Emergency Preparedness

If you witness any armed individual or shooter on campus at any time, immediately notify Pierce College Central Dispatch by calling 253-444-0325 and provide the dispatcher with the following information:

• Your Name
• Nature of the incident
• Location of the incident
• Description of person(s) involved
• Number of persons who may be involved
• If shots have been fired
• Injuries to anyone, if known

Assist the officers when they arrive by supplying them with all additional information and ask others to cooperate. Should gunfire, weapons, or explosives be involved, avoid the incident. Take cover. Leave your cover, or seek first aid for the injured only when completely safe.

If the shooter is inside the building:

• If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately. Evacuate to a safe area away from the danger and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives.
• If it is impossible for you to leave, secure yourself in your space.
• Barricade doors and block windows.
• Turn off all the lights, close blinds and close and lock all windows and doors.
• Seek protective cover for yourself and any others (concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets may protect you from bullets).
• Keep occupants calm, quiet and out of sight.
• Silence cell phones.
• Turn off radios and computer monitors.
• Do not answer the door.
• Place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
• Remain where you are until an "all clear" instruction is given by an authorized known voice.
• If faculty, staff or students do not recognize the voice that is giving instructions, they should not change their status (stay put). Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designed to give false assurances.

In the event you are taken hostage or held against your will:

• Avoid heroism and drastic action. In all probability, your captors do not want to harm you.
• Don't speak to your captors unless spoken to. Avoid appearing hostile, but maintain eye contact with the captor without staring.
• Do not expect the captor to behave rationally. Don’t do anything to aggravate your captor. Comply with instructions as best you can. Avoid speculation as to the outcome of the situation. Avoid arguments.
• Try to rest. Try to maintain a calm, composed attitude. This will help to calm other captives and ensure their safety.

During a bomb threat situation, the natural human reaction, even if you are highly trained, is to be startled, feel fear and anxiety, and even experience initial disbelief and denial. Training provides the means to regain your composure recall at least some of what you have learned and commit to action

If you receive a call:

• Notify Campus Safety immediately (Fort Steilacoom - 253-964-6225, Room CAS 311, Puyallup - 253864-3360, Room A 117
• If possible keep person on the phone
• Attempt to get all Bomb Threat Data (use the bomb threat checklist if you have one when you receive a call)
• Write down as much information as you can, including characteristics of the callers voice, background noises, and specific language
• Collect all belongings
• Exit in direction given by instructor/evacuation director
• DO NOT RUN!
• Use stairs only
• Evacuate to designated area (See evacuation map)
• Report to Instructor/Evacuation Director upon arriving at designated evacuation site.

Attempt to get the following information

• Where is the bomb?
• When will it explode?
• What kind of bomb is it?
• What does it look like?
• Why did the caller place it?

If you receive a bomb threat alert

• Collect all belongings 
• Exit in direction given by instructor/office leader
• DO NOT RUN!
• Use stairs only
• Evacuate to designated area (see evacuation map)
• Report to instructor/evacuation director upon arriving at designated evacuation site

Know the location of your primary and alternate emergency exits, and the routes you would take to reach these exits in an emergency. Stay together. It is important that staff, faculty and students stay together during an emergency. This will help Emergency Response personnel determine if everyone has been safely evacuated.

When evacuation alarm sounds:

• Take all immediate belongings including your coat and keys, and evacuate the building.
• Stay at least 200 feet from the building
• Stay with the group you were with prior to evacuation, if possible.

Emergency Evacuation Coordinators

Emergency evacuation coordinators are college employees who are specifically trained to facilitate an evacuation. They can be identified by the reflective vests they wear during an emergency. They will ensure an organized evacuation and guide building occupants to designated areas throughout the campus. They will also coordinate with campus safety for the purposes of accountability and disseminating information.

Report it

immediately report any incidents on campus that may constitute a crime, student code of conduct violation, physical injury or an emergency -- including threats, harassment or family violence -- so they may be dealt with in a timely and consistent manner.

To report in-progress crimes, fires or medical emergencies, please dial 911 from any college telephone, and then contact Campus Safety at:

Fort Steilacoom Campus Safety

Building: Cascade (CAS)
Room: C311
Phone: 253-964-6751

Puyallup Campus Safety

Building: Gaspard (ADM)
Room:  A117
Phone: 253-840-8481

Emergency Call Boxes are located throughout the college campuses and are connected directly to Campus Safety.

Reporting Resources

• Accident Reporting Form

In the event of an earthquake:

• Keep calm and remain where you are unless you are: in a stairway, an elevator, or on walkways close to and under buildings. Seek shelter away from these areas. 
• DROP to the floor. If you are indoors, stay indoors.
• COVER your head. Take shelter under your desk, or a table, or near an inside wall, a corner, or around building columns. Stay away from windows, glass walls, or outside doors.
• HOLD on to the furniture and be prepared to move with it.
• If you are outdoors, find a clear spot and stay there until after the quake subsides. 
• Go to one of the college parking lots and wait it out.  Stay away from streetlights and power lines.  
• Do not attempt to enter or leave a building during the quake. The emergency team will advise when it is safe to enter or exit a building.
• Remain in sheltered or safe areas until you are advised it is safe to do otherwise.
• Assemble at predetermined areas so that a head count can be taken.

Post-Earthquake Actions

After the initial earthquake shock, there may be “aftershocks". After- shocks are less intense than the initial shock, but may cause additional damage.

• After the initial shock, evaluate the situation. An effort should be made to notify Campus Safety of serious hazards or injuries. The injured should be attended to and protected from exposure. 
• First aid kits are located throughout the campuses.
• Depending on the degree of the earthquake, it may be necessary to evacuate the building(s) (see evacuation annex).
• Elevators should not be used during a fire/earthquake or after an earthquake due to possible damage.
• Assist persons with injuries and those with disabilities in exiting the building(s). Specific instructions are listed under this manuals Building Evacuation annex. 
• It is anticipated that the phone system will be overloaded and busy for a minimum of four hours after the quake.

If you smell smoke, see a fire, or hear a fire alarm

1. Activate nearest fire alarm pull station
2. Call 911
3.  Call Campus Safety
   • Fort Steilacoom: 253-964-6225
   • Puyallup: 253-864-3360
4. Immediately evacuate the building. Always use the stairs. Never use elevators during a fire. Help individuals requiring assistance in evacuating.

Before opening doors:

Before opening doors, check for heat.

If the door is cool:

• Open the door carefully and proceed to the nearest exit.
• Close doors behind you and leave lights on.
• If there is light smoke, stay low and cover your face with a cloth (shirt, blouse, etc.) to filter out particulates.

If the door is hot, do not open it:

• Seek another exit.
• If you are on the ground floor, try to exit through a window.
• If you are trapped in a room on an upper floor:
• Dial 911 to report your building, floor, room number, and the number of people with you.
• Prevent smoke from entering the room. If available, place wet towels or cloth material at the bottom of the door and cover any vents.
• If the room begins to fill with smoke, you can open the window slightly. Never break the window because this might cause a chimney effect and help spread the fire.

Assist the physically impaired as needed:

• Offer to guide the visually impaired.
• Instruct the hearing impaired to evacuate with you. If you encounter a wheelchair-bound person, assist them to a refuge point and instruct them -to wait for Fire Department assistance.
• Call 911 to report your building, floor, and location of the person needing evacuation.
• The first choice for a refuge point would be a widened stairway landing that will accommodate a wheelchair without impeding patrons as they exit.
• If no stairway refuge exists, then have them remain in a room with a window.
• Make every attempt to ensure they have a phone or cell phone available.
• Make note of the individual’s exact location and continue to evacuate the building.

After you evacuate

After you safely evacuate from the building, report to your designated assembly area. Report to your supervisor, instructor, Emergency Evacuation Coordinator, or, a Campus Safety officer contact and report:

• The location of anyone who could not be evacuated.
• The location and phone number of any mobility-impaired person you assisted.
• Any problems you witnessed while exiting the building, such as hallways/stairs filling with smoke or being blocked by fire.
• Do not go back into the building until the Fire Department or Campus Safety indicates that it is safe to do so.

In the case of hazardous spills or leaks:

• Remove yourself from the area, and keep others away. Do not walk into or touch any of the spilled substance. try not to inhale gas, fumes, and smoke. If possible, cover mouth with a cloth while leaving the area. Stay away from the accident victims until the hazardous material has been identified. Try to stay upstream, uphill and upwind of the accident.
• Notify Pierce College Central Dispatch at 253-444-0325 immediately on or off campus. Provide dispatcher with information about the spill:

• • Exact location of a spill or leak, including rom number
  • How much material is involved
  • How much was spilled
  • The area contaminated
  • Appearance of material
  • Any injuries or effect on people exposed
  • Other relevant information 

• Leave immediate area but nearby to direct emergency personnel to the affected area.
• Advise others to stay out of the immediate area.
• Assist with obtaining information about the material: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), constituents, common use.

Assisting hazardous materials accident victims:

• Don't try to care for the victims of a hazardous materials accident until the substance has been identified and authorities indicate it is safe to go near victims. After that point you can move victims to fresh air and call for emergency medical care.
• Remove contaminated clothing and shoes and place them in a plastic bag.
• Cleanse victims who have come into contact with chemicals by immediately pouring water over the skin or eyes for at least 15 minutes, unless authorities instruct you not to use water on the particular chemical involved.

Power Outage

Contact Campus Safety immediately if there is a power outage at any campus building location. This will help us determine the extent of the problem.

If a power outage leaves you in the dark, stay put. Emergency lighting will come on within a minute if power is not immediately restored. Emergency lighting is not designed to allow normal activities to continue.

If it is safe, there is no reason to leave your area. Otherwise, move to an area of the building that has natural or emergency lighting.

Campus Safety personnel will direct you to areas that should have emergency lighting such as foyers, main corridors and the cafeteria.

Elevator Malfunction

Elevator malfunctions are generally not life threatening unless they were caused by a disaster, such as a fire or an earthquake. However, they can be emotionally traumatic to those trapped inside. Most elevators on campus are equipped with a landline phone, which is monitored 24 hours a day, and can be used by occupants to call for help.

If you come across a passenger(s) who has been trapped in an elevator, reassure them that help is on the way.

Notify Campus Safety immediately and provide the following information:

• Your name
• Location of the malfunctioning elevator
• A brief description of the problem or situation

If Campus Safety is not available, call 911.

Severe Thunderstorm

Severe thunderstorms can produce a tornados, strong winds, and large hail.

Before a thunderstorm do the following:

• Help people with access and functional needs to a safe place
• Stay indoors, do not exit the building or use elevators
• Remain calm and alert
• Listen for information and instructions from emergency personnel.

During thunderstorm do the following:

Indoors

• Stay indoors. Do not exit buildings or use elevators. You could be trapped in an elevator if power is lost. Locate an interior room.
• Go directly to an enclosed windowless area in the center of the building. Corners or building support columns are best. Avoid middle of interior walls.
• Stay away from all windows and large glass objects.
• Crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly.
• Avoid being underneath heavier objects such as lights, wall hangings and other items, which may fall.
• Remain inside until storm has passed or you are cleared to leave.
• Do not use matches or lighters in case of leaking natural gas pipes or nearby fuel tanks.
• Help direct people with access and functional needs to a safe place, if necessary.

Outdoors

• Move away from trees, buildings, walls and power lines.
• Seek the lowest possible ground (i.e., ditch or small trench). Lie flat in a ditch or low-lying if it's the only area available. Never enter an open trench where a cave in or flooding may be possible.
• Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them. They may be live. Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking gas pipes or fuel tanks.
• Remain in position until noise and high winds have stopped.
• Do not enter any building that is deemed or looks unsafe

Lightning

• Seek protective shelter immediately.
• If outdoors, do not stand underneath tall isolated objects. Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. Avoid open areas, and seek low areas such as a ravine or valley.
• Get off or away from open water as well as metal equipment or small metal vehicles (motorcycles, bicycles, gold carts, etc.) Stay away from wire fences, clothesline, metal pipes and rails. If you are in a group in the open, spread out, keeping people several yards apart.
• Remember lightning may strike many miles from the parent cloud. If you feel your hair stand on end, lightning may be about to strike you. Drop to your knees and bend forward putting your hands on your knees. Do not lie flat on the ground.

Hail

• Seek protective shelter immediately.
• Remain indoors or under protective shelter until hail has stopped, usually 5-10 minutes.

What It Means To Shelter-in-Place 

If an incident occurs and the buildings or areas around you become unstable, or if the air outdoors becomes dangerous due to toxic or irritating substances, it is usually safer to stay indoors, because leaving the area may expose you to that danger. Thus, to shelter-in-place means to make a shelter of the building that you are in, and with a few adjustments this location can be made even safer and more comfortable until it is safe to go outside.

Basic Shelter-in-Place Guidance

If an incident occurs and the building you are in is not damaged, stay inside. Find an interior room and stay there until you are told it is safe to come out. If your building is damaged, take your personal belongings (purse, wallet, etc.) and follow the evacuation procedures for your building (close your door, proceed to the nearest exit, and use the stairs instead of the elevators). Once you have evacuated, seek shelter at the nearest safe College building quickly. If police or fire department personnel are on the scene, follow their directions.

How You Will Know To Shelter-in-Place

A shelter-in-place notification may come from several sources, including Campus Safety, local Police or Fire Department, other College employees, other State or local authorities, or other authorities utilizing the College's emergency communications tools.

How to Shelter-in-Place

No matter where you are, the basic steps of shelter-in-place will generally remain the same. Should the need ever arise, follow these steps unless instructed otherwise by local emergency personnel:

• If you are inside, stay where you are. Collect any emergency shelter-in-place supplies and a telephone to be used in case of emergency. If you are outdoors, proceed into the closest building quickly or follow instructions from emergency personnel on the scene.
• Locate a room to shelter inside. It should be:
  • An interior room
  • Above ground level
  • Without windows, or with the least number of windows. If there is a large group of people inside a particular building, several rooms may be necessary.
• Shut and lock all windows (tighter seal) and close exterior doors.
• Turn off air conditioners, heaters and fans and close vents to ventilation systems as you are able. (College staff will turn off ventilation as quickly as possible.)
• Make a list of the people with you and ask someone to call the list in to Pierce College Campus Safety so they know where you are sheltering. If only students are present, one of the students should call in the list.
• Turn on a radio or TV and listen for further instructions.

If we are affected by volcanic ash, stay inside and shelter in place. The air will be easier to breathe inside than outside where the contamination from volcanic ash will be greater. Close doors for the duration of the emergency to limit the spread of ash.