In the event of a serious crisis on or near the campus, the evacuation of a building, area or the entire campus may become necessary. The evacuation may be precautionary, such as with significant credible information of an imminent emergency, or as a result of an incident on or near the University that poses a significant threat to the University community and property.
General Evacuation Guidelines
Different emergencies require different evacuation strategies. This booklet contains evacuation directions for most emergencies. When evacuation is not indicated for the emergencies in this booklet or by obvious circumstances, you should stay where you are until given direction by emergency personnel. The unpredictable nature of emergency situations requires quick action and clear thinking to avoid injury. The decision to evacuate is based on factors that give you the best chance of remaining safe and avoid putting yourself in a more harmful situation.
WHEN TO EVACUATE*
- Anytime you hear the fire alarm bells in your building
- If you smell smoke or know an actual fire is burning
- When instructed to do so by the Case Police dispatcher, Case police or security officer, Case Safety Department representative or police, fire/EMS personnel
WHEN NOT TO EVACUATE**
- When a tornado warning is sounded (find appropriate shelter within your building)
- During a hostile intruder situation
- During a hostage/barricade situation
- During a power failure
- When instructed to not evacuate by Case Police dispatch, Case police or security officers, Case safety representatives or local police, fire/EMS personnel.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MUST EVACUATE
- Listen carefully to instructions of emergency personnel
- Remain calm
- Close your office door as you leave
- Do not try to gather materials on the way out, leave quickly
- Keep talking to a minimum
- Exit via stairwells, not elevators
- No smoking
- Alert emergency personnel of any disabled persons who need assistance
* Certain circumstances may prevent safe evacuation. If this happens, move away from the danger and find shelter in an area with a window to allow rescue. Try to notify rescuers of your location.
** These situations require you to stay put initially. Emergency personnel will direct you as to when it is safe to evacuate.
HOW YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED
If time permits, e-mail and/or phone notifications may be made. If an emergency situation is imminent, notifications will be made by Protective Services and Safety Services personnel.
This may include the sounding of fire alarms in buildings for quick evacuation. You must leave the building immediately any time a fire alarm sounds in the building. After you are outside the building, move away from the exits and wait for further instructions.
Building/Area Evacuation
Certain emergencies may affect a specific building or area of campus. In this case, persons in those buildings/areas will be evacuated to a predetermined site on campus. Emergency personnel will then direct you to a primary or secondary evacuation site. The evacuation sites are listed below. Click on the following link for a campus map identifying these locations.
Evacuation Map
BUILDING/AREA |
PRIMARY SITE |
SECONDARY SITE |
Main Academic Quad |
Veale Center |
Ford Auditorium |
HSC Complex |
Adelbert Gym |
University Hospital Atrium |
South Dorms |
Fribley Commons |
Carlton Commons |
CASC/U-West |
Veale Center |
Adelbert Gym |
North Campus |
Thwing Center |
Peter B. Lewis Bldg. |
North Dorms |
Leutner Commons |
Thwing Center |
Emergency personnel will direct you to one of these sites during an evacuation. Further instructions will be given at the evacuation site. If necessary, buses will be used to transport persons to sites.
Campus Evacuation
An emergency that dictates the evacuation of the entire University will be handled in conjunction with the emergency procedures of the City of Cleveland and surrounding communities. In the unlikely event that a campus evacuation is necessary, you will be directed to leave the University in the following manner.
1. IF YOU DRIVE TO CAMPUS
A. Take your normal route to your vehicle.
B. Leave the campus area via these suggested routes:
MLK north – Euclid Ave east – Mayfield Road east – Cedar Road east
· Do not travel west on Euclid, Chester or Carnegie, these routes are eastbound only routes for a downtown evacuation. Police may direct traffic in other ways dependant on circumstances.
2. IF YOU TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR RESIDE ON CAMPUS
A. Go to the nearest RTA station to take a bus or rapid away from the area. RTA/mass transit will be on a rush hour status unless circumstances prohibit mass transit operations.
B. If mass transit is not available, you are to go to Fribley Commons if you are south of Euclid Ave. or Leutner Commons if you are north of Euclid Ave. and await further instructions.
See the following link to the City of Cleveland web site for more emergency procedure information.
http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/emergency/emergencyind.html
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