Procedures

• U of A
• Campus Safety
• Emergency Preparedness
• Procedures

In a campus emergency call UAPD at 911 from a landline or 575-2222 from a cellphone. If you have the RAVE Guardian app on your cellphone just touch the “panic button.”

Emergency Preparedness

Building Evacuation

1. Evacuation is mandatory when announced by alarm, emergency personnel or building executive.
2. Exit the building in a calm and orderly manner.
3. Do NOT use elevators.
4. Assist persons with disabilities in evacuation.
5. If you are trapped, dial 911 and give them your location, room number and floor level.
6. Take personal belongings such as keys or purses if safe to do so.
7. Protect critical assets such as cash if possible.
8. Know your surroundings so that you can evacuate in the dark.
9. Report to your evacuation assembly point outside the building (must be at least 50 feet away from the building).
10. Take a head count of employees at designated meeting locations, and notify emergency personnel of any missing workers.
11. Stay clear of parking lots or driveways to keep them clear for emergency response vehicles.
12. Follow the directions of emergency personnel on site.
13. Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.

Learn more about our Building Emergency Action Plan

Tornadoes and Other Weather Emergencies

A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are in and close to the watch area.

A tornado warning is an urgent announcement that a tornado has been reported and warns you to take immediate action to protect life and property.

If a tornado threatens the campus directly and the campus community needs to seek shelter immediately, UAPD will send a RazALERT message and activate the campus warning siren.

Here are the steps to take in a weather emergency:

1. Listen to the campus emergency siren for instructions.
2. Be prepared to shelter in place until otherwise notified by emergency personnel.
3. During thunderstorms, do NOT handle electrified equipment.
4. During tornadoes or strong straight-line winds:
   • Seek shelter in an interior hallway or a lower floor. Every campus building has a floor plan with evacuation routes and shelter locations posted on each floor.
   • Get under sturdy furniture if possible.
   • Assist persons with disabilities, if possible.
5. Monitor weather information on local TV, their mobile apps, or social media:
   • KFSM — Cable Channel 5 or www.5newsonline.com  Facebook, Twitter @5newsonline
   • KHOG — Cable Channel 7 or www.4029tv.com  Facebook, Twitter @4029news
   • KFTA — Cable Channel 8 or www.nwahomepage.com Facebook, Twitter @weatherdan
   • KNWA — Cable Channel 9 or www.nwahomepage.com  Facebook, Twitter @weatherdan

If you can shelter indoors:

• Stay indoors; do not exit building or use elevators. You could be trapped in them if power is lost. Locate an interior room.
• Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building; corners or building support columns are best. Avoid the middle of interior walls.
• Stay away from all windows and large glass objects.
• Crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly.
• Avoid being underneath heavier objects such as lights, wall hangings and other items, which may fall.
• Remain inside until the tornado has passed or you are cleared to leave.
• Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or nearby fuel tanks.
• Help direct people with special needs to a safe place, if necessary.
• If instructed to evacuate, see “Evacuation” section of this guide.

If outdoors:

• Move away from trees, buildings, walls, and power lines.
• Seek the lowest possible ground, i.e. a ditch or trench, and lie flat.
  • Note: Never enter an open trench where a cave-in or flooding may be possible.
• Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them, they may be “live.”
• Do not use matches or lighters in case of leaking gas pipes or fuel tanks.
• Remain in position until noise and high winds have stopped.
• Do not enter any building that is deemed or looks unsafe.
• UAPD will provide instructions for immediate actions through the campus warning siren or other available means.

Lightning

• Seek protective shelter immediately.
• If outdoors, do not stand underneath tall isolated objects. Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. Avoid open areas and seek low areas such as a ravine or valley.
• Get off or away from metal equipment or small metal vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, golf carts, etc. Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, and rails. If you are in a group in the open, spread out, keeping people several yards apart.

Power Outage

In the event of a campus-wide outage, the university has emergency generators that will immediately provide power to limited areas on campus. To report a minor, localized power outage, call Facilities Management at 575-5050.

Keep flashlights and batteries at easily accessible locations throughout your work areas and/or residence.

In case of a major, campus-wide power outage:

• Remain calm.
• Follow directions from the University Police or supervisors for immediate action.
• If evacuation of a building is required, see the evacuation section of this guide.
• Laboratory personnel should secure all experiments and unplug electrical equipment prior to evacuating. All chemicals should be stored in their original locations. If safe to do so, provide natural ventilation by opening all windows and/or doors. If this is not possible, or natural ventilation is inadequate, evacuate the laboratory until the power is returned.
• Do not light candles or other type of flame for lighting.
• Unplug all electrical equipment (including computers) and turn off light switches.

If people are trapped in an elevator:

• Notify the University Police at 911.
• Reassure passengers to stay calm and that you are getting help.
• Instruct passengers to pick up the emergency phone in the elevator so they can provide direct information to the emergency responders.
• Stay near passengers until police or other assistance arrives, provided it is safe to stay in the building.

Suspicious Person

1. Do not physically confront the person(s).
2. Do not let anyone into a locked building, office, or other space.
3. Do not block the person(s) access to an exit.
4. Call 911 and provide as much information as possible about the situation. This includes the following (but is not limited to:
   • Description of suspect (Height, weight, skin color, hair color)
   • Clothing description
   • Direction of travel
   • Any weapons or threats
5. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel

Suspicious Object or Package

1. DO NOT touch or disturb the object or package.
2. DO NOT allow others to touch or handle the object or package.
3. If package or object is leaking, do not attempt to pick up, sweep or contain any spillage.
4. Call 911. Give full description of object or package (Shape, color, location, any obvious irregularities, odors, wires, etc.) to emergency services personnel.
5. Notify your supervisor
6. Follow the directions of the emergency services personnel present

How to Identify Suspicious Packages and Letters

• Excessive postage
• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
• Incorrect titles
• Title, but no name
• Misspellings of common words
• Oily stains, discolorations or odor
• No return address
• Excessive weight
• Lopsided or uneven envelope
• Protruding wires or aluminum foil
• Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
• Visual distractions
• Ticking sound
• Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential”
• Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address

Civil Disturbances

1. Do not attempt to intervene or confront any individuals involved in the disturbance.
2. Immediately call 911 and relay the following information:
   • Location of incident
   • Number of people involved in the disturbance
   • What group(s)/cause(s) the individuals are associated with (if known)
   • Are the individuals violent or threatening anyone
   • Are any weapons are involved. If so, what type(s) of weapons
3. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
4. Do not evacuate/leave the building unless directed to so by building executive or emergency services personnel.
5. Remain calm.

Act of Terrorism

1. Do not attempt to intervene or confront any individuals involved in the disturbance.
2. Immediately call 911 and relay the following information:
   • Location of incident
   • Number of people involved in the disturbance
   • What group(s)/cause(s) the individuals are associated with (if known)
   • Are the individuals violent or threatening anyone
   • Are any weapons are involved. If so, what type(s) of weapons
3. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
4. Do not evacuate/leave the building unless directed to so by building executive or emergency services personnel.
5. Remain calm.

Active Threat

• Avoid™: Leave the area immediately.  If necessary, break windows or glass to get out of the area.  Run in the opposite direction of the disturbance or shots, cover your head with books or other items for protection.  DO NOT stop running until you are in a safe area.  If police officers are in the area, listen and comply with all their commands.  Raise your hands or keep them in plain sight so you are not perceived as a threat. 
• Deny™: If you choose to stay in your room, LOCK YOUR DOOR.  Silence your phone, call 911 and give detailed and specific information about the threat to the dispatcher.  Do not leave until instructed to do so by police.  Stay low to the ground and away from windows.  Barricade the doors with anything possible (furniture, chairs etc). 
• Defend™: If the first two options do not work, defend yourself and those around you.  Use any objects available to you to distract or interrupt the actions of the attacker.