ASSEMBLY AREAS

If evacuation of a building is necessary, walk quickly to the nearest available exit that can be reached safely; alert others to do the same. Help persons requiring assistance out of the building or to the nearest stair landing; notify emergency personnel of any persons remaining on the landing. (NOTE: elevators are not to be used during any evacuation.) Go to the nearest evacuation assembly area; remain in the evacuation assembly area until the ALL CLEAR alert is issued.

Pre-designated Safe Areas to gather for Weather and
Evacuation

Pre-designated Areas Inside a Building
When a tornado has been sighted, stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. Protect your head from falling objects or flying debris. Take cover immediately, wherever you are:

In a house or small building, go to the basement or storm cellar. If there is no basement, go to an interior part of the structure on the lower level (closets, interior hallways).

One basic rule to follow wherever you are is AVOID WINDOWS. An exploding window can injure or kill. Don’t take the time to open windows; get to shelter immediately.

Get into the restroom, if possible. In larger buildings, the restrooms are usually made from concrete blocks. Besides having the four walls and plumbing holding things together, the metal partitions help support any falling debris. Don’t run around opening windows. It wastes time you should be using to take shelter. Open windows aren’t needed to keep unequal air pressure from making the building explode as once thought. Tornado winds, not unequal pressure, destroy buildings.

When the fire alarm sounds, everyone knows to immediately get out of the building. When the storm warning sirens sound, it is best NOT to leave the building. Obviously, it is better to seek shelter in a basement. If the building you are in has no basement, or if there is no nearby building with a basement, go to the lowest floor and get in a small interior room or hallway. Stay away from glass and exterior walls. (If you go outside to watch the show, you might become part of the cast.)

Pre-designated Areas outside a Building
If you have to evacuate the premises:

College faculty is responsible for their students when in class and must be aware of the fire procedures for the buildings in which they teach. On hearing the evacuation signal, a continuous sounding of the fire alarm, the faculty member must ensure that students under his or her supervision are made aware of the assembly point and that they leave the building by the nearest available exit route in a calm and orderly manner.

Once at the pre-arranged safe area, the group should stay there until an all clear signal is given. Neither the group nor any individual should get within 500 feet of the evacuated building at any time until the situation has been declared.

The following attachments provide the locations of evacuation assembly areas for each college building.