LARAMIE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROCEDURE

 

 

SUBJECT -  Natural Disasters/Fires/Fire Drills

REFERENCE -  None

DATE - 12/15/89

NUMBER – 8008

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidelines to faculty, staff, students, and area residents in the case of natural disasters, fires, and fire drills.

 

The Security Coordinator in conjunction with the President's Staff has overall responsibility for campus safety during natural disasters and fires. The Security Coordinator is also responsible to the President's Staff for scheduling and conducting fire drills.

 

2. Natural Disasters/Primarily Severe Thunderstorm/Tornados

 

The purpose of the natural disaster procedure is to save lives and reduce property and equipment damage. To achieve this, all college faculty, staff, and students must be informed and involved.

 

A. Receipt of a severe thunderstorm/tornado warning

 

1) Upon the receipt of a severe thunderstorm/tornado warning from the severe weather monitor or AM/FM radio reports, any individual receiving such warning should obtain as much information as possible.

 

2) Notify the security office by phone at extension 122 or pager number 637-9338. (Security is usually capable of monitoring all early warning systems as well.)

 

3) Security will then follow-up with the National Weather Service and the Laramie County Sheriff's Office for the storm's current location and its projected direction of travel, speed, and damage potential.

 

4) Security will then notify the college president or his designee of current conditions and the possible threat to our personnel, facilities, and equipment.

 

5) Security will then notify emergency services and request they go on alert status and remain so until the alert is canceled.

 

6) Security will dispatch a storm spotter to provide an early warning system for the college.

 

7) Security will monitor all communication systems for the latest progress of a storm.

 

B. Action for classrooms, offices, and student housing

 

After notification of a tornado in our area the college siren will be sounded by the 911 center or on the president's order. (A SIREN MEANS YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.)

 

1) Identify and assist handicapped persons in your area.

  

2) Students, staff, and area residents will move immediately to the designated building in the area of the campus which they occupy as described in the TORNADO SHELTER PLAN posted in all Laramie County Community College buildings.

 

3) The maintenance crew and designated key building personnel (see attached) will assist the Security Coordinator as requested.

 

C. General comments

 

1) On hearing the warning siren, move into the innermost portions of the building designated as a shelter nearest to you.

 

2) Move from the upper floors to the lowest level in the building.

 

3) Avoid windows and glass doorways.

 

4) Do not use elevators: the power may go off and you could become trapped.

 

5) Do not open windows: time is too valuable and flying glass is dangerous.

 

6) Close the doors to the outside rooms to keep flying glass and debris to a minimum.

 

7) Protect your head and make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down.

 

8) Keep away from the ends of the hallways.

 

9) After the danger has passed you will be notified by the Security Coordinator or his designee.

 

3. Fire/Fire Drill A. Fire alarms

 

1) Full-time and adjunct faculty

 

a) Prior to the start of classes, identify the exterior exits nearest your instructional and office spaces. If you need assistance, call extension 122 or pager number 637-9338. Please develop alternate emergency routes in case the primary exit route is not available.

 

b) At each first class meeting, identify disabled students who need assistance in an emergency. Ask for volunteers or appoint a "buddy" who will assist the disabled student during building evacuations.

c) When the fire alarm sounds:

(1) DO NOT PANIC

 

(2) CALMLY direct students to pick up personal belongings and direct them through the exit previously identified to a location 100 feet from the building. Once outside the building, take roll. If any of your students who were present at the start of class are missing, call or go to the communications center (command post) which has been set up in the area of the fire and inform the Security Coordinator, fire department personnel, or sheriff's office personnel.

 

(3) When advised that the building is "all clear" return and resume the activity previously in progress.

 

(4) If the alarm is real, you will be advised of any further action you may be required to take.

 

2) Staff

           

a) Identify exterior exits nearest your work place.

           

b) When the fire alarm sounds­

                 

(1) DO NOT PANIC

 

(2) Quickly turn off electrical equipment, pick up personal belongings, shut the door, and calmly proceed through the exit previously identified to a point 100 feet from the building.

 

(3) If you are away from your normal work area when the alarm sounds, do not return there.

 

(4) Help assure the evacuation of study areas and labs if these facilities are located in your work area.

 

(5) Employees should congregate as a group by building to permit supervisors to identify possible missing staff members. Missing persons must be reported to the fire command post by their supervisor immediately. DETERMINE WHERE THE MISSING PERSON WAS LAST SEEN!

 

(6) When advised that the building is "all clear," return to work and resume normal operations.

 

(7) If the alarm is real, you will be advised of any further action which you should take.

 

(8) You may be called upon to assist with some tasks during the fire drill or actual emergency. You will not be asked to place yourself in danger.

  

B. Fire drills

 

The purpose of a fire drill is to insure the safety of students, faculty, and staff at Laramie County Community College. W.S. 35-9505 states that all public schools will conduct periodic fire drills. Laramie County Community College has established building evacuation guidelines to insure a safe and efficient building evacuation in case of fire or other similar emergency. Evacuation procedures will be practiced at regular intervals throughout the calendar year.

 

Fire evacuation procedures and activities will be closely coordinated with the college President's Staff, Division Directors, and local emergency services. The Security Coordinator will be directly responsible for the coordination effort and fire exercise activities. In cases of actual fire or similar emergency, on‑scene command will be relinquished to the professional fire management authority having jurisdiction upon their arrival.

 

1) Planning

 

a) A drill will be executed each month. It will involve one building or two adjacent buildings as directed by the President's Staff.

 

b) Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year a schedule for fire drills will be developed by the Instructional Advisory Council meeting jointly with the Security Coordinator. This schedule will include times and buildings for each month for the following year. The schedule will be developed and submitted to the President's Staff for review during the second week in July. Following this review process, copies will be distributed to those designated by the Instructional Advisory Council. The City of Cheyenne Fire Department, Laramie County Fire District No. 1, and the Laramie County Sheriffs Department will receive a courtesy copy.

 

c) The Security Coordinator may conduct a special drill on a scheduled building to emphasize the importance of drills for life safety. These special drills would simulate actual fire and smoke conditions which may block primary egress routes.

 

2) Notification

 

a) The President's Staff will be notified of the schedule and again immediately prior to the scheduled drill time. Any changes shall be brought to their attention no less than five days prior to the scheduled drill.

 

b) Division directors will be notified seven days in advance of a scheduled drill to avoid conflict with the educational process.

c) Assisting personnel will be notified of the drill schedule and again immediately prior to the scheduled drill time by the Security Coordinator. Any changes will be brought to the assisting personnel's attention no less than five days prior to the scheduled drill.

 

3) Specific responsibilities

 

a) The on-scene commander for fires and fire drills will be the Security Coordinator until relieved by professional fire management personnel.

 

b) A command post will be established by the Security Coordinator to provide a base from which to direct team activities.

 

c) The command post will be used to disseminate information to administrative staff, emergency team members, and emergency services personnel.

 

d) If other emergency services are required they will be contacted through 911 frequency via radio.

 

e) The first fire department officer to arrive will assume scene command. The Security Coordinator will brief the officer on the details of the situation and will announce the change of command to the 911 dispatch.

 

4) Maintenance personnel will report to their predesignated assembly location (Physical Plant, vans, etc.). Needed maintenance personnel and equipment will then be transported immediately to an on-the-scene command post. Upon arrival, the Security Coordinator will assign specific responsibilities to them.

 

5) Evacuation and evaluation teams

 

a) Evacuation and evaluation teams, made up of the Security Coordinator and fire district and sheriff's office officials, will check for complete building evacuation, areas of fire and/or smoke, and exit accessibility.

 

b) During the evacuation the Security Coordinator will dispatch crowd and traffic control teams, made up of college maintenance personnel.

 

c) All findings during the evacuation will be reported to the Security Coordinator. The team leader will at this time notify emergency services (911) and Laramie County Community College administration that the evacuation is complete.

 

d) Following evacuation the Security Coordinator will coordinate evacuation and evaluation teams to assist emergency services personnel with fire location, fire hydrant location, smoke abatement, electrical and mechanical shut down, and other duties required to support the emergency services.

 

6) Crowd and traffic control teams

 

a) The maintenance staff will create safety zones to which students and staff will be directed until the emergency is abated.

 

b) After the zones are occupied, faculty and/or staff will, be responsible for maintaining the zones until instructed to return to their buildings.

 

c) Crowd and traffic control teams will insure that all

personnel are accounted for.

 

d) If someone is thought to be missing, a report must be made to the Security Coordinator immediately.

 

e) The decision to reoccupy a facility will be made by the President's Staff or designee after consultation with the Security Coordinator. After the decision is made the crowd and traffic control teams will assist with the re-entry to buildings.