In case of inclement weather, the College will announce its plans to close or to delay opening through the following news media:

AM RADIO STATIONS
WFLS 1350
WMAL 630
WPGC 1580
WTOP 820

FM RADIO STATIONS
WAMU 88.5
WASH 97.1
WFLS 93.3
WHUR 96.3
WITH 99.5
WKYS 93.9
WPGC 95.5
WRQX 107.3
WTOP 103.5

TELEVISION STATIONS
WRC Channel 4
WTTG Channel 5
WJLA Channel 7
WUSA Channel 9
NVCC-TV Channel 19, 25, 37, or 59 (Check local cable listing for your area.)

In addition, the College will place a message on the College web site and on the College TV station if there will be a change from normal operating hours.

Individuals can check for weather announcements by calling the College Call Center at 703-323-3000 or by calling NovaConnect at 703-323-3770 or in Prince William County 703-330-3770. You may also register on NOVA Alert at http://www.nvcc.edu/emergency to receive a text message. Another way to be notified is to receive alerts from your favorite social networking sites. Please see Connect with NOVA – Social Media http://www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/connect-nova/index.html for more information.

This is how to interpret closing announcements you hear on the media:

“Northern Virginia Community College is closed:” The College will be closed until classes begin on the following morning. When this simple announcement is made, it means that no day or evening classes will be held.

“Northern Virginia Community College will open X hours late:” For the purpose of delayed opening announcements, the College’s official opening time is 8 a.m. For example, a two-hour delay means that the College will open at 10 a.m. Classes that begin at 10 a.m. or after will be held as usual. College employees should arrive at the College by 10 a.m. Supervisors of employees who work special shifts should make clear how delayed openings affect attendance expectations. To avoid confusion, we try to provide the actual time of opening.

“Morning classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled:” The College will be closed until 12 noon. The College will open at noon and classes beginning at noon or after will be held as usual. College employees should arrive at the College by noon.

“Day classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled:” Day classes are those classes that begin before 4:30 p.m. The College will open and classes that begin at 4:30 p.m. or after will be held as usual. Employees whose normal work schedules extend beyond 6 p.m. should report to work by 4:30 p.m.

“Evening classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled:” Evening classes are those classes that begin at or after 4:30 p.m. The College will close at 4:30 p.m. and no further classes will be held until the next morning.

Please note that in all cases of delayed openings, classes that would have started prior to the opening time, but then would have continued at least 45 minutes after the opening time will go on, beginning at the opening time. For example, a three-hour class that normally begins at 9:30 am and continues to 12:30 pm would start at 10:00 am and continue as usual until 12:30 pm in the case of a two hour delay.

If weather conditions cause the College to close, all NOVA campuses and off-campus locations will also be closed.

The College makes its closing announcements as quickly as it can. During the workday, please do not call to ask whether the College will be closing. If the decision is to close, everyone will be notified. Responding to telephone calls prevents staff from receiving information from police and weather services and often slows down the closing decision.

FIRE
• Activate the nearest fire alarm and call 9-1-1 if possible.
If there are no fire alarms, knock on doors and yell “fire”
as you exit the building.
• Evacuate the building.
• Do not use elevators!
• Feel closed doors with the back of your hand.
Do not open if doors are hot.
• Move well away from the building when evacuating and
assemble at designated assembly areas.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized by
emergency personnel.

VIOLENT INCIDENT
• Immediately seek protection/shelter in place.
• Secure area by locking or barricading door using
whatever means available.
• Stay behind solid objects away from door.
• Call 9-1-1.
• Minimize noise that may draw attention to your location:
turn off lights, computers, and radios and put cell phones
on vibrate.
• Follow all directions of authorities; do not challenge
law enforcement.
• When reporting an incident, indicate your location.

SUSPICIOUS
PERSON/OBJECT
SUSPICIOUS PERSON
• Do not physically confront the person.
• Do not let anyone into a locked building/office.
• Do not block the person’s access to an exit.
• Call 9-1-1. Provide as much information as possible
about the person and his or her direction of travel.

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE
• Do not touch or disturb the object.
• Do not use cellular phones or two-way radios.
• Call 9-1-1.
• Notify your supervisor or instructor.
• Be prepared to evacuate and take personal
belongings with you.

SEVERE WEATHER/
TORNADO
• Prepare to shelter in place if ordered.
• Remain calm and alert.
• Relocate to designated shelter areas; remain clear of
glass windows or doors.
• If you cannot reach the designated area, use an interior
hallway on the lowest floor possible.
• If you are outside and unable to get to a building for
protection, move away from the tornado’s path at a right
angle. If there is no time to escape, lie flat in the
nearest depression (i.e., ditch or ravine).

BOMB THREAT/EXPLOSION
• Notify Campus Police at 9-1-1.
• Do not use cellular phones or two-way radios.
• Do NOT activate the fire alarm system to evacuate.
• Evacuate the building, as directed.
• Do not re-enter the building until cleared by
authorized personnel.
• Untrained persons should not try to rescue people who are
inside a collapsed building. Wait for emergency personnel.

Please visit the College’s Emergency Preparedness website for more information.

Hurricane Basics

Warnings and Advisories
Know the difference between “watches” and “warnings.”

Hurricane Warnings and Advisories

Tropical Storm Watch
A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds from 39 to 73
mph, pose a possible threat to a specified area within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning
A tropical storm warning is issued when tropical storm conditions are expected to affect a specified area within 36 hours or less.

Hurricane Watch
A hurricane watch is issued for a specified area when hurricane conditions, including sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, are possible within 48 hours.

Hurricane Warning
A hurricane warning is issued for a specified area when hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. In coastal or near-coastal areas, a hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water, or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, continues, even though the winds may have subsided below hurricane intensity.

Evacuation Order
The most important instruction you will receive. If issued, leave immediately

A state-wide tornado drill will be held on March 16 at 9:45 a.m. at all NOVA campuses, centers and off-campus facilities.

It is importnat that you participate, so that you know the approprate response procedures if a tornado strikes.

For more information visit the the College Emergnecy Website

The Office of Emergency Planning suggests adding the NOVA web page to your favorites and signing up for NOVA Alert. The decision to delay/close will be broadcast via text message to registered NOVA Alert users and posted on our website