Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) will conduct an emergency drill on Friday, July 25. This drill is a training exercise for local and state first responders, the University’s public safety officers, students, faculty and staff, and simulates an active shooter on the school’s Institute campus.
The drill will begin at approximately 10:22 a.m. in the area of the Drain Jordan Library and will include the West Virginia State Police, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, City of Dunbar Police Department, Kanawha County Emergency Services, Kanawha County Metro 911, Nitro Police Department and Institute Volunteer Fire Department as well as WVSU staff and students.
“Colleges and Universities are required, under the Clery Act, to test their emergency response plans on an annual basis, and drills of this type featuring an active shooter scenario are becoming more common nationwide,” said Melvin Jones, WVSU Vice President for Business and Finance. “This drill is a vital step in our everyday efforts to maintain the safety and security of all Yellow Jackets.”
This is the first time a training exercise of this scope has been conducted at WVSU.
In the drill scenario, shots are fired on the lawn of the library, and the shooter flees inside the building. Once the drill begins, the campus community and neighbors will hear the University’s outdoor warning sirens sound. Messages will be sent to all students, faculty and staff who have enrolled in the University’s emergency notification system. These messages will be communicated through telephone calls and mobile phone texts. In addition, the WVSU website and social media platforms will transmit drill messages.
Law enforcement and emergency response vehicles will respond by approximately 10:35 a.m. and will be clearly visible on campus in the area around the library and the visitor’s parking lot where the drill will be located. During the training exercise, simulated ammunition will be used by law enforcement. The duration of the drill is anticipated to be an hour and a half or less.
For more information, please contact the WVSU Public Safety Office at (304) 766-3353. Media seeking to cover the training exercise are asked to contact University Relations at (304)766-3363.
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