The Annandale Campus Emergency Plan is designed to provide information for our faculty, staff and students to help them prepare for an emergency situation that may occur while they are on campus. It is important for every member of the campus community to review the plan frequently and think about the steps that should be taken to provide for their own safety and the safety of others in different kinds of emergencies.

The Emergency Plan is an outline of basic life safety information that is designed to assist our campus community in the event there is an emergency and we must:

Evacuate
or
Shelter in Place

Most campus or building-wide emergency situations will cause us to consider evacuating or sheltering in place. The thrust of the Annandale Campus Emergency Plan is to outline actions and responsibilities for these two outcomes. It is not possible to cover every emergency situation which may occur at the campus so all campus occupants must be aware of their work and classroom environment in order to exercise good judgment in situations which are not specifically reviewed.

If you have questions or concerns about the plan, please contact one of the members of the Annandale Emergency Preparedness Committee. The committee is responsible for reviewing and updating the plan as necessary. We appreciate your input as we attempt to make our campus community as safe as possible.

Annandale Campus Emergency Plan

The Annandale Campus Emergency Plan is designed to provide written instructions for the safe and orderly evacuation of buildings or shelter in place inside buildings during emergencies such as fires, fire drills, bomb treats, power outages, sniper attacks, hazardous materials events or any other type of emergency that may require the college to provide for the safety of building occupants.

There are two basic types of emergency situations that might occur on campus:

Emergencies that Require Occupants to Evacuate Buildings

Evacuation of one or more buildings may be required because of:

Fire or smoke present in the building
Loss of electrical power that causes an unsafe condition due to darkness
Hazardous materials or fumes in the building
Water emergencies
Bomb threats

Some emergencies require building occupants to remain in the building and move to an area of maximum safety as quickly as possible. These emergencies may include:

Weather emergencies such as tornado watches or warnings
Sniper attacks
Outdoor hazardous materials or fume alerts

The following is a list of responsibilities assigned:

Provost: The Provost is responsible for:

• assuring that the Emergency Plan is reviewed annually and updated as necessary.
• appointing Building Wardens and assuring that sufficient Floor Wardens are appointed.
• assuring that appropriate training programs are developed and implemented.

Business Manager: The Business Manager is responsible for: 

• assisting the Provost in developing the emergency plan.
• acting as the Campus Emergency Response Coordinator.
• overseeing the orderly evacuation/shelter in place activities during drills and emergencies.
• documenting training and drills and retaining records of all such activities and actual emergencies for a two-year period.
• chairing the Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Buildings & Grounds Superintendent: The Buildings & Grounds Superintendent is responsible for:

• assuring that all fire suppression equipment, alarms, emergency doors and emergency communications devices are in good working order and are properly maintained.
• assuring that “best escape routes” are determined and marked out on floor plans, which are posted in each room.
• establishing the responsibilities of maintenance staff during emergencies and drills. Assuring that these staff members are properly trained and that these responsibilities are contained in the employee’s position description.
• identifying employee positions responsible for maintaining fire extinguishers and other fire safety systems.
• updating this plan with the appropriate names and 24 hour telephone numbers of all service agents responsible for maintenance and repair of fire alarm systems and for assuring that the Provost’s office, the Business Manager’s office and the Campus Police all have current and accurate information about these agents.
• assuring that the information contained in the campus lock box is kept accurate and up-to-date.
• assisting Deans and Directors to assure that hallways and stairwells are kept free of trash, broken furniture, recycling materials, etc.
• assisting Campus Police in the evacuation/shelter in place activities and removal of individuals with disabilities in extreme emergencies.

Campus Police: The Campus Police are responsible for :

• assuring that the Fire Department, Rescue Squad, or other off-campus emergency personnel have been contacted as necessary.
• notifying the Buildings & Grounds Superintendent when assistance is needed during an emergency.
• coordinating the evacuation of all buildings involved in the emergency. If the emergency involves a power outage, this may include determining how long it is safe for occupants to remain in the buildings. During a campus emergency, Campus Police Officers have the authority to require occupants to leave the building.
• assisting with the evacuation or movement to a safe location of any individuals with disabilities or other persons who may not be able to exit the building without help.
• determining when it is safe for occupants to re-enter buildings or leave the safe shelter location. When the Campus Police Officer in charge decides that it is safe to re-enter, he/she will give the all clear signal to the building warden and floor wardens who will then allow occupants to return.
• re-setting the alarms systems when the emergency situation has been resolved.
• monitoring the entire campus for safety problems that may cause emergency situations.

Building Wardens: Building Wardens are responsible for:

• reviewing and updating as necessary the emergency plan specific to his/her building. This plan will include decisions about where occupants will meet to assure that everyone has safely exited the building or where occupants can shelter in place safely. It will also include the responsibilities of Floor Wardens as well as designated persons who will substitute for the Building Warden and Floor Wardens during evening hours or when the Wardens are otherwise unavailable.
• training Floor Wardens and other key building personnel on evacuation and shelter in place procedures. Emergency drills should be scheduled each year during a time when Floor Wardens are available, at the least, during the beginning of a Semester.
• assuring that the building is clear of all occupants during an emergency evacuation or that everyone in the building has moved to the shelter in place area. The Building Warden will notify the Campus Emergency Response Coordinator or the Campus Police when the building evacuation is complete.

Floor Wardens: Floor Wardens are responsible for:

• assisting in the evacuation of his/her assigned floor.
• checking to assure that all occupants are safety out of the building or have reported to the shelter in place area.
• meeting with the Building Warden after the evacuation to inform him/her that the floor has been safely evacuated.
• assuring that no one re-enters the building or leaves the safe shelter area before the all-clear signal is given. The Floor Wardens will also assist the campus police in keeping occupants at a safe distance during an evacuation.
• assuring that a substitute Floor Warden is chosen to act during the absence of the assigned Floor Warden.

Deans & Directors: Deans and Directors are responsible for:

• assuring that classrooms, laboratories, offices and hallways in his/her assigned area are kept clear of litter and surplus materials.
• assuring that all lists of hazardous materials in his/her area are kept current.

 Faculty & Staff: Faculty and Staff members are responsible for:

• assuring that appropriate announcements are made to educate students about the appropriate evacuation and shelter in place procedures and the primary and secondary escape route for each class during initial class sessions each semester. Students should be told the reassembly policy to account for all occupants after an evacuation.
• assuring that appropriate announcements are made to advise occupants of appropriate exits in theaters and auditoriums no more than 10 minutes before programs start.
• assuring that all occupants evacuate the building or move to the safe shelter area immediately in the event of an emergency or a drill and that doors are closed as buildings are evacuated.
• assuring that students and visitors do not use elevators during an evacuation and that they evacuate the building in a calm, organized manner.
• assuring that all individuals with disabilities are assisted during the evacuation. Faculty and staff should contact the campus police if there is need for additional assistance in evacuating wheelchair bound or other individuals.

General Instructions for all Occupants of Building:

1. Anyone suspecting a fire or other emergency should call 9-911 and then call the Campus Police at 2-3111 or 2-3194 and give as much information as possible (i.e. building, floor, room number, situation) if time permits. If there is insufficient time, the occupant should activate the building fire alarm. Fire alarm boxes are located near exit doors and/or doors leading to stairwells.
2. Occupants should attempt to extinguish a fire using portable fire extinguishers only if this can be done safely. It is more important to provide for the safety of building occupants than to attempt to extinguish a fire.
3. In the event of an evacuation for any reason:

• turn off all power equipment, gas valves, etc. before vacating area, if possible.
• secure all items (safe, files, etc.) if possible.
• take personal belongings with you.
• if you are the last person out, close doors behind you.
• use nearest available exit to evacuate building.
• do not use elevators.
• get clear of the building and stay out of the way of personnel assigned to handle the emergency.
• go to the assigned assembly point for your class or work unit.
• assist in accounting for persons who were with your class or group.
• obey the instructions of your Building and Floor Warden and Police Officers.