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emergency evacuation procedures

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES

In the event of a partial or campus-wide evacuation, the campus will be evacuated systematically by following these standard mass evacuation procedures.

All students, faculty and staff MUST evacuate when ordered to do so.  This includes the activation of the audible/visible fire alarm, verbal orders and/or announcements from the Department of Public Safety and/or building and floor coordinators, and other emergency response personnel. Excessive smoke or the smell of gas is a reason to immediately evacuate even if no announcements are heard

Above all else, please remain CALM, do not panic, and follow these procedures:

  • Organize the people in your room/work area and alert them to the emergency
  • If possible, secure any hazardous materials and turn off power to equipment before leaving
  • Count the number of people present
  • Evacuate your work location/building using the nearest safe exit. Leave lights on and doors unlocked
  • If there is excessive smoke, crawl to an exit. If you are unable to exit, stay low and plug all openings around doors, windows and vents
  • Before entering another room or stairwell, check for heat by placing your hand near the door
  • If you are trapped, dial 7777 or 718-368-4995 from any college phone and give them your location, room number and floor
  • When possible, assist persons with disabilities in evacuating.  If not possible, at a minimum, assist persons with disabilities to designated Emergency Rescue Area(s) within each building.
  • Do not use elevators unless told to do so. When using stairs, stay to the right of the staircase as you descend to allow first responders to ascend without interruption.
  • Building and floor coordinators, familiar with these evacuation procedures, will assist Public Safety per their assigned floors and or building
  • Please listen carefully to evacuation announcements as to where to proceed to. DO NOT MERELY EXIT YOUR BUILDING and remain directly outside of it.  KCC has both a primary as well as a secondary evacuation site identified and will direct individuals to the appropriate site based upon the nature and location of the incident. Additional information as to the nature of the event will be provided at the evacuation site.
  • Once outside, report any missing people to Public Safety
  • Once outside, report anyone remaining in a designated Emergency Rescue Area ( ex persons with disabilities, injured individuals, incapacitated individuals, etc.) inside the building to Public Safety
  • Note that evacuation techniques and locations are carefully selected, keeping safety in mind as the utmost concern. Hazards may exist that you are not aware of, so please follow all directions carefully
  • If you hear PA announcements advising you of a specific route to take to the evacuation site, please take that route so as to avoid walking into a hazardous spill, fire or other life-threatening event
  • Do not stop to take personal belongings nor use personal vehicles to exit the campus unless directed by Public Safety or other emergency response personnel. The use of personal vehicles endangers pedestrians, bottlenecks entry and exit points and impedes first responders trying to access the location of the emergency.
  • Do not stand in roadways or near entry and exits points as Public Safety and other first responders will be moving in and out of the affected area.
  • Reminder that CUNY has a no-smoking policy. This is especially important during an emergency evacuation involving fire, gas leak/fumes, and some chemical spills, among others 
  • No one is permitted to re-enter an evacuated building. Re-enter buildings only when advised that it is safe to do so by Public Safety or other emergency response personnel