Emergencies
Emergencies Do Not Wait for YOU!
Make A Plan!
Do you have a personal emergency plan? Consider where you would go if an emergency strikes your home? A personal emergency plan should have alternate locations in case your home is impacted, emergency phone numbers (because cell phone batteries will go dead without power to charge), and emergency medical information should you need assistance. On campus, NC State relies on a variety of plans to support emergency preparedness and operations. EMMC uses an ‘all hazards’ approach to emergency planning which allows for the management of a variety of situations regardless of the cause. With the help of EMMC, departments develop specific plans for their operations and personnel, and review these plans annually.
Pack A Bag!
Unplanned events are exactly that – unplanned and often unexpected! We recommend being ready to move quick with an emergency kit (bag) and have the following supplies readily available in residence halls, apartments, homes and offices for the first 24 hours of an event or until normal conditions return:
- At least 1 gallon of drinking water
- Blankets or sleeping bag
- Non-perishable food and can opener
- Flashlight with batteries
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications and eyeglasses
- Food for pets
Take Action!
Different events take different actions; review each of the following events to be ready to act!
FIRE
- Activate fire alarm pull station if in a building.
- Immediately leave the building – and if possible – shut off equipment, stabilize experiments if you can quickly
- Close your door, and
- Alert others
- DO NOT USE ELEVATORS
- Assist others in evacuating if possible. Have those you cannot assist wait in areas designated RESCUE ASSISTANCE.
- Call Campus Police
- Campus phone 911
- Activate emergency blue light phone
- Assemble a safe place away from danger; account for others from your office, floor, etc.
- Person with knowledge of the situation should meet with first responders.
- Do not re-enter the building until cleared by first responders.
- If you are trained, the fire is small, and the alarm has sounded, you may attempt to extinguish the fire.
- Never use an elevator
- Check closed doors before opening; if hot, choose alternative route.
- Crawl if there is smoke. Take short breaths, freshest air will be near the floor.
- If you cannot leave – stuff towel, clothing etc. under door, over vents etc. to restrict smoke and fumes.
- Open window if possible
- Notify Campus Police and give your exact location
- Campus phone 911
- Activate emergency blue light phone
- Use a towel, sheet, pillowcase or clothing to hang out the window to mark your location for first responders to see.
BOMB THREAT
Remain calm and obtain as much information as possible using the checklist below.
If threat is made by phone:
- Make note of the caller’s number if caller id is available.
- Ask questions:
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Where is the bomb?
- What does it look like?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What will cause it to explode?
- Did you place the bomb?
- Why?
- Where are you calling from?
- What is your name?
- Do not handle note any more than necessary; secure it for police officers.
- Notify Campus Police
- Campus phone 911
- Activate emergency blue light phone
- Notify your supervisor If you or someone locates a suspicious device, do not touch. Notify responders.
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES OR MAIL
Note: Although a package could contain a biological, chemical, or explosive agent, the likelyhood of this is remote – experience demonstrates that most are a hoax. It is important to remain diligent and treat suspicious packages and mail with care.
- Handle a suspicious item with care – do not shake, bump, open smell, touch or taste.
- Isolate it immediately
- Notify Campus Police
- Campus phone 911
- Activate emergency blue light phone
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Active shooter situations are dynamic and evolve quickly. The response to active shooter situations will vary based on the specific circumstances. Be aware of various response alternatives, consider the specifics of the event and be prepared to act fast based on the information you have at that time.
General Response Guide: RUN.
- Move away from violence or shooting: moving may involve going through windows or other unconventional means if normal exits are blocked
- Move to a safe location
- Move again if necessary, based on good information
- Have an escape route and plan in mind
- Leave your belongings behind
- Keep your hands visible
- Shelter in place or hide out of shooter’s view
- Lock and Barricade Doors; block windows and close blinds
- Turn off lights
- Silence cell phones
- Take cover behind dense, solid objects that might be effective in stopping bullets
- Attempt to overpower or disarm the shooter
- Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
- Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Medical Emergencies that require priority response include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest or Upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Fainting
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, change in vision
- Change in mental state
- Sudden severe pain
- Bleeding that will not stop
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Obvious trauma
- Campus phone 911
- Activate emergency blue light phone,
- Stay on the phone. You will be asked questions that the Communicator will provide to first responders.
- Do not move someone who is injured unless they are in danger.
- Keep the injured person comfortable until help arrives.
- Report job related injuries to the supervisor.
- Report the injury to your supervisor. Note: Supervisors will follow the procedures for all accidents located online.
- Students may call Student Health Services at 515-2563 for advice
- Students may call Campus police for an escort to or from Student Health Services (on campus only).
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILL OR RELEASE
In the event of a hazardous material emergency, building evacuation is necessary. When the fire alarm sounds:
- Evacuate the building via the nearest exit
- Go to the predetermined meeting area for your building
- Visible smoke, heavy odor of smoke or evidence of fire
- Uncontained release of hazardous gas
- Uncontained spill of hazardous liquids
- For more information, visit https://ehs.ncsu.edu/emergency-information/
SEVERE WEATHER
Watch –indicates a particular weather hazard is possible – remain alert for approaching storms
Warning –indicates a particular weather hazard is imminent or has been reported
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS/HURRICANES
- Monitor weather status
- Avoid being outdoors, especially near trees and water, during a lightning storm.
- Seek shelter indoors, under shelter or in a hard-topped vehicle until the storm passes.
- Monitor weather status.
- If you are notified a tornado is approaching:
- Move immediately to a pre-determined shelter location
- Shelter information for University Housing residents.
- Have a battery powered AM/FM radio or NOAA weather radio readily available
- Remain there until the “all clear” has been officially given by WolfAlert, Police, or local media
- If you are outside, seek shelter in a nearby building or find a ditch or depression in which you can protect yourself from debris
- After a tornado, beware of broken glass, unstable structures and debris
- Report damages to Campus Police
- campus phone 911
- call 919-515-3000 from a non-University phone or cell phone
- North Carolina State University Adverse Weather Policy
SHELTER IN PLACE
Shelter-in-Place means selecting a small, interior room if possible, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow the instructions provided.
Why You Might Need to Shelter-in-Place:
Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by University authorities through Wolf Alerts. The important thing is for you to follow instructions of University authorities and know what to do if they advise you to shelter-in-place.
HOW TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE
- Stop classes or work, or close business operations.
- If there are others in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay—not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
- After the initial emergency campus communication information has been conveyed (first half hour), students, staff and visitors may wish to contact relatives to let them know the situation.
- Close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside. Shut down ventilation fans and air conditioners.
- If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
- Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary.
- Bring everyone into the room(s). Shut and, if possible, lock the door(s).
- Keep listening to the radio, television or check the Homepage until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. University and local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community
- Notify Campus Police
- campus phone 911
- activate emergency blue light phone
- Stay on the phone as long as it is safe
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/BEHAVIOR
We depend on community members to notify the Campus Police when they notice suspicious people or activity. Suspicious behavior may include:
- Going from door to door, office to office
- Loitering in a hallway or common area
- Entering a private office unescorted
- Offering items for sale in buildings
- Entering a secured area
- Asking for an unknown person of department
- Asking for money
- Leaving a package
- Call Campus Police
- campus phone 911
- activate emergency blue light phone