Building Evacuation

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In the event of an emergency in an NYIT-operated building, immediate response is critical. The time between recognition of an emergency and evacuation response can be the difference between life and death. Every case will be different. In some cases, individual departmental staffs have specific evacuation guidelines based upon the needs of that area. (Departments with such guidelines should provide these plans to the Office of Campus Security.)

  • Examples of emergencies requiring evacuation include:
  • Fire, smoke (visible or smell)
  • Smell of gas (natural or vehicular)
  • Bomb threat or explosion
  • Natural disaster or hazardous weather
  • Terrorism, threat, or violent incident

Preparedness

All community members/departments should:

  • Know the locations of alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, and emergency exits.
  • Consider potential escape routes.
  • Make sure all hallways and escape routes are clear.
  • Place Office of Campus Security phone number stickers on their phone.
  • Carry laminated NYIT emergency information card with them at all times.
  • Develop an emergency phone chain (with home and cell phone numbers).
  • Designate an off-campus evacuation meeting place.
  • Make the Office of Campus Security aware of individuals within their department who may need special assistance during an emergency.
  • Make the Office of Campus Security aware of any chemicals or other items that may be of concern during an emergency.

Office of Campus Security will:

  • Know and clearly mark designated locations of alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, and emergency exit doors.
  • Identify any individuals who may require special attention such as persons with disabilities and their locations on campus.
  • Identify location of chemicals or other items that may be of concern during an emergency.
  • Develop emergency location posts for individuals to move toward in the event of evacuation (100 feet from building).
  • Maintain clear hallways and escape routes in all buildings.
  • Identify and train fire evacuation wardens.

Primary Response Team

  • NYIT campuses: Office of Campus Security; Long Island residences: University police; New York City residences: 911
  • Director of facilities or designee
  • Local law enforcement and emergency responders
  • Emergency and fire evacuation wardens
  • Office of Housing and Residential Life staff
  • Office of the Dean of Students staff/ coordinator of campus operations and student services staff

Secondary Response Team

  • Office of Strategic Communications and External Affairs
  • Office of Human Resources
  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Objective
Rapidly and safely evacuate all individuals from the building.

Notification
Follow the established chain of primary responders. If the situation has caused loss of life or lives are threatened, immediately call 911. The Office of Campus Security will be the first NYIT responders in all emergency events and should be notified immediately. If campus security decides to evacuate a building, campus security and/or the emergency evacuation wardens will act to secure building occupants.

Procedures

For building occupants:

  • Activate building fire alarm system.
  • If the situation has caused loss of life or lives are threatened, immediately call 911.
  • Call the Office of Campus Security/local law enforcement:
    • Long Island: 516.686.7789
    • New York City: 646.273.7789
    • Central Islip: 631.348.7789
    • Long Island residences: 516.876.3333
    • New York City residences: 911
  • Move people who require special attention, such as persons with disabilities to a secure area near the stairwells, and make emergency responders aware of their location immediately upon arrival at scene.
  • Exit building, move at least 100 feet from building, and wait for further instructions.

For primary responders:

  • Respond to scene; initiate emergency response phone chain by calling the director of facilities operations.
  • Notify all building occupants of the emergency and the need to evacuate the building.
  • Identify any individuals with special needs and provide assistance as necessary.
  • Advise evacuees to use staircases for escape. Prohibit use of elevators.
  • Move evacuees toward designated emergency location posts (100 feet from building). Identify alternative locations if designated locations are blocked or impacted by the emergency.

Follow-up:

  • Engage campus recovery procedures as outlined by the offices of Facilities and Campus Security, University Police (SUNY OW), and external law enforcement and 'helping' agencies.
  • Engage services of the Office of Counseling and Wellness and campus medical staff in the event of injuries, death, or general need for counseling.
  • Continue to provide accurate and appropriate information regarding the incident to the Office of Communications and Marketing and Office of the President throughout event and after.
  • Meet with campus constituencies and stakeholders for information processing.
  • Determine if students are able to return to campus housing.
  • Document incident according to established procedures.

The following guidelines should be considered in evacuating persons with disabilities:

  • Communicate the nature of the emergency to the person.
  • Ask the person how you can assist.
  • If possible, evacuate mobility aids with the person (i.e. crutches, wheelchairs).

Visual Impairments

  • Describe the nature of the emergency , and offer to guide the person to the nearest emergency exit. Have the person take your elbow and escort him, advising of any obstacles, such as stairs, narrow passageways, or overhanging objects. When you have reached safety, orient the person to where you are, and ask if further assistance is needed.

Hearing Impairments

  • Most buildings are not equipped with flashing light alarms and persons with impaired hearing may not perceive that an emergency exists. Communicate with the person by writing a note or using simple hand gestures.

Persons Using Wheelchairs

Ask the person what method of assistance he prefers. Some people have minimal ability to move, and lifting them may be dangerous to them. Some persons using wheelchairs have respiratory complications; remove them from smoke or fumes immediately. If the disabled person wants to be moved in the wheelchair, keep the following considerations in mind:

  • Ask if they want to move forward or backward down stairs.
  • Wheelchairs have many movable or weak parts.
  • Some persons have no upper trunk or neck strength.
  • Power wheelchairs have very heavy batteries; an evacuation chair may be needed and the chair retrieved later.
  • If a seatbelt is available, use it.
  • Do not attempt to move a person in a wheelchair by yourself; seek help.
  • Ask how to remove him from the wheelchair.
  • Ask whether to move his extremities or not.
  • Ask whether he want to be moved down the stairs forward or backward.
  • Ask whether the seat cushion or pad should be brought.
  • Ask what is necessary for aftercare.
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