At this point, the plan is for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in Harrisonburg to operate on a normal schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 30 since there are no major power outages in the area. The Crisis Management Preparedness Team will review the decision in the early morning on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and make an announcement by 7 a.m. if classes are cancelled.

Commuter students and nonessential faculty and staff should exercise appropriate caution and make prudent decisions based on their particular circumstances regarding travel to and from campus. Any absences due to storm-related conditions will be considered excused absences.

Prayers continue for people in areas harder hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Posted Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, 11:14 a.m.

·¡²Ñ±«â€™s continues to monitor Hurricane Sandy’s track and potential impact on the campus community.

Classes for the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Harrisonburg campus on Monday, Oct. 29 are cancelled effective 12:30 p.m. A decision about Tuesday classes will be made by 9 p.m.

In preparation for possible power outages, those who live on campus are encouraged to keep their mobile devices fully charged and have access to a working flashlight.

In the event that campus loses power for an extended period of time, keep in mind:

• Elmwood and Cedarwood will have generator back up power.
• University Commons and Maplewood will have limited backup generator power.
• Heating systems in other campus buildings will be offline and night time may be chilly. Get warm clothing and layers ready. If you don’t have access to warm clothing and blankets contact your CA or RD to assist you in getting needed supplies.
• As always, candles will not be permitted to be burned in residence halls, even if power is out.
• CAs and RDs will be your first line of communication and will be ready to assist you with any needs.
• The dining hall in Northlawn will continue to serve food during daylight hours in the event of a power failure. Food options may be limited. Your spirit of cooperation will be appreciated!
• Key cards would no longer work in residence hall doors. The main entrance of each building will be unlocked and covered by Residence Life staff. Please do not prop open any doors.

Find more information on emergency preparedness at the .

Posted Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, 10:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service is predicting severe weather for the Harrisonburg, Va., and Lancaster, Pa., areas as Hurricane Sandy approaches. High winds and heavy rains are predicted all day Monday and Tuesday, October 29 and 30, 2012.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ is planning to operate on a normal schedule on Monday. Changes to the university’s operating status will be communicated via the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ campus alert system.

As with all inclement weather situations, commuter students and nonessential faculty and staff should exercise appropriate caution and make prudent decisions about travel to and from campus. Any absences due to storm-related conditions will be considered excused absences.

Emergency preparedness

During this severe weather, members of the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ community in Harrisonburg, Va., and Lancaster, Pa., are encouraged to:

• Follow the instructions of local and state officials.
• Listen to local radio and TV stations for updated emergency information.
• Remove items from exterior housing that may be affected by wind.
• Secure bikes in a safe location inside if possible.
• Close and secure all windows and sliding glass doors.
• Remove personal items from the floor, especially in basement apartments, in case of flooding.
• Do not drive or walk through floodwater. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Turn around and find another route if a road is flooded – it is almost always more dangerous than it appears.
• Have a flashlight and extra batteries in case the power goes out; fully charge your cell phone or laptop as a means of communication in case there is not power.

For more information on being prepared for an emergency, check out the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website: http://www.vaemergency.gov/ReadyVirginia

Campus communication

In the event of an emergency on campus in Harrisonburg, contact 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Security at 540-432-4911. Off campus emergencies should be reported to the appropriate public safety agency by dialing 911.

Updates to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s campus alert system will be posted periodically if there are any changes to the university’s operating status. Emergency alerts will be clearly posted on , and sent via text to those who have registered with the E2Campus alert system found at

Read more…

By Jeff Mellot, Daily News-Record

Harrisonburg firefighters simulate an evacuation during a hazardous materials emergency drill at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Discipleship Center on Thursday. The simulation was designed to foster cooperation among agencies that handle emergencies in the Valley, and involved as many as 100 participants.

At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, an 91¶ÌÊÓƵ student walked into the emergency room at Rockingham Memorial Hospital with a simulated illness.

Fifteen minutes later, two more 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students went to the campus nurse seeking help for similarly simulated symptoms.

At 9:03, Harrisonburg fire and rescue emergency vehicles with assistance from Rockingham County were called to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Discipleship Center, where students lay on the floor simulating an intentional release of an insecticide capable of causing nausea and death.

The exercise showed no major changes were needed in the city’s policies and procedures for responding to hazardous materials emergencies, said Harrisonburg Fire Chief Larry Shifflett.

‘This Is A Drill’

The simulation, designed to sharpen cooperation among emergency response agencies and meet state requirements, involved as many as 100 people, Shifflett said. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ half of them were at the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ site, where the drill took place in a simulated science class, he said.

Among the “victims” sprawled on the floor of the Discipleship Center was James Madison University junior Reid Wodicka, 21, of Lynchburg.

Wodicka, a certified Rockingham County firefighter and EMT, “suffered” from seizures and low blood pressure and his breathing had “stopped.”

JMU student Meghann Waranowski, 19, of Finksburg, Md., was weak and short of breath.

And, JMU junior Sean Cunningham, 21, of Woodbridge, was confused and had abdominal pains.

Risk Assessment

Waranowski, who is in the Integrated Science and Technology program at JMU, found it interesting how firefighters responded.

“They sent just one in, so [fewer] firefighters had to get contaminated,” she said.

And that firefighter, Shifflett added, paused before entering to assess the risk to the people in the room as well as to himself.

The fire turnout suit he was wearing would not protect him in an area contaminated by a deadly chemical, Shifflett said. Still, firefighters are often called on to take such risks to save a life, he said.

“You can become a victim instead of a rescuer,” Shifflett said of the risk.

Practical Experience

Wodicka and Cunningham knew what it was like to be emergency responders during a drill.

Cunningham expects to take his firefighter certification exam Monday.

“Everything seemed to run smoothly,” he said.

Wodicka had become a firefighter to complement his public administration major at JMU, as well as to learn more about firefighting and hazardous materials.

“This pertains to that a lot,” he said.

‘Twist’

The drill’s lessons were sent home more clearly when the University Commons was evacuated, said 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Vice President for Student Life Ken Nafziger.

Nafziger is chair of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s crisis management team, which reports to the university president.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ officials have their emergency response center in the building where the two students went to see the nurse. But, by doing so, they also contaminated the building, he said.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ staff also discovered the JMU students among the victims. The staff contacted their home campus, Nafziger said.

“That was a valuable added twist,” he said. “It was a realistic scenario, because we have guests and visitors.”

Realism

Shifflett and Nafziger said the exercise was very realistic. Still, only so much can be simulated, Shifflett said.

But Nafziger said going through the steps has real value.

“We recognize that in the middle of a crisis you will never get it perfect,” he said.

“Rocks in the Road,” a presentation with discussion on the recent post-election crisis and peace efforts in the east African nation of Kenya will be held 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in room 123 of the seminary building.

Janice M. (Jan) Jenner, director of the Practice Institute in the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, will introduce the topic and moderate the session. She will be assisted by 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students from Kenya and CJP Kenyan graduates.

The presentation will examine events in Kenya following the Dec. 29 election, resulting in violence that has caused at least 1,000 deaths, 350,000 internally displaced people and tremendous infrastructure and economic damage.

A poster created for the “Rocks in the Road” presentation at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Several current and past 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students will provide relevant Kenyan history and analysis of the current situation, including the Kofi-Annan brokered peace talks, civil society peacebuilding efforts and the effect on Mennonites in Kenya. There will be time for audience questions.

Prior to joining the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty, Jenner was co-country representative for seven years with Mennonite Central Committee in Kenya. She holds a masters in conflict transformation from 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Refreshments will be served. Admission is free.

The program is sponsored by the provost office and the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. For more information, call 432-4490.