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Emergency Procedures

Policies & Procedures

Fire Alarm Evacuation Procedures

The Fire alarm is to sounded in the event of any smoke, fire, etc. When a fire alarm sounds for any reason, do the following:

  1. Make sure that the Fire Department (9-911) & Campus Police (745-2727) are contacted.
    1. Give building name.
    2. Give your name.
    3. Follow designated plan for evacuation of building.
    4. Have available list of residents with special assistance needs for evacuation.
  2. Evacuate from the building using nearest designated exit
    1. Know two ways out.
    2. Use enclosed stairwells, if available.
    3. Continue evacuating even if the alarm stops before you are out of the building.
    4. Completely leave the building; do not gather in the lobbies or entrances.
  3. Do not return to the building until the all clear is given by the Fire Department.

What To Do If You Discover A Fire

  1. Sound vocal alarm and mechanical alarms
  2. Report a fire to Fire Department - 9-911 and Campus Police 2727
  3. Leave building and do not re-enter until all clear is given by the Fire Department.

This is to be done each time the Fire Alarm Sounds!

Threatening Persons

Anyone having reason to believe that a person is in danger of harming themselves or others should report this information to the Campus Police immediately at extension 2727. They in turn will contact necessary personnel.

Violent or Armed Persons

  1. Do Not Confront!
  2. Remain calm and speak in a soft quiet voice.
  3. Protect self and others - evacuate area quietly if possible
  4. Contact Campus Police at 745-2727.

Suicide Intervention

  1. If a person has displayed warning signs, appears to have a plan or is in immediate danger, Campus Police should be immediately contacted at 745-2727.
  2. DO NOT BE CONFRONTATIONAL!
  3. BE ALERT FOR WEAPONS!
  4. Do not leave person alone, UNLESS OTHERS SAFETY IS AT RISK!
  5. Remain calm, speaking to person in soft and quiet voice.
  6. Keep others out of area if possible.

Threatening or Suspicious Persons

  1. DO NOT CONFRONT!
  2. Protect self and others.
  3. Contact Campus Police at 754-2727.

Emergency Procedures for Tornado or High Winds

Tornado Watch
The conditions in the area specified are capable of producing a tornado.
Tornado Warning
A tornado is actually on the ground or funnel rotation has been indicated by radar.

Tornado Notification

  1. Civil Defense siren will sound, or
  2. Campus Police will notify you.
  3. Information from local TV/Radio Stations confirmed by Campus Police.

When a Tornado Warning is Given

Everyone will follow all directives given by emergency operations personnel and proceed with safety to the nearest shelter area. Everyone on campus has a responsibility during a tornado emergency. A list of these responsibilities is outlined below.

  1. Faculty will inform their class of the shelter location and lead them there. Once safely in the shelter, the faculty member will take roll and not any unaccounted for students.
  2. Staff and employees will be led by supervisors to shelter locations. Once safely in the shelter, the supervisor or a designated employee will take a headcount and not any unaccounted for personnel.
  3. Visitors, students with no scheduled class and employees not in assigned shelters will check into the nearest shelter location and report to any Emergency Operations Manager. EOMs will make not of the visitor, student or employee.

Tornado Shelters

  • Morrison Basement
  • Fine Arts
  • Math Building

Storm Shelters/Safe Areas

If you can not get to Morrison Basement the listed areas may help you .

Before an emergency strikes, take time to identify your safest place at home, at work and at school. Many people have survived strong tornadoes in a closet or small interior room without windows. Usually the safest place will be on the lowest floor in center of building. No place is guaranteed to be 100% safe.

Emergency Management Sirens are tested the FIRST Wednesday of the month, weather permitting.

Activity Center

  • Any interior rooms such as Cheer Room or Racquetball court.

Administration Building:

  • If time permits, go to Morrison Building basement; if not seek shelter in the innermost part of building on first floor away from doors and windows.

Airport

  • Innermost interior room such as the break room. Bathroom.

Big Five Daycare

  • Evacuate to Morrison Building basement. If unable to evacuate find an interior closet or hallway with no windows.

Biological Sciences Building

  • Lowest floor in any interior room away from outer doors and windows.

Choctaw/Chickasaw Dormitories:

  • Evacuate to Morrison Building basement.
  • If unable to evacuate, gather on interior first floor away from outside walls and windows. Basement area located at East side of Chickasaw is a good location also.

Computer Science Faculty Building (Old OSBDC)

  • If time permits, evacuate to Morrison Building basement. If not, go to interior rooms or hallways, or bathrooms.

Computer Science and Technology Building:

  • Classrooms on South side of building should go to the South Wall.

Computer Science Annex(Computer Lab):

  • Evacuate to Safety Building (next door) or to the Art Building. (See Safety Building)

EOC/Talent Search

  • Evacuate to Morrison Building basement. If unable to make to Morrison go to the nearest open building, find an interior hallway with no windows.

Equestrian Center

  • Storm Cellar
  • Classroom hallway and adjoining room, do not use classrooms

Fine Arts Building:

  • Interior hallways, bathrooms or any interior room. If key is available the basement of the building is good location.

GEAR-UP Building:

  • Hallways away from doors and windows.

Gymnasium

  • Any room/hallway away from exterior doors and windows.
  • If key is available the basement by the swimming pool west end door is good location.

Library

  • Best location is in Learning Center area (inner classrooms). Can also use Basement & First Floor halls and stairwells. Avoid bookshelves if possible.

Massey Building (Downtown Ballroom)

  • Any interior room on the lowest level away from outer doors and windows.

Math Building

  • Evacuate to the Morrison Building Basement. If unable to evacuate find a closet, interior bathroom or other room with no windows or exterior doors.

Morrison Building — Designated Community Storm Shelter

  • Can use hallways, bathrooms, and any classroom that does not contain windows, but do not gather in the hallway that runs East/West.
  • Men and women restrooms basement area

New Student Union

  • Basement of Cafeteria, or lower level bathrooms or hallways away from exterior doors or windows. DO NOT USE ATRIUM HALLWAY!
  • Men and women Locker rooms Do not stand out in the game lobby

North Hall

  • Basement is very good location
  • First floor hallway away from windows and doors

Old Student Union/Hallie McKinney

  • Lower level area away from exterior doors and windows. Hallways, interior bathrooms and closets. Basement is also another option.

Physical Plant

  • Any interior room away from outer doors and windows.

Police Department

  • Find an interior room without windows or exterior doors. Bathroom or hallways are also options

President’s Home

  • Small-sized room in basement area.

Russell Building (John Massey School of Business):

  • First Floor stairwell good location or first floor hallways away from windows or exterior doors, interior bathrooms or interior closet

Safety Building:

  • Classroom OSH-225, interior bathrooms or hallways

Science Building:

  • First floor hallways away from exterior doors and windows and interior bathrooms.
  • If key is available the basement is also a good location

Shearer Hall & Suites:

  • Evacuate to the basement of North Hall.
  • If no time to evacuate, go to first floor interior hallways away from exterior doors and window or interior bathrooms.

Small Business Development

  • Find an interior room without windows or exterior doors. Bathroom or hallways are also options.

University Center

  • Go to the interior hallway stretching perpendicular from the Continuing Education office.

Visual Arts Building (old Industrial Technology Building)

  • Center hallway away from exterior doors and windows or interior bathrooms.

Visual & Performing Arts Center (VPAC)

  • Any interior room/hallway away from outer doors and windows.
  • Stay away from large windows such as those in the Art Display Gallery

Welcome Center:

  • Bathrooms or interior rooms away from exterior doors and windows.

Morrison Building Basement is the Designated Storm Shelter for

SOSU and the citizens of Durant, Oklahoma. DO NOT stand in the hallway running east to west go into the Behavioral Sciences hallway.

Buildings with basements are:

  1. Morrison
  2. Hallie McKinney (southwest end of the old Cafeteria) Locked
  3. North Hall
  4. Fine Arts — locked
  5. Science — locked
  6. Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium — locked

Important Things to Remember

  • Avoid areas in buildings with wide span and glass overhead, such as Gymnasiums and Atriums.
  • Do not stand in front of any glass windows.
  • Most storms travel from Southwest to Northeast direction.

Institute Evacuation Procedures (same as fire drill)

  1. Sound building Alarms.
  2. All Housing personnel in building are to fall into duty, whether scheduled or not, and assist in evacuation.
  3. Begin on top floors of each building.
  4. Notify each dorm and suite.
  5. Make each resident aware of situation. Do not waste time trying to convince a noncomplying individual, but do note that they were warned.
  6. Residents are to go to Morrison Hall immediately. (In the event of high winds, Savage Tower residents must go to the bottom floor)
  7. If time does not permit evacuation to Morrison Hall, Residents are to take shelter against interior walls on the lowest floor possible and away from windows.
  8. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS!

Earthquake Procedures

All employees and students should take immediate cover in the event of an earthquake.

  1. Position yourself under a desk or in a doorway and cover your head.
  2. Stay clear of windows, shelves and heavy objects.
  3. If outdoors, move away from buildings, trees, utility poles, power lines and gas meters.
  4. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS DURING EVACUATION AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
  5. Once the tremor has passed, immediately evacuate the building and proceed to the rally point established in your department evacuation plan.

Bomb Threats

  1. Keep person on the phone and fill out Bomb Threat checklist in telephone book.
  2. DO NOT use cell phone.
  3. Call Campus Police - 745-2727.
  4. Evacuate building if threat is specific to that building.
  5. Follow directions of emergency operations managers who will initiate the Universities Plan.

Acts of Aggression

Southeastern Oklahoma State University has many potential terrorist targets. An attack on any one of these vulnerable areas could cause major damage to University property and widespread casualty situations. Emergency personnel must be prepared for the possibility of an act of violence against SOSU�s campus population or property. All SOSU employees and students are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to the University Police for investigation.