Procedures for Campus Evacuation
1. The Incident Commander is advised by the Field Incident Commander that a campus evacuation is warranted and necessary to protect life and property.
2. If time permits, the Incident Commander informs the Vice President and Treasurer (VPT) or his/her designee of the need for campus evacuation. If emergency conditions are extreme to the extent that the Incident Commander is compelled to act immediately, steps 3 and 4 below may occur concurrently.
3. Vice President consults with President (if available) and any available members of the Emergency Policy Council (EPC). If none of these persons are available, or the immediacy of the threat will not allow for consultation, the Vice President or designee may act at his/her own discretion.
4. Upon agreement to evacuate campus:
- a. The Office of Marketing & Communications is notified
- b. The Emergency Communication Plan is activated
- c. Campus Safety, Facilities Management, and the Dean of Student Affairs coordinate evacuation efforts
5. Guidelines published in the Emergency Procedures are used to effect the orderly evacuation of campus and to
account for all students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Procedures for Single-Building Evacuation
1. The Director of Campus Safety, the Director of Facilities Management or the Safety and Emergency Planning Coordinator may authorize a single-building evacuation if a threat to the occupants exists that warrants such action.
2. If possible, the affected Deans (if any) and the Vice President and Treasurer should be consulted before an evacuation is authorized. This consultative process should be undertaken only if the resulting delay in evacuation does not jeopardize the safety and well-being of building occupants.
3. Campus Safety and Facilities Management personnel are deployed to inform the building occupants of the evacuation and to assist in directing occupants out of the building. If a rapid notification is needed, the fire alarms in the building should be manually activated. As soon as possible, a team from the above offices should deploy to the Disabled Persons Assembly area within the building to determine if there are any persons in need of assistance.
4. Concurrently with #3, the Office of Marketing & Communications is notified by Dispatch.
5. Following evacuation, the building is secured by Campus Safety or Facility Management personnel. If the building is keyless-entry, Campus Safety will immediately set the keyless entry doors to “Forced Locked Override”.
6. The building is posted with “No Entry” signs, stating the nature of the emergency and a contact office.
7. Clearing of the building for re-entry is to be authorized by the same administrator who authorized the original evacuation.
8. Following the clearing order, the Office of Marketing and Commnunications is notified by Campus Safety Dispatch.
9. Following the clearing order, outside doors are unlocked, exterior keyless entry doors are “Reset to Schedule” and “No Entry” posters are removed.