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Shelter, Secure and Lockdown Situations

Shelter in Place

Shelter in place is used for short term events where the goal is to reduce outdoor activity. Card-Reader door status will not change.

Upon Notification of a Shelter in Place:

  • Remain calm and stay in the same building
    • Move to your classroom or workspace
    • Wait for an evacuation order or an all clear to be issued by the university before exiting
  • Continue activities within the building, including work/ teaching
  • Close windows and doors
  • Identify persons with disabilities in your area. Escort them to a room that can be locked down or evacuated from easily if the situation changes.
  • Monitor for communications from the university
  • If you are not in the affected building/ area, do not go to the affected building/ area.

Hold and Secure

Hold and Secure is used to protect the community from an external threat by reducing access to buildings from the outside. Card-Reader door status will be changed to “card-access only.”

Upon notification of a Hold and Secure:

  • Card-Reader doors will be changed to “card-access only”
  • If outdoors, move into the nearest building or leave campus.
  • Remain calm and stay in the same building
    • Move to your classroom or workspace
    • Wait for an evacuation order or an all clear to be issued by the university before exiting
  • Continue activities within the building, including work/ teaching
  • Close doors
  • Stay away from visible areas (entrances/ windows)
  • If the threat is not in your building and you feel safe to do so, any exterior door that is not on a card-reader should be locked with a key
  • Building coordinators may be stationed near main entrances to provide access to students who are clearing the campus grounds
  • Identify persons with disabilities in your area. Escort them to a room that can be locked down or evacuated from easily if the situation changes
  • Monitor communications from the university
  • If you are not on campus, do not come to campus.

Lockdown

Lockdown is used when there is a threat of violence to the institution and evacuation is not yet possible. Because the threat may have access to an ID card, all card readers will be changed to “locked.” This prevents any card from unlocking a card reader, regardless of access level.

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT should be used if the threat is inside your building. Lockdown if the threat is outside of your building. (See Active Shooter Procedure)

Upon notification of a Lockdown:

  • Card-Reader doors will be changed to “locked”
  • If outdoors, move into the nearest building or leave campus.
  • Remain calm and stay in the same building
  • Immediately cease all work/ teaching/ study activity
    • Move to nearest classroom or workspace
    • Secure the door either by locking or barricading the door
    • Turn tables up to block view from inside windows in necessary
    • Gather items to defend yourself
    • Wait for an evacuation order or an all clear to be issued by the university, or if directed by police, before exiting a secure room
  • Stay away from visible areas (entrances/ windows)
  • Turn off lights and hide
  • If the threat is not in your building and you feel safe to do so, any exterior door that is not on a card-reader should be locked with a key
  • Building coordinators may be stationed near main entrances to provide access to students who are clearing the campus grounds
  • Identify persons with disabilities in your area and bring them with you to the nearest secure area
  • Monitor communications from the university
  • Follow all instructions from police
    • Keep hands visible and open
  • Do not exit if there is a fire alarm unless you see smoke or the fire
  • If you are not on campus, do not come to campus.
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