State University Tropical Weather & Climate Research

More Helpful Websites

• FEMA Mobile App - www.fema.gov/mobile-app (On the App Store and Google Play)

• American Red Cross Mobile Apps - http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps

• National Weather Service National Hurricane Center -https://www.nhc.noaa.gov

• American Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness - http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane

• Florida Division of Emergency Management Plan and Prepare - www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare
• WESH Hurricane Page - http://www.wesh.com/hurricanes
• The Weather Channel - http://www.weather.com