Evacuation Guidelines

AU Staff Updated by AU Staff

In the event of a life-threatening situation, dial 911 directly. Then notify the Alliance University Campus Security by dialing

  • Manhattan at x6198 from a campus phone or (646) 378-6198 from a private or public phone.
  • The Bay at Jersey City at (845) 222-8812.

Prompt reporting helps improve campus safety.

Manhattan Campus

Instructions regarding when and how to evacuate will be given over the PA system. There are three options during any emergency:

  1. Shelter in Place: You will be instructed on how to secure your area to ensure the safety of you and the individuals around you. This may include locking doors, covering vents, etc.
  2. In Building Relocation: You will be instructed to move to another location in the building, typically three floors below the emergency floor.
  3. The Fire Marshall will give instructions to the Building Supervisors during a building evacuation. On an initial evacuation where you are asked to leave the building, Exit the building via the stairwells and cross the street to a safe area.

In an evacuation where you are asked to evacuate the area, the following are the official assembly areas:

  • If north or west of the building, the evacuation assembly area is the West Thames Park.
  • If south or east of the building, the evacuation assembly area is the Korean Memorial in Battery Park.

  1. Evacuate the Building: You will be instructed to evacuate using the below procedures.

Instructions to evacuate if not instigated by an audio alarm will be given via Alliance Alert.

Jersey City

  1.  Evacuate the Building: You will be instructed to evacuate using the below procedures.
  2. Instructions to evacuate if not instigated by an audio alarm will be given via Alliance Alert.

Evacuation Instructions

  1. Do not use elevators during a building evacuation. In many cases, the elevators will go immediately to the first floor of the building the moment an alarm sounds and remain there until they are reset. It is dangerous to use any elevator during an emergency evacuation.
  2. Assist those with disabilities in exiting the building.
    1. To assist the visually impaired:
      1. Announce the type of emergency.
      2. Offer your arm for guidance.
      3. Tell the person where you are going and obstacles you encounter.
      4. When you reach safety, ask if further help is needed
  3. To assist hearing impaired:
    1. Turn lights on/off to gain the person’s attention.
    2. Indicate directions with gestures or write a note with evacuation instructions.
  4. People using crutches, canes or walkers:
    1. Evacuate these individuals as injured persons.
    2. Assist and accompany the evacuation site if possible.
    3. Use a sturdy chair (or one with wheels) to move the person or help carry the individual.
  5. Wheelchair users:
    1. Non-ambulatory persons’ needs and preferences vary.
    2. Individuals at ground floor locations may exit without help. Others have minimal ability to move and lifting may be dangerous.
    3. Some non-ambulatory persons have respiratory complications. Remove them from smoke and vapors immediately.
    4. Wheelchair users with electrical respirators get priority assistance.
    5. Most wheelchairs are too heavy to take down stairs. Consult with the person to determine best carry options.
    6. Reunite the person with the chair as soon as it is safe to do so.
  6. If you are unable to leave the building due to a physical disability, call Campus Safety to request rescue assistance. Be sure to give name, specific location and any other important information. If possible, signal out or through the window to onsite emergency responders. Try to establish a “buddy” system to have someone ready to assist you.
  7. Check offices, classrooms and restrooms.
  8. Turn equipment off, if possible.
  9. Close doors but do not lock them.
  10. Instructors should assist students (see further instructions for Faculty/Instructors at the end of section).
  11. Leave by the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same.
  12. Once outside, proceed to the predetermined assembly area that should be at least 500 feet away from the affected building and await instructions. Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrant areas and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel. Know your area assembly points. Evacuation sites for each building are listed below.
  13. Do not reenter the building until emergency personnel give the “all clear” signal.

Procedures for Building/Area Safety Coordinator

Once a building has evacuated to the area designated for that unit, the Building/Area Safety Coordinator will organize faculty/staff into smaller groups according to department/office. Should the Building/Area Safety Coordinator not be present at the time of the evacuation, the next staff in line (alternate) should begin organizing faculty/staff into smaller units at the evacuation site.

Physical head counts after evacuation

  1. Updates to the Building Occupant List are made as needed by the Building/Area Safety Coordinator in consultation with Human Resources if necessary. The coordinator must have an accurate count at all times of how many individuals need to be accounted for in the event of an evacuation including student workers and any non-regular workers in the building.
  2. In the event of an evacuation, the Building/Area Safety Coordinator should bring the Building Occupant List for their facility with them in order to ensure an accurate count of who is present and who is absent. The names and last known locations of persons not accounted for must be recorded and communicated to the Plan Executive and Director (Executive Vice President and Treasurer). The names of last known locations will then be submitted to the Emergency Operations Center for emergency rescue if necessary.
  3. If an evacuation of a facility is necessary while class is in session, a list of all missing persons will be delivered to the Registrar’s Office for printout of the faculty member’s teaching schedule.
  4. Non-regular employees such as tradesmen from Facilities, students and visitors frequent each facility. Each office/department in the facility should be sure to make note of these.

Confirmation that each room has been completely evacuated and the doors closed

If a facility is evacuated due to a life-threatening emergency, it may be difficult for staff members to confirm that each room has been completely evacuated and the doors closed without placing themselves in danger. Once a facility has been evacuated, the appropriate emergency personnel should be responsible for checking the building to confirm that all spaces in the building have been completely evacuated.

Procedures for further evacuation if the incident expands

If the incident expands or further evacuation becomes necessary, Alliance Alert, will be used to provide instructions.

Procedures for Residence Life Staff

Once “The Bay” residential facility and office workers have evacuated to the area designated by authorities, the Residence Life staff members, students, and office workers will await further instructions by the building Security or authorities in charge.  Residence Directors may organize students into smaller groups by residence hall floors.

Physical head counts after evacuation

  1. Updates to the housing rosters are made as needed by the Student Care Coordinator (VP and Dean of Students) in the Student Development Office. Whenever housing populations increase or decrease, the changes are communicated through Housing Report that is updated in a live shared Google document. Staff members will have an accurate count at all times of how many individuals need to be accounted for in the event of an evacuation. This document is shared with Security and the Plan Executive and Director (Executive Vice President and Treasurer).
  2. Should an evacuation need to occur on one or more floors of the residential facility, the staff members that live on the floor are responsible for checking their roster and counting to determine how many persons are missing. Should a staff member responsible for a particular area not be present to count his/her respective area, then that staff member’s assistant or their designee must assume the responsibility.
  3. The Student Development Housing Coordinator provides the Student Care Coordinator (VP and Dean of Students) an initial Housing Report at the beginning of the year. Room changes, additions and deletions are made by the Housing Coordinator and updated daily on the live Google Document that is shared with the Residence Life Staff. Approved Off campus visitors spending the night are required to register with the Residence Life staff and Security.
  4. In the event of an evacuation, Housing and/or Residence Life staff members can access the online Housing Report in order to ensure an accurate count of who is present and who is absent. The names and last known locations of persons not accounted for must be recorded and communicated to the Student Care Coordinator (VP and Dean of Students). The names of last known locations will then be submitted to the EOC for emergency rescue if necessary.
  5. If an evacuation of a housing location is necessary while class is in session, a list of all missing persons will be delivered to the Registrar’s Office for printout of the students’ class schedules. The Student Care Coordinator (VP and Dean of Students) and the front office staff in Student Development can also assist in accessing student’s academic schedules using Campus Management.”

Accounting for Non-Residents

Each housing location is frequented by non-residents such as custodians and tradesmen from Facilities, guests of office personnel, guests of faculty/staff residents, and visitors. Off campus visitors spending the night are required to register with the Residence Life staff.

Confirmation that each room has been completely evacuated and the doors closed

If a floor in housing has been evacuated due to a life-threatening emergency, it may be difficult for staff members to confirm that each room has been completely evacuated and the doors closed without placing themselves in danger. Once a housing location has been evacuated, the appropriate emergency personnel should be responsible for checking the building to confirm that all the living spaces in the building have been completely evacuated.

Confirmation that non-living spaces have been evacuated

Non-living spaces include study lounges, laundry rooms, public bathrooms, storage rooms, athletic offices, locker rooms, dining hall, fitness center, and training room.  Once a housing location has been evacuated, the appropriate emergency personnel should be responsible for checking the building to confirm that all non-living spaces of the building have been completely evacuated

Procedures for Faculty/Instructors

The Instructor is an authoritative figure for the student, either consciously or subconsciously, and can influence how the student responds in an emergency. Calm, collected and clear directions by the instructor will have a calming effect on the students. Instructors should:

  1. Provide his or her class with general information relating to emergency procedures during the first week of class.
  2. Know how to report an emergency from the classroom being used.
  3. Assure that persons with disabilities have the information they need. The instructor should be familiar with the disabled student’s plan and be able to direct visitors with disabilities.
  4. Take responsible charge of the classroom and follow emergency procedures for all building alarms and emergencies.
  5. Know evacuation routes as well as the predetermined evacuation assembly area.
  6. Assist the Building/Area Safety Coordinator with accounting for students. With a large class, accounting for all students can be difficult. Some suggestions: use the class roster, do a head count and have students see if the students seated next to them are at the assembly point.
  7. Suggested materials to have in class: roster and important telephone numbers.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Decide upon a plan of action in advance and remember that prevention is the key to your personal safety. It is the responsibility of each Building/Area Safety Coordinator to review emergency action plans with employees on a regular basis (either as a group or individually).

If you are temporarily or permanently disabled, please inform your department head. The department head will help determine an action plan based upon your specific needs

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