{"72219":{"#nid":"72219","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Safety Remains a Top Priority for Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs the details of the terrible tragedy in Virginia continue to unfold, the Georgia Institute of Technology joins other public institutions in realizing that such an incident could happen anytime, anywhere.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We are profoundly grieved and saddened by this horrible tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to the campus community of Virginia Tech, especially to the families of those who were killed or wounded,\u0022 said Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough.  \u0022Virginia Tech is our sister technological university and partner school in the ACC, and the connections between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech run broad and deep.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has received dozens of inquiries from concerned parents regarding campus preparedness and response capabilities. The Institute conducts vulnerability assessments on facilities throughout campus and continually reviews preparedness and response procedures to enhance campus safety. Plans are also in place to address incidents ranging from natural disasters to bomb threats on campus.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022These plans are routinely exercised with local first responders, including the Atlanta Police Department (APD), Atlanta Fire Department (AFD) and the Atlanta\/Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA),\u0022 said Andy Altizer, Georgia Tech Emergency Preparedness director. \u0022To assure that we address ongoing concerns, Georgia Tech has an active Emergency Preparedness Advisory Group that meets monthly on campus, and includes members from these key agencies. In addition, campus first responders, emergency personnel and building managers are committed to participating in ongoing safety education to help improve preparedness and response capabilities. We are also a part of the Board of Regents\u0027 Emergency Operations Planning Committee.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech continues to improve its notification procedures and uses multiple means for campus notification when an emergency occurs. These include posting information on the Georgia Tech Web site (\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\u0022 title=\u0022www.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ewww.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E), distributing campus wide e-mails, implementing a building manager notification system, broadcasting voicemails, and notifying media and the campus broadcast stations, WREK and GTCN. The Institute is also in the process of evaluating text messaging systems as another means to contact students.  A recent grant from the Department of Homeland Security will fund the installation of a campus siren warning system. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith over 6,300 residents in Georgia Tech Housing\u0027s 32 residence halls, members of the Residence Life and Housing staff place a great emphasis on for emergency preparedness and response.  For example, Residence Life staff are trained in crisis management and have protocols designed to handle most emergencies, in coordination with Georgia Tech Police, Counseling Center, Dean of Students, and other Atlanta and State agencies.  Residence Life\u0027s Emergency Alert Plan spells evacuation and communication plans for emergencies.  Find out more at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.housing.gatech.edu\/policies\/reslife_security-alert-policy.cfm\u0022 title=\u0022http:\/\/www.housing.gatech.edu\/policies\/reslife_security-alert-policy.cfm\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.housing.gatech.edu\/policies\/reslife_security-alert-policy.cfm\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Dean of Students and Counseling Center stands ready to provide emotional support to the campus community in response to the recent tragic events. For more information on the services offered by the Center, please visit its Web site at \u003Ca href=\u0027http:\/\/www.counseling.gatech.edu\/\u0027\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.counseling.gatech.edu\/\u003C\/a\u003E or call 404-894-2575.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Safety is a joint effort,\u0022 said Altizer. \u0022We ask our students to be alert and report suspicious activities, to check our Web site, to tune into the news media when an event occurs and to ensure that their emergency contact information is on file and updated under the personal information icon in the student registration system.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"Georgia Tech has received inquiries from concerned parents regarding campus preparedness. The Institute conducts vulnerability assessments on facilities throughout campus and continually reviews preparedness and response procedures.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Institute continually reviews preparedness"}],"uid":"27301","created_gmt":"2007-04-17 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:01:33","author":"Elizabeth Campell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2007-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2007-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"72220":{"id":"72220","type":"image","title":"Tech Tower","body":null,"created":"1449177446","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:17:26","changed":"1475894651","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:11"}},"media_ids":["72220"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/emergency\/","title":"Georgia Tech Safety Procedures"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1772","name":"crime"},{"id":"1773","name":"police"},{"id":"167060","name":"safety"},{"id":"167333","name":"shooting"},{"id":"2422","name":"tragedy"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELaura Diamond\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:laura.diamond@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Elaura.diamond@comm.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-894-6016\u003Cbr \/\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:maderer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emaderer@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-660-2926\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["matthew.nagel@comm.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}