Page 15 - Emergency Desk Reference

Hardin-Simmons University Emergency Desk Reference Page 15
S USPICIOUS MAIL For your personal safety, please be aware of the following characteristics that may indicate
suspicious letters or packages:• Have any powdery substance on the outside.
• Are unexpected or from someone you are unfamiliar with.
• Are addressed to someone no longer with Hardin-Simmons University or are otherwise
outdated.
• Have no return address, or have one that can't be verified as legitimate.
• Are of unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
• Have an unusual amount of tape on them.
• Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential.”
• Have strange odors or stains.
• Show a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address.
What should you do if you receive a suspicious letter or parcel?• Do not try to open it!
• Isolate the piece of mail or package.
• Notify your supervisor.
• Evacuate the immediate area.
• Call the Texas Department of Public Safety at (325) 795-4013 to report that you’ve
received a parcel in the mail that may contain biological or chemical substances.
INCLEMENT WEATHER OPERATIONS The university will maintain normal operating hours during inclement weather unless a public
notice is made to close the university. Notice will be posted on the HSU website and HSU Alert
system, given to the appropriate news media early on days of inclement weather or via HSU alert
emergency cell phone notification. A skeleton force has been charged with coming to the
university to perform required functions during inclement weather.
Should the university be closed, the operational status of the university will be given clearly
regarding: total closure of the university; opening and closing of morning or evening classes; or
classes cancelled, but staff report. All employees, except those designated in the skeleton force,
shall be guided by the Personnel Policy and Procedure on Emergency Administrative Closings.
On days of inclement weather when the university is still open, employees may determine that
travel may be too risky for them. If this is the case, they may take annual leave and notify their
supervisor of their situation. Non-notification to the employee’s supervisor will result, except in
extremely extenuating circumstances, in a day of leave without pay.
DO NOT try contact the Texas Department of Public Safety as this will tie up necessary emergency
communication lines.