Natural Events

Earthquake Procedures

Initial Action:

  • DROP, COVER, HOLD- Drop down close to the floor, take cover under a heavy desk, table, or against a sturdy wall. Hold on, maintaining cover over the back of your head and neck.
  • Wheelchair/ Walker- Lock, Cover, Hold
  • NOTE- Stay away from glass windows, bookcases, and shelves.
    • Do not dash to exits or use elevators or escalators (elevators will stop and return to landing).

After:

  • Listen for the “all clear” via campus emergency notification system(s) or further instruction from campus authorities.
  • Check for injuries. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger. Notify campus sheriff of any injuries.   

Some incidents may last several hours, employees are encouraged to store their own personalized emergency supplies (e.g. medication, foods, walking shoes, etc.)

Evacuation (threat inside of building)

An evacuation of the building forces all building occupants to a point of egress without the assistance of elevators or mobility of escalators. Campus designated Floor Wardens, management, faculty, and staff are responsible for the immediate evacuation of their respective workspace/ classroom. Upon successfully evacuating a building on campus, personnel should report to a pre-designated campus evacuation area.

When would an evacuation be ordered

  • Fire
  • Possibly after a major earthquake

Emergency Exits

Each college student, employee, faculty, staff member is encouraged to survey their own work area(s) and conduct an actual walkthrough to ensure egress points remain clear, and emergency exits can be opened. Prior to doing a walkthrough, talk it over with staff. It is important students, faculty, and staff understand their egress options prior to needing them.

Use of Elevators during an emergency

Elevators are not considered a means for egress. In the event of an emergency, elevators are programmed to return to the ground level. This allows firefighters and other emergency/ rescue personnel an expeditious means to assist persons unable to negotiate stairs, while occupants are evacuating down stairwells.

Stairwells and Escalators

When entering stairwells, the doors leading to the stairwell landing may only open at the street level. Escalators will be placed in the stopped position. Both stairwells and escalators are to be utilized in lieu of elevators to evacuate a building. During this time, it is important to remain on your right so that any first responders/ designated personnel may utilize the other side for assisting disabled personnel and traversing up and down stairs. 

 

Human Caused Events

Fire Procedures

Large Fire

  • Contact the fire department at 9-1-1 AND THEN NOTIFY the Campus Sheriff's Office.
  • Activate fire alarm (if possible), at the fire alarm pull station. This will advise campus sheriff  that there is a fire.
  • Evacuate the building.

Small Fire

  • Contact the fire department at 9-1-1 AND THEN NOTIFY the Campus Sheriff's Office.
  • If you can, locate the nearest fire extinguisher.
  • Remove pin, aim at the base of the fire and squeeze handle to extinguish the fire.

Fire Alarm

  • Evacuate the building and report to campus designated assembly area. 

IF TRAPPED IN A ROOM

  • Place cloth material around door to prevent smoke from entering.
  • Be prepared to signal your location through a window.

IF CAUGHT IN SMOKE

  • Follow a wall, drop to hands and knees and crawl; hold breath as much as possible; breathe through a filter (blouse, shirt, jacket, etc.) and breathe through nose.
  • Seal the bottom of your door with cloth material to keep the smoke out.
  • DO NOT open or break windows unless necessary to escape (outside smoke may be brought in).
  • Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire.

ADVANCING THROUGH FLAMES

  • If forced to advance through flames: hold your breath, move quickly, cover head and hair, keep head down, and keep eyes closed as much as possible.
  • Feel all doors with backside of hand—if hot DO NOT OPEN.

Active Shooter Procedures

The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines an Active Shooter as, “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area”. US Secret Service indicates, most incidents end within 10- 15 minutes.

  • Victims are selected at random;
  • Event is unpredictable and evolves quickly;
  • Knowing what to do can save lives. 

The Federal government recommends three (3) options in no particular order:

  1. RUN
    • Have an escape route and plan in mind, self-evacuate if safe to do so;
    • Keep hands visible;
    • Prevent others from entering an area where an active shooter may be;
    • When you are safe, call 9-1-1 or and notify campus sheriff's office.
  2. HIDE
    • Turn off all lights in space and close blinds;
    • Lock door(s) or block entry into your hiding place;
    • Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view;
    • Silence your mobile devices (including vibrate mode) and remain quiet.
  3. FIGHT
    • Act with as much physical aggression as possible, attempt to incapacitate the shooter;
    • Fight as a last resort if you are in imminent danger;
    • Make use of improvised weapons (chairs, desk items, etc.) to defend yourself.

Approaching Law Enforcement

 

Bomb Threat (Telephonic)

Evidence suggests, the majority of telephonic and written threats are hoaxes. Even the most secure facilities are not immune to bomb threats. Anyone with access to a phone can call in a bomb threat. Even if the event is not credible, it can still disrupt campus instruction.

Procedure:

  • Alert another person or co-worker that you are receiving a bomb threat;
  • Gather as much information from the caller/ source as possible;
  • Unless the caller indicates the danger is in your immediate vicinity and will soon explode, try to keep the person on the line while you gather information.
  • Pass your findings to the campus sheriff's office.

Hazardous Materials Incidents

 

Mail Incident

Law, Fire and Postal Inspectors have specialized hazardous materials (HAZMAT) units dedicated to responding to HAZMAT and suspicious mail incidents. In many cases, the LASD may respond with a roadside lab and can test substances within a matter of minutes. Most packages and letters sent from a legitimate business use metered mail rather than postage stamps. While the general public may send correspondence using stamps, there are signs to look for as well as actions you can take to protect yourself and those in the vicinity.

Signs of suspicious mail may include:

  • Lack of return address
  • Foreign country of origin
  • Misspelled words
  • Addressed to a title (e.g. CEO, President) instead of a persons name
  • Excessive postage
  • Warnings not to x-ray (e.g. film enclosed)
  • Heavy or lopsided packaging
  • Greasy stains
  • USPS Poster hazardous mail poster may be accessed here.

 

Technological Events

Power Failure Procedures

Power failures can occur due to a variety of reasons,  and could be the result of a wider local utility failure or a localized campus specific incident. 

Students, Faculty, and Staff should

  1. Remain calm;
  2. Open all window coverings and doors to allow light into building (drapes, blinds, screens, etc.);
  3. Locate any flashlights in your work area;
  4. Follow evacuation instructions of campus administrators, Sheriff's or instructor.

If permisible, turn off any electrical powered equipment or appliances (i.e., computers, radios, fax machines, copiers, coffee makers, fans, heaters, etc.) so when power returns, there will not be a large power demand that may result in another power loss.