Evacuations

The potential “populations at risk” that may require evacuation due to a hazardous materials release from specific facilities at the University have been pre-identified (see Hazardous Materials Incidents).

Evacuation may be required due to hazardous materials spills/releases that do not involve a campus facility. Transportation accidents involving trucks, trains, and aircraft present risks which could necessitate evacuation. An assessment by on-scene personnel will determine the appropriate area and populations to be considered for evacuation.

For the safety of our students, please adhere to the following procedures in the event of an emergency (i.e. tornado) that requires shelter-in-place:

1. If the immediate conditions are deemed safe, all Residence Life staff must report to the hall office of their building and await further instructions from their AD/RD.
2. All residents of Dogwood Village are to seek shelter immediately in a building. All residents of Dogwood Village may want to evacuate their buildings and go to the basement of the Commons building if there is sufficient warning to do so. A Housing and Residence Life staff member will accompany them and provide further instructions.In the event of heavy rains prohibiting students to evacuate to the lower level of the Dining Commons, Dogwood residents should proceed to the Guerrieri Student Union (first floor area outside the bathrooms, Nanticoke rooms A-C, or the second floor).  If residents choose to stay in Dogwood Village, they should seek shelter in the center hallway of the buildings, away from windows, with doors closed to the rooms.
3. All of Nanticoke, Manokin, Wicomico and Pocomoke must evacuate their rooms and stay in the hallway outside their room.  Close room windows and hallway doors.
4. All residents of Severn, Chester and Choptank must evacuate their rooms and stay in the main hallway on their floor. All room and cluster doors must remain closed. The fire doors leading to the stairwells must also be closed.
5. All residents of Chesapeake Hall must evacuate their rooms and remain in the hallway outside of the room doors NOT IN THE LOUNGE AREA! All room doors must be closed.
6. All residents of St. Martin Hall must go to their bathrooms in the center of the suite and close the doors on both sides.
7. All residents of Sea Gull Square must evacuate their rooms and stay in the main hallway on their floor.
8. All residents of University Park should seek shelter in their bathrooms.

Step 1: Alarm sounds - All RA’s report immediately to the RA staff office.

1. First RA present must grab the fire emergency box, building master and go to the designated safe zone.
2. All other RA’s proceed immediately to the designated safe zones.
3. RA staff alert on-call professional of the fire.

*Residents exit according to the procedure and proceed to assigned safe zone.

Step 2: Attendance Verification or whereabouts is required for all residents:

1. RA’s put on fluorescent reflective vests and stand at the designated safe zone taking attendance with the building roster. The following questions are asked: 
   “What is your name?
   “Where do you live in the hall?” 
   “Was your roommate in the building?”
2. After verifying attendance, all residents are expected to stay quiet and orderly, remaining outside and away from the building until it is cleared by the fire department.

Step 3: After exiting, residents are accounted for by the RA’s:

1. The rosters are compiled and given to the fire officials to sweep rooms of those unaccounted for.
2. Residence Life staff will assist University Police in crowd control.

Step 4: Establish temporary shelter for displaced residents:

1. Most senior Residence Life staff member will identify available spaces for displaced students.
2. Most senior Residence Life staff member will coordinate the displaced student inventory (student contact data, temporary location assigned, etc.).
3. Consider a classroom site during inclement weather or when it may appear safety officials may not classify the area as safe for an extended period of time (two or more hours).