Emergency Management

Run, Hide, Fight is a procedure to reduce the risk to the campus population during an active shooter event or when a high-risk situation threatens the campus. The procedure is designed to have people assess and choose the option most appropriate to the situation: run, hide, or fight. This procedure may be implemented in reaction to an event or proactively when there is information that indicates a high probability of immediate danger on campus.

Early warning and intervention are the tools for prevention! All members of the campus community must remain aware of others and report suspicious behavior to the administration, a supervisor, the Advising, Counseling, and Career Center, and/or public safety. Many times, this proactive reporting results in professional help that can resolve concerns prior to escalation.

The notice of an active shooter threat may come from a public address (PA) announcement, phone/voicemail, electronic mail message, person-to-person, and/or any other timely means available. Direct observation or hearing gunfire may be the first indication in an active shooter situation. In this circumstance, prudence suggests you take immediate action to protect yourself as well as others. Mere moments can be the difference between safety and tragedy.

If you observe a threatening individual with a weapon or become aware of a shooter - Run, Hide, Fight.

Run

When an active shooter is in your vicinity:

• If there is a way out, and you can get out, GET OUT! This is your first and best option.
• Get out whether others agree to it or not
• Leave your belongings behind
• Help prevent others from entering the danger zone
• Call Police at 9, 911 from a campus phone

Hide

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.

• Lock and/or barricade the door
• Silence your cell phone, including the vibrate feature
• Hide behind large objects if possible
• Remain very quiet and do not leave until directed by law enforcement officers
• Your hiding place should:
  • Be out of the shooter’s view
  • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction
  • Do not trap or restrict your options for movement
• You may be in your hiding space for an extended period of time while police clear the buildings

Fight

As a last resort, and only if your life is in danger:

• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
• Act with physical aggression
• Improvise weapons
• Commit to your actions
• Once the shooter is incapacitated, call Police at 9, 911 from a campus phone

Call 9-911 on a campus phone or 911 on a cell phone and provide as much information as possible including the:

• Location of the active shooter
• Number of shooters
• Physical description of shooter(s)
• Number and type of weapons held by shooter(s)
• Number of potential victims at the location

Police Response

When law enforcement officers arrive:

• Keep your EMPTY hands raised and visible, with your fingers spread apart
• Remain calm and follow instructions
• Avoid pointing or yelling
• The first police officers to arrive will not respond to or aid those who are injured. They will go directly to the shooter
• Know that help for the injured is on its way. Rescue team officers and emergency personnel will care for the injured as soon as possible
• The area is a crime scene. Police officers may secure all witnesses until identified and questioned
• Vehicles parked on campus will be considered part of the crime scene and cannot be removed until released by the police

Shelter in place refers to a safety measure where building occupants remain inside rather than evacuating. This is sometimes the best approach to take if there is an exterior hazard such as a police incident off campus, a weather emergency, or a hazardous contaminant in the air. In this type of emergency, building occupants will be advised of the risks outside and asked to remain indoors.

No matter where you are, the basic steps of shelter-in-place will generally remain the same. Should the need ever arise, follow these steps, unless instructed otherwise by local emergency personnel:

1. If you are inside, stay where you are. If you are outdoors, or in the hallways proceed into the closest building or room quickly or follow instructions from emergency personnel on the scene.
2. Lock and close all doors and windows
3. Turn off lights and silence cell phones if the situation dictates
4. Remain in place
5. Make yourself comfortable
6. Await instructions from Public Safety or Law Enforcement

Fire or Campus Evacuation

• Know a primary and secondary escape route from your work area/classroom (these routes are located on physical maps posted in most classrooms and offices). Look for the closest emergency exit sign(s) in the hallway outside your work area/classroom.
• Know the location of fire alarm manual pull stations and fire extinguishers.
• If you observe a fire, immediately direct evacuation and sound an alarm.
• Immediately evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds. During the evacuation, please take readily-accessible personal belongings (e.g. purses, coats, laptops) with you as you exit your office/classroom.
• Doors and windows should be closed but unlocked if possible when evacuating. Areas with financial (cash) or other sensitive/confidential items should be secured after all employees have vacated the office.
• Direct others to evacuate and assist individuals with disabilities or advise emergency personnel of the location of persons requiring assistance.
• Call 9-911 to report the fire location if you know the location of the fire/smoke.
• Notify campus security at campus ext. 4000 or 651-747-4000.
• Assist in directing the fire department to the location of the fire if security or administration is not present.
• When outside the building, move well away from the building, keeping roadway and sidewalk access clear for emergency responders.
• Do not re-enter the building until told it is safe by the fire department, security, or administration staff. This announcement will generally be made over the public address (PA) system.

The National Weather Service issues various types of weather warnings to warn the public of weather. National Weather Service warnings are normally issued by geographic county and occasionally at the city level.

Seek Shelter

• Move quickly to an interior hallway on the lowest level
• Stay away from windows and exterior doors
• Do not leave the building unless instructed to do so
• If outside, seek shelter in a nearby building or find a ditch or depression in which to hide and cover your head
• Remain sheltered until all clear is given

An injury or illness could be more serious than it first appears, so don’t hesitate to call for assistance. Do not attempt to treat or transport the person.

Stay Clear

• Call 9, 911 from any campus phone and give the following information:
• Do not move the injured or ill person unless necessary
• Direct first responder to the incident location
• Re-enter the area only when directed by authorities

Natural gas can explode when exposed to a flame or sparks which may result in a rather dangerous situation on campus. It is important to report any suspected gas leaks immediately.

Stay Clear

• Leave the area at once and go to an exterior location away from the building
• Do not operate electrical devices (cell phones, light switches, or equipment)
• Do not try to locate the gas leak
• Call Campus Public Safety or 9, 911 from a campus phone
• Reenter only when directed by authorities

Extended power outages may impact the whole community and the economy. A power outage is when the electrical power goes out unexpectedly.

Evaluate

• Secure all experiments, unplug electrical equipment and shut off gasses
• Fully close fume hoods
• If people are trapped, do not attempt to open the elevator doors
• Isolate hazardous areas to prevent harm
• Wait for instructions from Campus Public Safety

A hazardous materials incident may be a spill or release of chemicals, radioactive materials, or biological materials inside a building or to the environment. Simple spills may be managed by trained person(s) or person(s) who are familiar with their department’s spill protocol. Major spills or emergencies are chemical spills or incidents requiring assistance from 24-hour emergency agencies.

Evacuate

• Alert people in the immediate area to evacuate
• Avoid breathing vapors from a spill
• Unless properly trained, do not attempt to clean up a spill
• If contaminated – seek eyewash and/or emergency shower
• Activate emergency shutoff switches
• Do not operate electrical devices (cell phones, light switches, or equipment)
• Call Campus Public Safety or 9, 911 from a campus phone
• Re-enter area only when directed by authorities

A suspicious activity is an occurrence that is out of place on campus. Many times, people notice something suspicious but don’t report the activity because they assume someone else has. Don’t assume! Make the call. If you see something, say something.

When you call to report suspicious activity, be calm and ready to provide as many of the following facts as you have available:

• What happened?
• Where and when did it occur?
• Is anyone injured?
• Description of vehicle(s)
• License plate number(s)
• Time and direction of travel of suspect(s)
• Description of suspect(s), including clothing

While it may seem as though you are being asked a lot of questions, the information is for the safety of the responding officers. The officer/dispatcher is attempting to gather as much information about the situation as possible so the officers will have a clearer picture of what they may encounter when they arrive at the scene.

Stay Clear

• Do not attempt to apprehend or interfere with a suspect except in self-defense
• Do not touch or disturb suspicious objects
• Call Campus Public Safety or Police 9, 911 from a campus phone
• Gather description details of the suspicious person or object
• Re-enter the area only when directed by authorities