An emergency management team should be organized. This team will be responsible for implementing emergency closing procedures. They will direct students and staff during evacuations, lock down buildings, control crowds and contact emergency response organizations, such as the police or fire department.
The security department of a college should monitor the weather for severe storm warnings. A communications tree should be in place; security will alert the first department or person on the tree. For snow closings, local radio stations should be alerted. If there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado while there are students on campus, emergency procedures, such as safely filing into enclosed classrooms, should be followed.
Colleges should have a notification system set up. A toll-free information line can be accessed by students and faculty. A mass notification system can alert any students, faculty and staff by e-mail; cell phone, home phone or business phone; text messaging; and campus-wide announcements.