Hurricane and Disaster Plans and Procedures

Due to the sometimes unpredictable and violent weather that often evolves in the South Florida region ( the location of all FNC campuses), situations may develop in which it is necessary to cancel classes or close the College completely in order to safeguard students and employees. If this need arises, the College will cancel classes following the same proceedings of Miami-Dade County public schools. Students are advised to stay informed.

If Miami-Dade County Public Schools announce class cancellations, Florida National College will cancel its classes as well.

Official Hurricane Season: June 1 to November 30.

Hurricanes are classified by wind strength known as the Saffir/Simpson Scale:

Saffir/Simpson Scale:
Category Wind

I	74-95 mph
II	96-110 mph
III	111-130 mph
IV	131-155 mph
V	156 + mph

SEVERE WEATHER TERMS IN COMMON USE:

Hurricane Season - June 1 through November 30 is officially designated as hurricane season.
Advisory - A message released by the hurricane center, usually at 6-hour intervals, updating Information on the storm or hurricane, including watches and warnings whenever they are in effect. A special advisory is a message given any time there is a significant change in weather conditions or change in warnings previously released. An intermediate advisory updates information in advisories at 2 to 3-hour intervals, whenever a watch or warning is in effect.
Small Craft Warnings - When a hurricane or tropical storm threatens a coastal area, small craft are advised to remain in port and not to venture into the open sea.
Tropical Depression - A circulation at the surface of the water with a sustained wind speed of 38 mph or less.
Tropical Storm - Distinct circulation with sustained wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph.
Hurricane - A tropical cyclone that rotates counterclockwise with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.
Tropical Storm Watch - The alert given when a tropical storm poses a threat to a certain coastal area within 36 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning - A tropical storm is expected to strike within 24 hrs. with sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.
Hurricane Watch - The alert given when a hurricane poses a threat to a certain coastal area within 36 hrs.
Hurricane Warning - A hurricane is expected to strike within 24 hours with sustained winds of 74 mph or more accompanied by heavy rain and high waves.
Storm Surge - A rise in tide caused by a hurricane as It moves over or near the coastline. It can be much higher than the normal tidal rise, with breaking waves on top.

Hurricane Plans and Procedures

All decisions concerning hurricanes will be made by the First Level Administrator s (Vice-Presidents and CEO) at Florida National College . These decisions will be based upon the official notifications originating from the National Hurricane Center .

Procedures:

Before the Hurricane
In the case of an impending hurricane, the following actions will be taken:

Hurricane Watch:

1.	At the announcement of the "Hurricane Watch", by the National Hurricane Center , the Campus Deans will instruct all personnel to begin the immediate securing of their respective areas in preparation for the possibility of the "Watch" becoming a "Warning."
2.	All Campus Deans will place themselves on a 24-hour watch concerning conditions and its effect on personnel and property.

Hurricane Warning:

1.	At the announcement of a Hurricane "Warning," the First Level Administrator s will immediately announce to the student body, the faculty, and the media of the closing of the College's facilities until further notice.
2.	Students can contact their professors or respective campuses for information regarding class cancellations and resumptions.

Hialeah Campus: (305) 821-3333 Press "0" for the operator or ext 1040 for the Office of Student Services to get the most current updates.
South Campus: (305) 226-9999 Press "0" for the operator, or ext 1372 for the Office of Student Services to get the most current updates.
Training Center : (305) 231-3326. Training Center students please call the Hialeah Campus at (305) 821-3333. Press "0" for the operator or ext 1040 for the Office of Student Services to get the most current updates.

Due to campus relocations, phone #'s may change. In that case, you can check the FNC website at www.fnc.edu or email the Office of Student Services at studentservices@fnc.edu

IMPORTANT PERSONNEL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE PROCEDURES:

STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS PLEASE NOTE:

To be certain that the College Body has been alerted to all decisions mentioned in this manual, a sequence of information transmittal must be followed. This procedure will ensure that the most vital information has been appropriately propagated to all departments.

The following actions will be taken:

	a.	The College President will notify the Controller's Office;
	b.	The College Vice President will notify the Offices of Institutional Effectiveness and Research;
	c.	The Vice President/Assistant CEO will notify the Campus Deans, the Director of Admissions and the Director of Student Services;
	d.	The Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the Division Heads;
	e.	The Division Heads will notify the Department Heads;
	f.	Each Department Head will notify the faculty members of his/her department;
	g.	The Faculty will inform the students of the present condition and that updated information will be available by calling the receptionist.
	h	The Campus Deans will notify the staff at their campuses.
	i.	Students may contact their faculty, their respective campuses, or the Office of Student Services for announcements or current updates.

Hurricane Watch (additional personnel procedures):
In case of the worsening of the weather situation, the Deans are to secure their families and personal property first in the event that they may be needed on campus.

Hurricane Watch (additional personnel procedures):

	1.	After the announcement of a Hurricane "Warning" and the closing of the College facilities, the Campus Deans, in conjunction with the Maintenance Staff, will inspect the entire campus and supervise any needed window boarding, taping, moving of computers, etc. The Campus Deans have the responsibility and authority to make such decisions.
	2.	Campus Deans should have by this time secured family and personal property.
	3.	With the assistance of the Maintenance Staff, the Campus Deans are to oversee that the following steps are followed:

	A.	Shut and lock all doors and windows.
	B.	Boarding, if necessary, is to be completed.
	C.	Ventilator fans or air conditioning units on rooftops are also covered.
	D.	All air conditioners are shut down.
	E.	Elevators are on the ground floor and shut down.
	F.	Delicate equipment (computers, lab equipment, etc.) are covered, unplugged, and secured.
	G.	The Deans will see that each member of the College has secured his area, using the following procedures:

Each employee, being responsible for the safety of the various materials used and produced by him/her, will see that his/her desk is cleared and the materials are safely secured in desk drawers, or in the case of valuable papers, in safes, water/fire proof cabinets, etc.
Each employee will see that all file cabinets are locked, covered with plastic, and if possible, secured in place.
Each employee is responsible for unplugging their equipment from the wall including computers, printers, calculators, monitors, copiers, fax machines and any other equipment that may be damaged by electrical surges, storing backup floppy disk, CDs and tapes, water-proofing all equipment and files by securing them in whatever manner possible, or covering the same with plastic covering, etc.
Report to the President after completion of the above.

After the Hurricane

	I.	After securing their own family and personal property, the Campus Deans and the Maintenance Staff will inspect the campuses to ascertain damage.
	II.	The state of the campus will be reported to the Office of the President.
	III.	The First Level Administrators will assess the weather situation together with the reports of the Campus Deans to determine the time and conditions of the reopening of each campus.
	IV	The Campus Dean will ensure that the receptionists' Voicemails are updated with the latest information concerning the reopening of the campuses.