Criticism concerning the failure to lockdown Virginia Tech after the first shooting occurred the day of the campus massacre has left many students wondering what action the UW might take in a similar situation.

The annual UW Emergency Operations Center drill was held Tuesday with the intent of practicing response to emergency events. But many students remain unaware of what to do during a lockdown.

“We don’t have a written lockdown policy,” said Vicky Stormo, chief of the UW Police Department.

Stormo also pointed out that the procedures presently in place relate mostly to civil unrest situations, and the campus shootings are a new problem.

The decision to lockdown is a police function because officers are able to assess whether the threat requires a lockdown or, in other words, “shelter-in-place,” Stormo said.

Of the 218 buildings on campus, only 29 have the capability to be locked down remotely by computer. These buildings are the ones that require people to swipe their cards in order to enter the building.

When these are locked down by computer people can leave, but not enter. Someone inside the building would be able to let a person locked out into the building, presenting yet another problem, Stormo said.

If a building cannot be locked down by computer, the building coordinator, a volunteer assigned to a specific structure, must lock doors manually with keys.

Questions have also been raised about evacuation and the feasibility of directing a large number of people.

“It’s extremely hard [to evacuate],” Stormo said. “And, the designated areas are more for earthquake-type situations.”

Getting the word out to the campus community that there is an incident on the premises also poses a major problem. The most commonly used means of communication have been e-mail, fax and Web notices. These depend on people constantly checking for them, Stormo said.

Computers are not the only way to get the word out; other forms of communication that could be used include traditional systems such as phone trees, message runners, bullhorns, fire alarms and PA systems on police cars.

Several committees, including a UW advisory committee, have been put together to look into issues of communication and emergency procedures in light of the shooting on the UW campus.

“Computing and Communications is working collaboratively with UW Emergency Management … to address some of the mass communication issues that have emerged,” said Scott Mah, assistant vice president of Computing and Communications Service Delivery and Support.

“The group will help identify gaps, prioritize requirements and develop and recommend solutions to help [the] UW be even more ready for an event requiring prompt notification.”

UW Emergency Management is the primary disaster office for the University. It faces many challenges as it works to prepare for these possible events.

“We have had trouble in the past getting student representation,” said Steve Charvat, director of the program. “Requests for an official ASUW or GPSS representative have never been filled, even though we extend an invitation each year to have an official student representative on our committee.”

Charvat said he feels a student perspective would greatly add to the disaster preparedness of the university.

Another way for students and members of the UW community to prepare is to sign up for the significant events e-mail list to be notified of campus emergencies.

Another goal of the communications task force will be to develop education campaigns so people know about the existing UW information hotlines.

As these procedures are developed, student involvement and awareness is a vital part of creating a safe campus that can react quickly and efficiently to unexpected events.

Reach reporter Sarah Greenleaf at news@thedaily.washington.edu.