Evacuation Procedures

The university will periodically conduct building emergency evacuation exercises. Student residents must cooperate during these emergency evacuation exercises and evacuate the building immediately when an alarm is activated.

If a building must be evacuated, the fire alarm(s) will be pulled or evacuation will be announced via phone system, Livesafe emergency notification system, email, website, or other communications device. When safe to do so, the Department of Campus Safety will circulate to give directions about the emergency and the next steps to take. Any person on campus who recognizes a legitimate emergency requiring immediate evacuation may initiate this procedure and should immediately call 911 and the Department of Campus Safety. This person should make every attempt (if safe to do so) to notify all endangered persons. Pulling the fire alarm in a building is one way of alerting individuals of the need to evacuate.

If you have been ordered to evacuate, occupants should:

• Close doors as they exit, use the stairs, and exit the building at the closest exit (if clear of danger). Do not use the elevator during fires.
• Remain calm, do not panic, and proceed calmly to the exterior, assisting others whenever possible.
• Proceed to the designated meeting area.
• Anyone who requires assistance with evacuation, and those who have volunteered to assist them, should report to predetermined areas of rescue assistance.
• The person in charge of the group should make every attempt to account for all persons.
• Follow directions from the Department of Campus Safety and other emergency responders and inform them of any known missing or injured persons.
• Do not re-enter the building until the “All Clear” signal when it is safe to enter the building.

Equestrian Complex

If you have been ordered to evacuate horses:

• Faculty and Designated Staff: facilitate transportation of horses from campus to designated locations.
• Students and Campus Volunteers: follow directions from faculty designated staff to assist with catching, loading and transport to designated locations.
• • If a Student… Each term, or as needed, students with disabilities should identify themselves and their disability (mobility, visual, hearing, speech or multiple impairments), and discuss emergency evacuation plans with Disability Services.
  • If an Employee… Annually, or as needed, the employee should meet with Human Resources and their department supervisor to discuss their disability (mobility, visual, hearing, speech or multiple impairments) and emergency evacuation plans.
  • Human Resources, department supervisors and Disability Services should discuss and determine the following information with the student/employee:
    • How will they be notified in the event of an emergency (i.e. Livesafe app, alarm, strobes and lights, etc.)?
    • Where are the exit routes?
    • Can they get out of the building by themselves, or do they need help?
    • What kind of assistance might they need?
  • If assistance is needed, the student/employee should identify at least twice the number of volunteers who are willing and able to provide assistance.
  • When students/employees are seeking volunteers, discuss what type of assistance is needed with the volunteer, such as:
    • Guidance – explaining how and where the persons needs to go (area of rescue assistance), escorting to or through the exit path.
    • Minor Physical Effort – Offering an arm to assist the person or opening a door.
    • Major Physical Effort – Carrying a person down the stairs, carrying a wheel chair down the stairs or operating a stair-descent device (if applicable).
    • Where will volunteers start providing assistance?
    • When will volunteers be available to provide assistance (i.e. always, only when asked, etc.)?
    • How will volunteers be contacted (face to face, phone, email, etc.)?
    • Waiting for first responders – An agreement should be reached regarding how long the volunteer is expected to wait for the first responders to arrive.
  • Human Resources, department supervisors and Disability Services should provide students and employees with written directions, maps or floor plans of evacuation routes and discuss exit paths and alternative exits.
  • Human Resources, department supervisors and Disability Services should provide the Department of Campus Safety with a list of persons that require evacuation assistance. The list shall include:
    • Name of student/employee
    • Class schedule or work location
    • Type of disability
    • If they have a volunteer to provide evacuation assistance

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with a Mobility Impairment

• People who are able to go up and down stairs easily but have impairments of their hands or arms can be assisted by anyone. A viable plan to address this situation may be for the person with the impairment to be aware that he or she will need to ask someone for assistance with a particular door or device.
• People with mobility impairments should seek volunteers in advance to assist if an emergency develops.
• It is recommended that one volunteer remain with the individual, and the other volunteer exit the building and inform emergency personnel that a person with a disability is waiting for rescue assistance on the specified floor.
• Volunteers should consider evacuating a non-ambulatory person only when the person is in immediate danger of harm if not evacuated. Proper lifting techniques (e.g. bending the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting, and using leg muscles to lift) should be used to avoid injury to the back.

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with Hearing Impairment

• All buildings on campus are equipped with fire alarm strobe lights. Persons with hearing impairments may not hear audible emergency alarms and will need to be alerted of emergency situations.
• The only standard building egress system that may require the ability to speak in order to evacuate a building is an emergency phone in an elevator. People with speech impairments should be aware of whether the telephone system is limited to voice communications and where the emergency signaling device rings – whether it rings inside the building or to an outside line, and who will respond to it.
• Get the attention of a person with a hearing disability. Clearly state the problem. Gestures and pointing are helpful, but be prepared to write a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand. Offer visual instructions to advise of safest route or direction by pointing toward exits or evacuation maps.

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with a Visual Impairment

• Most people with a visual impairment will be familiar with their surroundings and frequently traveled routes. Since the emergency evacuation route is likely different from the commonly traveled route, persons who are visually impaired may need assistance in evacuating.
• Give verbal instructions to advise about safest routes, estimated distances, and direction. Do not grasp a visually impaired person’s arm. Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd.