Residence Hall Emergency Relocation Plan - SECTION 15

Residence Hall Emergency Relocation Plan

The following policy represents the general strategy to be employed by Residence Life in the event a residence hall area becomes uninhabitable due to fire, flood, contamination, loss of critical utilities, etc.. Specific strategies will be determined based on the circumstances of each situation.

Building Evacuation

A building occupant is required by law to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds.
When evacuating your building or work area:

Stay calm; do not rush and do not panic.
Safely stop your work.
Gather your personal belongings if it is safe to do so (reminder: take prescription medications out with you if at all possible; it may be hours before you are allowed back in the building.)
If safe, close your office door and window, but do not lock them.
Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit. Do not use the elevator.
Wait for any instructions from emergency responders.

Do not re-enter the building or work area until you have been instructed to do so by the emergency responders.

People to Notify

RAs, RDs, and/or University Police should contact the following people in order for a response to be activated:

This image decribes response plan plan of section-15

Depending on the severity of the situation, the above individuals will work with CEOC if activated to coordinate a response.

Residence hall staff, including RAs and RDs, will be contacted in addition to assist with these efforts. In situations where there is a campus wide impact, those RDs available should report to the offices of Residential Life (if possible) for further instructions and RAs should report to their assigned residence hall office (if possible) and await further instructions.

Short Term Evacuations (1-24 Hours)

Students moved to the nearest safe residence hall lounge(s).
Students moved to the nearest safe non-residence hall lounge (e.g. dining hall)
Auxiliary support services (emergency food, showers, medical or disability related needs, etc.) arranged as needed with other campus services and the CEOC
In the event that cots are needed to temporarily house students, the CEOC shall contact the American Red Cross.

Medium Term Evacuations (1-10 Days)

Students will be assigned to lounge(s) and other public area spaces that can be satisfactorily established.
Students will be assigned to vacant spaces in other residence halls.
Students will be assigned to occupied spaces in the residence halls.
Students will be assigned to rental spaces secured by the university. Necessary support services shall be arranged by Residential Life.
In the event that cots are needed to temporarily house students, the CEOC shall contact the American Red Cross (see contact information below in Off-Campus Housing Relocation Section)

Long Term Evacuations

All items (1-5) noted immediately above would be initiated
Students desiring non-College housing will be supported by Residence Life staff and Off Campus College to relocate in community housing.
When deemed necessary, Residence Life will secure housing for displaced residential students. Transportation and dining arrangements will be included in the plan if necessary.

Off-Campus Relocation

In the event that housing is needed for off-campus locations:

Contact Off Campus College to assist with housing needs.
If necessary, the CEOC shall contact the American Red Cross to make housing assignments.

Resources Available

Spare blankets and pillows may be available and accessed through Residential Life and/or Physical Facilities.
When communication is not available via the campus telephone system or cell phones, hand-held radios and/or ‘runners’ shall be utilized to communicate between residence halls.