POTSDAM -- As part of its continuous emergency planning efforts, SUNY Potsdam will hold a campuswide “Shelter in Place” drill Thursday, Sept. 21, beginning at 9:45 a.m., in an effort to familiarize the campus with steps to take in a crisis. This drill will last approximately 20 minutes.

SUNY Potsdam will send text messages and emails to signal the beginning and end of the drill, using its emergency alert system, Potsdam Rave Alert.

During the drill, professors will be encouraged to secure their classrooms and lead discussions on how their spaces could be secured in a crisis. People in open areas will also be asked to think about where the nearest secure locations might be, and what actions they would take in an emergency.

This semester, the drill will also incorporate a live crisis simulation scenario, allowing campus officials and community first responders to practice their response for a simulated hazardous materials leak at the Maxcy Hall Athletic Complex.

During the drill, the college will take steps to isolate and contain the “leak,” just as officials would during a real-life situation. During the drill, first responders and campus officials will provide instructions for people in the vicinity of Maxcy Hall, and they may be asked to evacuate or stay clear of the simulated containment area.

“Shelter in Place” directives are issued for different types of crises, including hazardous materials or chemical leaks, extreme weather events such as tornadoes, during fires and in response to bomb threats or reports of an active shooter.

Simply stated, “sheltering in place” means that you assess your surroundings, secure the area as best you can and stay put, until a lockdown is lifted.