Building Evacuation
Utmost discretion must be used when evacuating a building. Evacuating a building should be done calmly, but quickly and without panic. Ideally, faculty or instructional staff should inform students, in a calm manner, that the building is being evacuated and should summarize the actions to follow as listed below:
1. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY if you hear an alarm or are asked to evacuate.
2. Take all personal belongings with you.
3. Classrooms and offices: close, but do not lock, all doors. Laboratories: turn off all gas (cylinders, fuels), and other equipment or machines in use that may pose a hazard.
4. Leave through the nearest safe exit. Walk quickly and calmly to the designated assembly point and alert others to do the same. Do not use elevators during a fire or after an earthquake. During other than earthquake or fire evacuations, reserve elevators for non-ambulatory individuals.
5. Wait quietly and calmly at the designated outdoor assembly point or if unsafe, an alternate safe assembly point or the Campus Evacuation Shelter.
6. Notify the Building Coordinator of anyone unaccounted for from your area.
7. DO NOT REENTER THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON until instructed it is safe to do so by the Building Coordinator, Facilities staff, campus safety officer, Fire, Police, or other college authority (see All Clear Signal information below).
8. DO NOT LEAVE THE ASSEMBLY AREA until you are released or otherwise directed by the Building Coordinator or other college authority.
Assisting Persons with Disabilities
1. Wheelchair user: Assist the person in exiting the building. If located on an upper floor and the elevator is not safe for use (fire or earthquake), assist the person to a safe refuge in an exit stairwell or a room with a closed door away from the hazard. The escort should remain with the disabled person to provide additional assistance. Assign a staff member to notify the Building Coordinator or emergency staff that a disabled person is waiting for rescue on the specified floor at the exit stairwell or specific room.
2. Visually-impaired: Explain the nature of the emergency. Offer to guide the person to the designated assembly point. Offer your elbow to the individual. As you walk, describe where you are and advise about any obstacles. When you reach the assembly point, advise the person where he/she is, and ask if further assistance is needed.
3. Hearing-impaired: Alert a hearing-impaired person. Write a short, explicit note instructing the individual to evacuate the building.
All Clear Signal (return to previously evacuated facility)
The "all clear" signal will be given by Campus Safety or other Incident Command System official, indicating faculty, staff and students should return to the facility which they previously vacated.