Emergency Preparedness

Emergency notification information for:

• SCAD Atlanta
• SCAD Hong Kong
• SCAD Lacoste
• SCAD off-campus programs
• SCAD Savannah

At SCAD, emergency management and preparedness are collaborative efforts with federal, state and local emergency management agencies, as well as with local fire, law enforcement and other emergency first responders.

At the federal level, emergency management and disaster planning are the responsibility of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is responsible for disaster planning on the state level. On the local levels, the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) is responsible for the Savannah area, and the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) is responsible for the Atlanta area.

The Savannah College of Art and Design is dedicated to providing a safe environment for students, faculty and staff. Since predicting when crisis situations will arise is difficult, it is necessary to always be prepared for the possibility. With this in mind, SCAD has created an all-hazard emergency preparedness plan to assist all members of the SCAD community in responding to emergencies. The tools and steps outlined in the plan can be used in nearly all emergencies. But, since tropical weather - including hurricanes - presents the largest threat to SCAD, most examples in the plan focus on that particular scenario.

Emergency Notification

In times of crisis, communication is essential but can be difficult. In some situations, not having the right information in a timely manner can make a bad situation worse. Therefore, SCAD has built a comprehensive communication system used exclusively in emergencies.

In an emergency, SCAD personnel will be difficult to reach, as most will be focused on the security of members of the SCAD community. But, by having multiple methods of message delivery, information about the situation can be dispersed quickly and effectively.

The tools include:

Blackboard Connect
Blackboard Connect is SCAD's newest crisis preparedness tool. The system allows for rapid notification of all SCAD students, faculty and staff through recorded messages via telephone and e-mail. The system is activated by the communications department to deliver news and information such as school closures or recommended evacuation routes.

This system relies on the contact information provided by students, faculty and staff, so all members of the SCAD community need to keep their information updated in MySCAD to ensure delivery of emergency messages.

Web Support
In the event of a closure of SCAD and an evacuation, this Web site continues to function as an important source of information. SCAD updates this site as necessary to ensure that family and friends of SCAD community members are aware of current status, plans, locations and contact information.

During non-evacuation times, questions about crisis preparedness not answered on this Web site may be directed to SCAD communications. (Note: This e-mail address will not be functional in the event of a crisis.)

Notifications of Closure
School closings are announced on local TV and radio stations, sent via Blackboard Connect, posted in SCAD buildings and on this Web site.