Emergency Guidance and Preparedness

What to do:

• Know your exits. Identify the nearest exit and an alternate route.
• Stay calm. Follow directions from emergency personnel.
• Grab essentials only (keys, meds, glasses) if time and safety allow.
• Exit quickly and quietly. Use stairs – do not use elevators.
• Assist others with access or functional needs.
• Go to the Assembly Area and keep roads/walkways clear.
• Report missing people to emergency responders.
• Do not return until officials say it is safe.

People with access or functional needs may have difficulty evacuating a building without assistance. Individuals who are unable to exit the building should proceed to an Area of Assistance (see below for definition) to await aid from emergency response personnel. The following procedures are acceptable alternatives for employees, students, and visitors with special needs:

• Evacuation Assistant – An Evacuation Assistant is a volunteer, co-worker, classmate, or friend who can assist persons with access or functional needs during an emergency. Evacuation Assistants provide instruction during an evacuation, help individuals with access or functional needs relocate to an Area of Assistance, notify first responders or emergency personnel of persons unable to evacuate a building, and provide support as necessary to ensure a safe evacuation. Evacuation Assistants are not responsible for physically evacuating an individual from a building. Carrying a person down stairs or out of a building should only be done by trained emergency response personnel.
• Horizontal Evacuation – Individuals with access or functional needs should use horizontal evacuation routes (routes on the same floor that lead to the exterior without using stairs or elevators) or relocate to an Area of Assistance. Individuals using this method, along with their Evacuation Assistants if identified, are encouraged to know the Areas of Assistance in their work area and go to these locations during an evacuation when possible. The Evacuation Assistant should then self-evacuate and immediately relay the location of the person awaiting assistance to emergency response personnel. Persons occupying an Area of Assistance should call 911 and provide their exact location.
• Recommendations for People Who Are Hearing Impaired – An Evacuation Assistant should be designated or selected to immediately alert a person with a hearing impairment of any alarm or order to evacuate.
• Visually Impaired – Individuals with visual impairment should be familiar with their immediate surroundings, frequently traveled routes, and emergency evacuation routes.  However, because an evacuation route may differ from a commonly traveled route, a visually impaired person may need assistance.  Evacuation Assistant(s) should be identified and aid as necessary during an evacuation.
• Area of Assistance – An Area of Assistance is a location in a building that, due to its construction, offers protection from fire or damage and provides temporary shelter for individuals unable to exit until emergency response personnel arrive. Accepted Areas of Assistance include enclosed stairwell landings, exterior rooms with windows and fire-rated doors, elevator lobbies, and fire-rated corridors.

Employees needing assistance during an emergency are encouraged to contact Human Resources to make appropriate arrangements for developing an emergency evacuation plan.

Students needing assistance during an emergency should become familiar with their surroundings as soon as they visit a campus or new building. They are encouraged to identify Areas of Assistance and develop a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). This PEEP should be shared with close friends and family, as well as with their instructors.

What to do:

• Activate the alarm at the nearest pull station (by exit doors).
• Evacuate immediately. Use stairs – do not use elevators.
• Stay calm. Follow directions from emergency personnel.
• Grab essentials only (keys, meds, glasses) if time and safety allow.
• Go to the Assembly Area and move away from the building.
• Call 911 from a safe location.
• Report missing people to emergency responders.
• Do not return until officials say it’s safe.

Fire Safety Tips

• Check doors for heat before opening (use the back of your hand near the top of the door).
• Stay low if smoke is present and crawl to the exit.
• If clothes catch fire: STOP – DROP – ROLL until flames are out.

Note: Everyone must evacuate when a fire alarm sounds—even if no smoke or flames are visible.

An Active Violence Incident (AVI) involves one or more individuals actively attempting to harm or kill others, often in crowded, confined locations. These attackers may be armed with firearms, bladed weapons, or use vehicles and other means to cause mass harm.

NOVA’s recommended response strategy is Avoid, Deny, Defend.

• Avoid: Your first option should always be to get away.
• Deny: If escape is not possible, secure your location.
• Defend: As a last resort, be prepared to fight back.

Visit Avoid, Deny, Defend for more information.

Tornado Warning: What to Do

• Seek shelter immediately.
• Go to the nearest Severe Weather Shelter Area (green/white signs in NOVA buildings) or a safe indoor spot:
  • Sturdy building
  • Interior room or hallway
  • Away from windows or glass
  • Lowest floor possible
• Use stairs, not elevators.
• Stay in the center of the room, away from doors, windows, and outside walls.
• Get under a sturdy table if possible; protect your head and neck with your arms or nearby objects.
• Do not open windows.

If no shelter is available:

• Outside: Go to the nearest sturdy building. If none is available, lie flat in a ditch or low area as a last resort.
• In a vehicle: Drive to shelter if possible. If not, buckle up, keep your head below the windows, and cover your head. Leaving the car for a low area may be safer if you can do so safely.

What to do:

• Stay informed. Consider signing up for weather alerts for your campus and home areas: capitalert.gov.
• Follow official instructions. Evacuate immediately if told to do so.
• If not evacuating:
  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway.
  • Stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.
  • Remember: if the eye passes over, calm conditions are temporary—strong winds return quickly from the opposite direction.
• If flooding occurs in your building:
  • Go to the highest level of the building.
  • Do not climb into a closed attic—you could become trapped.

Flood Safety: Never walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

What to do:

• Immediately call or have someone call 911.
• Provide first aid and medical assistance as necessary, if trained.
• Follow instructions of the 911 dispatcher.
• Do not move the victim, unless they are in immediate danger.
• If the victim is unconscious and not breathing, start CPR (if trained or instructed by a 911 dispatcher).
• Locate an AED if available, turn it on, and follow the instructions provided by the unit. AEDs are located on each floor of most NOVA buildings.
• Gather medical information and provide comfort. If the victim is conscious, comfort them and obtain medical information (e.g., medical problems, medications). Any medical information will assist first responders if the victim loses consciousness.
• Have someone meet the ambulance at the building entrance or at a safe location and direct responders to the victim.
• Contact NOVA Police at 703.764.5000 to advise them of the situation.

What to do:

• DROP: Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy.
• COVER: Protect your head and neck with your arms. Crawl under a sturdy table or desk if possible; otherwise, stay next to an interior wall away from windows.
• HOLD ON: If under a table or desk, hold on and move with it if it shifts. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms, and hold your neck with both hands.

Additional Instructions:

• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors, and walls.
• Stay indoors until shaking stops and it’s safe to exit.
• Outside: Stay outside and move to a clear area away from buildings, trees, and utility lines.
• In a vehicle: Stop safely away from buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility lines. Set your parking brake.

After the Shaking Stops:

• Look around and leave cautiously if the path is clear.
• Go to the Assembly Area.
• Do not use elevators.
• Expect aftershocks and be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On again.
• Be aware that utilities such as gas, power, and water lines may be damaged. If you are aware of damaged utilities, report the issue.
• Wait for instructions.

For more information, visit Earthquake Preparedness: Before, During, After .

What to do:

• Stay calm. Keep the caller on the line as long as possible.
• Gather information. Ask the caller to repeat the message and write down every word. Obtain as much information as possible.
• Record details. Note the caller’s phone number if available.
• Do not hang up the phone used for the threat until cleared by law enforcement.
• Report immediately. Use another phone to call NOVA Police at 703.764.5000.
• Stay available. Police may need to interview you and will provide further instructions.

What to do:

• Do not touch the item or package.
• Avoid using cell phones, radios, or other transmitters near it.
• Move to a safe location.
• Call NOVA Police at 703.764.5000.
• Alert others in the immediate area calmly.

Note: Always stay aware. Do not leave bags or personal items unattended; they may be treated as suspicious.

What to do:

• Move to safety. Get away from the hazardous material.
• Call 911.
• Follow instructions from first responders.
• Warn others to stay clear of the area.
• Report exposure or any information about the release to first responders.
• Notify NOVA Police at 703.764.5000 when safe.

Key Points:

• Stay calm.
• If the material release is outside the building, stay indoors unless told to evacuate.
• If exposed, follow all instructions from first responders to prevent contaminating yourself or others.
• If outdoors during an incident, stay upstream, uphill, and upwind.

What to do:

• Stay calm.
• Turn off sensitive equipment to prevent damage.
• Move cautiously to a lighted area; follow lighted exit signs if emergency power is on.
• Assist others as needed.
• Evacuate only if instructed.
• Monitor NOVA Alert and media for campus updates.