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Hurricane Season (June 1- Nov. 30)

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. During this time, SPC officials closely monitor Pinellas County Emergency Management bulletins and official weather forecasts when SPC falls within the National Hurricane Center’s zone of landfall probability. By doing so, SPC will have time to activate the college’s Emergency Management Plan, alert campus personnel, recommend protective actions, including evacuations, and communicate emergency notifications.

To prepare, you should:

• Check with your supervisor for SPC’s emergency procedures for your department.
• Read the Emergency Response procedures for weather emergencies.
• Update your personal Emergency Cell and Text options in MySPC to be sure you receive official college communications during storms.
• Review your personal hurricane plan.

Types of messages

Emergency communications during hurricane season could include:

• Recommended actions to take when the college is monitoring a storm
• Recommended actions to take when the college is preparing for a storm
• What to do when an evacuation is ordered
• Ways to stay in touch with the college during a storm
• When the college anticipates reopening
• What to do if the college is closed for an extended period

In the event of a closure, campuses will reopen only after the college damage assessment and recovery teams have surveyed the damage and re-powered critical systems.

Information regarding re-openings will be provided through:

• this blog
• the college toll-free number: 866-822-3978
• SPC e-mail
• local media outlets.

The college president has authority to close the college or cancel classes. The college is required to close when an official state or local governmental agency issues a mandatory evacuation order for Pinellas County. Beginning in 2010, the evacuation zones for 73,000 property parcels in Pinellas County changed because of new ways of collecting storm data.

Emergency Alerts

When an emergency poses a potential threat to life and safety, the college will issue timely warnings (Clery reportable crimes) and/or emergency notifications to students and employees. The college’s main website at www.spcollege.edu is the official source of college information regarding the status of the institution. You will also find emergency alerts on this blog.

Stay informed

In an emergency, the college calls your home phone number as your primary contact by default. To add your cell phone as the primary contact, verify your home number, and sign up to receive text messages for alerts, follow these steps:

For Students

1. Sign into the Student Login page and go to MySPC.
2. Look for the Profile tile at the bottom and click.
3. From the side navigation, check your Contact Details tab to add or update your home and/or cell number.
4. Choose your preferred contact number by selecting the appropriate checkbox and Save.
5. From the Emergency Notifications tab, add or edit your cell phone number to receive Emergency Notifications on your phone.
6. Choose Yes on the sliders for Contact by Cell Phone and/or Contact by Text Message.
7. Text YES to 68453 from your mobile device to receive text alerts.

For Employees

1. Sign into the Staff+Faculty Login page and go to MySPC.
2. Look under Employee Services for the Self Service list and choose Personal Information.
3. Choose Phone Numbers to add or update your home and/or cell number.
4. On the Phone Numbers page, choose your preferred contact number by selecting the appropriate checkbox and click Save.
5. Go to the Personal Information menu at the top and from the drop-down menu, select Emergency Cell/Text Options page.
6. To confirm that you want to be contacted by cell phone and/or text message choose Save.
7. You will also need to text YES to 68453 from your mobile device to receive text alerts.

To opt-out of receiving text messages, send a text to 68453 and indicate stop, quit or unsubscribe.

NOTE: Standard messaging and data rates may apply. Check your provider’s text-messaging or data plan.

Important Contact Information

• Message on SPC’s toll free number: 866-822-3978
• Collegewide Security: 727-791-2560
• Life-threatening emergency: 911

Communication channels

SPC officials communicate important information to faculty, staff, and students through the following:

• College home page
• Phone messages
• Text messages
• Employee and student e-mail
• Recorded message on our toll-free number: 866-822-3978
• Facebook
• Twitter
• SPC television station
• Pop-up messages on employee computers
• Broadcast speakers
• Fire alarms
• Local media outlets

Important Resources

• SPC Instructional (Academic) Continuity Plan – Faculty – (Emergency preparedness procedures for faculty)
• SPC Instructional (Academic) Continuity Plan – Students – (Emergency preparedness procedures for students)
• Emergency Plan and ICS Overview for Employees (Login to MyCourses with your SPC userID and password; Select SPC Emergency Plan and ICS Overview for Faculty and Staff under Courses; Select the Lessons tab at the top of the page)
• The Community College Citizen Preparedness course was designed by FEMA to prepare you for disasters on and off campus as well as the community in which you live and work. The course is free and takes 1-2 hours to complete. To receive credit for the course, select the registration tab, complete the form, including your student or employee ID# and and enter St. Petersburg College for the School/Organization.
• Emergency Response procedures for weather emergencies for employees

For questions on Emergency Management at SPC, please call or e-mail Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Grey at 727-341-4501.