Houghton College

Emergency Response Policy

Gathering place information

Evacuation procedures

Bomb threats

Structure fires

Emergency phone numbers

What you can do to prepare ahead

Homeland Security Alert System

Purpose

The first priority of Houghton College Emergency Response Task Force will be to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff of the College and act as liaison with the state Homeland Security Office in the event of a terrorist threat on campus.  In addition, the Task Force will coordinate efforts with local emergency agencies in Allegany County. 

Houghton College Plan for Homeland Security

In the event of an emergency that could include a terror threat to the campus, the following procedures will be initiated:

Additional Information

·   Procedures are in place to shut down the ventilation system in the Physical Education Center and secure against biological and   chemical threats.  Wesley Chapel is the alternate gathering site.

·   Procedures are in place to separate out and assist contaminated individuals.

·   An out going message will immediately be placed on the college’s main telephone line explaining our situation and emergency       telephones numbers for college officials. This message will be sent to all college phones and played to all incoming calls.

·   Additionally, an all-campus e-mail will be immediately sent detailing directions.

·   The Homeland Security Office strongly recommends that, in the event of a terror threat or emergency, no individual remain in his or her office, classroom, or residence hall room.  It is further recommended that no attempt be made to leave campus.

·   Houghton College continues to maintain relations with local emergency offices, particularly the New York State Police, Allegany County Sheriff Department, and Allegany County Emergency Services Office

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Procedures for Emergency Gathering Site

Nielsen Physical Education Center:

The PEC is considered the primary gathering site for campus terror emergencies.  It contains floor space for large gatherings, has significant air mass, contains medical supplies in the trainer’s room, and has an emergency generator.

Should the emergency involve a biological or chemical threat, the first priority for the facility is to seal off all sources of exterior air.  The Director of Facilities and HVAC staff will take necessary procedures to seal off the doors and air ducts as well as shutting down the air intake systems.

The Student Health Services Director and staff will be in charge of the treatment room.  They will maintain an emergency preparedness supply kit and bring other supplies deemed necessary as time permits.  They will also have full use of whatever supplies are available throughout the facility.

The PEC will be used as follows:

In the event the PEC is not acceptable as a gathering site, Wesley Chapel will be the alternate site.

            Wesley Chapel will be used as follows:

*In most cases, the Command post would be in Luckey Building Conference room or Fancher Hall.  These are alternate sites in the event of Biological or Chemical threats that would confine everybody to one building.

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EVACUATIONS

Building Evacuations:

There can be many different reasons to evacuate a building.  These include (but are not limited to) bomb threats, gas leaks, fires, sudden structural deficiencies, hostage situations, crimes in progress or chemical spills.  The following instructions on evacuation procedures will need to be tailored to the situation.

1.      The fastest way to evacuate a building is by pulling a FIRE ALARM.  In many cases it is the best way, but there are some times when it is not.  For example, if there is a chemical spill with dangerous fumes, it may be necessary to steer people away from certain exits that are affected.  Think before you pull.

2.      If fire alarm evacuation is rejected, try to make contact with department heads in academic buildings or the R.D.s and R.A.s in residence halls and request their assistance.

3.      If possible, block off areas of the building that are dangerous and direct people to leave the building in another direction.

4.      Establish evacuation “holding areas” where evacuees may wait safely and comfortably until the danger is over.  Ideally, this area should be at least 300 feet from the danger area.  Suggested buildings to be used for this purpose are Campus Center, Wesley Chapel or the Phys Ed Center.

5.      If at all possible do not evacuate people to wait in a nearby parking lot.  If there is an explosion in the building (or, in the case of a bomb, around the perimeter of the building or a car bomb) the parking lot is not a safe place due to flying debris.  Pedestrian traffic may also hinder emergency equipment from getting to the scene quickly.

6.      Contact the Maintenance Department for procedures on shutting off and reactivating utilities, as the situation dictates.

In the event of an immediate Chemical / Biohazards threat the following steps need to be taken.

a.       Determine whether it is safe to be outdoors, even for a few minutes, with or without a damp cloth to breath through.

I.                    If it is safe, instruct via announcement, e-mail, and  phone to gather at a specific site (Nielsen PEC is primary site, and Wesley Chapel is alternate). 

II.                 If it is not safe, instruct by same means to have people seek interior room (preferably a room with no outside exposure), take radio, laptop and phone for communication.  It is advisable to have bottled water though it is expected that it will be safe to at least proceed to the gathering site within a few hours.

b.      The PEC will have water on hand and medical supplies for treating the sick and injured.  At least 3500 gallons of water will be stored and refreshed every six months.

c.       Flashlights, battery operated radios and a supply of batteries will be on hand in the PEC as well.

d.      The Athletic Director, Director of Safety and Security, and numerous VP’s have cell phones which will be available for communication off campus should the college phone system be non-functional.

e.       Review evacuation procedures outlined in this document.  For this purpose, people will be assigned to pull fire alarms in each building and instruct occupants to proceed to the PEC unless another procedure is warranted.

Campus-wide Evacuations:

Arrangements have been made with the Allegany County Emergency Services Office and the local Red Cross to coordinate through their offices in the event the campus needs to be evacuated.  They have access to vehicles and facilities in place to transport, house, and care for large numbers of people.

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Bomb Threat: In the event of a bomb threat, the following steps need to be taken:

1.      When a call comes in from someone who claims to have placed a bomb on campus, ask the following questions (from the FBI bomb threat card):

2.      If only a message is delivered with no time given for questions, write down verbatim as much of the conversation as you can remember.  Also note things such as, the callers’ voice, background sounds, and threat language.

3.      Alert the Director of Safety and Security (currently Ray Parlett, 567-2704, cell phone # 498-2489) immediately for further instructions.   The Director will determine who else should be called.  If the Director cannot be reached, call the Vice President of Student Affairs (currently Denise Bakerink at 567-8387, or college ext. 2200).

4.      Contact the State Police (567-2283. If no answer, dial 593-1000).

5.      If another employee of Houghton College receives the bomb threat and notifies you, isolate that person for questioning by Security personnel or the Police.  Ask them to write down the message they received as precisely as they can remember, and go over the bomb threat checklist above.

6.      Evaluate the Credibility of the Threat. 

·        The more specific the threat, the higher its level of credibility.  The more details the caller gives the greater the chance that the threat is real.

·        Is the time limit given realistic?  Most serious bombers who call do so to avoid hurting innocent people.  The greater the amount of time given for evacuation, the greater the chance that the bomb threat is genuine.

·        Did the caller sound intoxicated?  Was there laughter in the background, or other signs that the call is a prank or a hoax?  Such things take away from the credibility of the threat.

7.      Having established the credibility of the threat, it is necessary to decide whether to:

1. Take no action.

2. Search without evacuations.

3. Initiate a partial evacuation.

4. Conduct a complete evacuation and search.

If at all possible let the Director of Safety and Security make this decision.  If you are not able to contact the Director or another supervisor, you will have to make this decision yourself. 

SEARCHING A BUILDING:

The usual search sequence is to start on the outside of the building and work toward the inside.  This pattern is also true of the individual room search – start on the outside of the room and work toward the center.  Start at the lowest level and work upward.  The interior of the building is best searched by dividing the searchers into teams of two or more, as working together tends to provide far more efficient search efforts.

1.       Outside the Building - the following should be checked:

a.       Unidentified vehicles parked on the streets or in the parking lots which surround the building; record license plate numbers and VINs.

b.      Sewers and drainage ditches.

c.       Mail boxes.

d.      Trash receptacles

e.       Electrical Generators and all other power systems on the premises.

f.        Shrubbery around the building.

g.       Exterior building ledges, overhangs, exterior light fixtures, window boxes, roof gutters

h.       Any ornamental structures.

2.       Interior Search – As a general rule the search should be from bottom to top, beginning with the basement areas (including all electrical/utility rooms) and working up.  Such a check will include:

a.        Lobbies,

b.       Rest Rooms.

c.       Cleaning and storage closets.

d.      Elevator shafts  (the top of the elevator should be physically examined).

e.       All rooms in the building.  The search team upon entering the room to be searched should:

1.       Stop, look and listen.

2.       A general visual examination may reveal an item that is foreign to that particular area which would be considered suspect. 

3.      The search team, by remaining quiet and listening for audible sounds may encounter a timing device.

4.      The room should be divided for search purposes, and be searched at various levels.  The first level would include the floor, rug, furniture, etc. to a level reaching the waist of the searcher.  The next level of search should be any area or item, which is present from the waist of the searcher to the top of his head.  The final level should be any area or item on a level from the top of the head of the searcher to the ceiling and above.  The ceiling panels should be checked to ensure no false ceiling is present and no foreign item has been placed therein.  Among the items to be checked are the following:

·        Floor coverings

·        Room furniture

·        Cabinets

·        Closets

·        Clocks and other wall fixtures

·        Sinks and other lavatory facilities

·        Loose clothing

·        Light fixtures

·        Water coolers

·        Trash receptacles

·        Refreshment canteen machines

·        Public telephone booths

·        Window covering, such as venetian blinds or drapery fixtures

5.      As a room or floor is cleared, chalk or tape can be used to indicate that the area has been searched.

6.      When the search is completed, it is a good idea to avoid saying that no bomb was there.  Instead, say only that no bomb was found.

REMEMBER - It is the function of the search team to locate any possible explosive devices in the building.  However, it is NOT the function of the search team to attempt to examine, neutralize or disarm the device.  That will be handled by qualified law enforcement personnel.

IF A DEVICE OR SUSPECT PACKAGE IS FOUND:

1.      Do not touch it.

2.      Do not assume it to be the only one.

3.      Note its location, description, and proximity to utilities (gas lines, water pipes, and electrical panels).

4.      Relay this information to the control center, then clear and secure the area.

5.      Since more devices may be present the search effort should continue until the entire building has been checked.

6.      If an explosion occurs, do not tamper with the debris.  Call for help, remove any casualties and secure the area until the bomb technicians arrive.

TYPES OF SEARCHES THAT ARE COMMONLY USED:

1.      Overt Search – This is a search of the premises by the employees who work in the building.  Since an employee is familiar with his or her own work area, they would be likely to recognize what belongs in that area and what is foreign to it.  The main disadvantages of this type of search are: a) employees generally will lack training in conducting a thorough search; and b) lack of understanding in the dangers involved and precautions to be taken in search of a bomb.

2.      Covert Search – This is a search that is generally conducted by supervisors or managers (this could include teachers, R.A.s, R.D.s, maintenance staff, custodial workers and administrators) without the knowledge or awareness of others in the building.  While this type of search is fastest type, it is not as thorough, and carries with it the disadvantage of affecting adversely employee/student morale should the employees or students discover that a search is taking (or took) place without their knowledge.

3.      Special Team Search – This is the “Bomb Squad” search, conducted by trained professionals.  It is the most effective type of search, and protects all employees and students from dangerous situations.  However, it is also the search method that takes the longest.

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Structure Fire:

In the Event of a Structure Fire, The following procedures should be followed as closely as reasonably possible.

1.      A smoke/fire alarm may have already been activated in the building. If it is evident that no activation has yet occurred, activate any fire alarm in the area. This notifies Allegany County Emergency Services who will dispatch fire and EMS as required.

2.      Alert any individuals that may be in harms way and evacuate them to a safe area.  Do not use elevators.

3.      Notify the Safety and Security as soon as possible.

4.      Direct traffic and do crowd control until fire personnel or police arrive on the scene.

5.      If there is a fire extinguisher available that is appropriate for the type of fire that is occurring and the fire is small and has not spread, do what you can to put it out. Only fight a fire when your back is toward the exit. Otherwise let the emergency response crews fight the fire.

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Phone Numbers

(UPDATED April 2007)

FOR ALL FIRE, AMBULANCE OR POLICE EMERGENCIES

DIAL 911