Austin Community College District (ACC) hosts Emergency Preparedness Week during the third week of every semester. From June 16 through June 20, the College will share safety tips and advice and will conduct safety drills at campuses across the District.

“Knowing where to go and what to do in an emergency can save lives,” says Dr. Mike Garcia, ACC’s Associate Vice Chancellor of Maintenance and Operations. “Being prepared can make all the difference in an emergency. ACC uses five emergency codes, and everyone must understand what each one means and how to respond. Whether it’s evacuate, shelter, or lockdown, being familiar with the procedures helps keep you and those around you safe.”

Campus Drills

Drills are scheduled at campuses throughout the week. You can prepare ahead of time by reviewing our emergency egress plans. This special map is designed to help you find campus exits and alternate routes. You can also find special rally points at each campus. These are areas to go to in the event of an evacuation. 

Emergency Alert System Test

On Wednesday, June 18, ACC will test its Emergency Alert System. Now is the time to make sure your emergency contact information is up to date. During the test, you’ll receive warning messages through text and email. 

To get ready, verify or update your contact information. Emergency message boards and PA speakers around campus also may be activated, and a test message will be posted on the ACC website and the District’s Facebook page.

Any message from our Emergency Alert System will display as “ACC Emergency Alert.” We recommend you create or update the entry in your phone’s contacts list with the following information: 226787, 67283, 78015, 81437 (enter these “shortcodes” as individual phone numbers) and [email protected] OR [email protected] (if your phone doesn’t receive short codes). 

Prepare Today for EPW

Below are simple steps you can take now to get ready for the semester ahead. 

• View the ACC Emergency website for detailed information about various types of emergencies. 
• Get connected to ACC on social media. Most emergency alerts that are distributed through our Emergency Alert System also are posted to the college’s homepage and its Facebook page.
• Know the Emergency Egress Plan. Maps are posted on every campus and in classrooms to identify emergency exits, Areas of Rescue Assistance, Automated External Defibrillators, shelter-in-place locations in the event of severe weather, and evacuation rally points.
• Learn ACC’s 5 Safety Actions. These actions are uniquely designed to address specific emergency scenarios.

1. Hold: “In Your Room or Area” | During a Hold, individuals are instructed to remain in their current room or area until further notice, ensuring that hallways are free for emergency responders or to isolate a specific area.
2. Secure: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” | The Secure protocol directs everyone to get inside and lock exterior doors to prevent potential threats from entering the building while maintaining a safe environment inside.
3. Lockdown: “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” | Lockdown protocol asks occupants to lock their doors, turn off lights, and remain out of sight, making it difficult for intruders to find them.
4. Evacuate: “Get Out” | The Evacuate directive, which may be followed by a specified location, is used to move people from one area to another, either within the building or outside, for swift and orderly evacuation in case of fires, chemical spills, or other emergencies.
5. Shelter: “State the Hazard and Safety Strategy” | For situations like severe weather or hazardous material incidents, the Shelter protocol is activated. The specific hazard and corresponding safety strategy are clearly communicated to ensure appropriate protective measures are taken.

For more information on ACC’s emergency response and procedures, visit austincc.edu/emergency.