How We Manage Emergencies

The standard operating procedures described below serve to guide CUA faculty, staff and students in the event of an emergency. Should a disaster or other emergency occur, the Department of Public Safety will take proper and timely action to protect the health and welfare of all members of the campus community and to protect university property against destruction, vandalism and violence. For these actions to be most effective, active support of them by all members of the campus community is essential. The Catholic University of America Emergency Response Plan (CUA/ERP) operates under an all-hazards approach. This flexible approach makes it possible to adapt the plan to all types of emergencies. The plan follows the Emergency Support Function (ESF) model, which identifies and defines the essential functions needed to support the university community in the event of an emergency or disaster. This model is the same one used in the National Response Plan, the District Response Plan and the Regional Emergency Coordination Plan.

Emergency response guidelines:

• How we communicate during emergencies
• Evacuation 
• Shelter-in-place 
• Active Shooter
• Fire
• Bomb threat
• Faculty and Staff Responsibilities

During university emergencies the Department of Public Safety provides for the safety of students, staff, faculty and visitors as well as the security of property. In the event of an emergency, survival is your top priority. There are two basic types of responses...they are described below.

How We Communicate during Emergencies Depending on the type and level of emergency, the CUA community will be alerted in several ways: E-mail and listservs Broadcast voicemail messages Building watch captains,resident assistants, and area coordinators CUA Web pages (http://www.cua.edu) or Safety First Web page (http://www.cua.edu/safety/ Alert CUA thru the “Alert DC” system, a service through the District of Columbia that allows subscribers to receive “urgent” text message notifications to their e-mail, cell phone, blackberry, or other wireless devices. (https://textalert.ema.dc.gov) Fire Alarms Audible public announcements broadcast via public safety vehicles Voice announcements via public safety foot patrol officers District of Columbia Emergency Notifications: If an emergency occurs which may impact the entire city, the Mayor may declare a state of emergency. The District of Columbia will broadcast over local radio and television whether evacuation or sheltering in place is in effect. Immediately report suspicious persons and activity to the police: CUA Campus Police: X5111 Police, Fire, Ambulance: 911

1.Evacuation For an emergency that would be dangerous to your life and health if you were to stay in your building. Be prepared: Before an emergency happens, find at least two emergency exits from your building. Sound the fire alarm in event of fire. For other evacuation emergencies, call the Department of Public Safety at x5111. Exit the building from the closest available exit. Don’t use the elevator. If you can’t get out the door, get someone’s attention, e.g., yell and scream out a window. If you can, hang an attention-getting item on or from a window (e.g., a sheet, sign or coat) and phone x5111. 2. Shelter-in-Place For an emergency that would put you in danger if you were to leave your building. Stay calm and do not panic. Stay inside unless a fire alarm sounds or you have been instructed to leave by a CUA official. For news bulletins, monitor this CUA Web page, e-mail and voice mail, mobile devices for “Urgent Alerts” and turn on the radio or TV. If you are outside, seek shelter inside a building – do not remain outside. Follow building-specific instructions from your resident assistant or the building watch captain. Wait for further instructions from a CUA official (Unless the building you are in is affected by the incident, shelter-in-place is advised in most situations.)

Emergency Response Guidelines The following guidelines are intended to reduce your personal risk in the unlikely event that an emergency incident should occur on campus.

In the event of an active shooter whereby someone has entered the area and started shooting, the following are a list of recommended actions: Exit the building immediately. Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately. Notify the police by calling 911 and CUA DPS at 202-319-5111. Give the 911 Operator the following information: Your name Location of the incident (be as specific as possible) Number of shooters (if known) Identification of shooter (if known) Number of persons who may be involved Your location (Individuals not immediately impacted by the situation should take protective cover within their shelter-in-place location, staying away from windows and doors until notified otherwise.)

In the event of an active shooter whereby you are directly involved and exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended: Go to the nearest room or office. Close the door, lock it if possible. Cover the door windows. Keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room. DO NOT answer the door. Notify the police at 911 and CUA puvlic safety at 202-319-5111. Give the 911 Operator the following information: Your name Your location (be as specific as possible) Number of shooters (if known) Identification of shooter (if known) Number of persons who may be involved Wait for the Police to assist you out of the building.

In the event of a fire: Sound the fire alarm. Feel the door handle: If it is hot, don’t open it. Go to a window and call for help. If it is not hot, open cautiously. Check for smoke or fire before leaving. If there is smoke in your room or in the hallway while you are getting out, STAY LOW to the floor. If you have a disability and cannot exit a building safely, go to the nearest exit or preferred area of safe refuge (e.g., stairwell) to await the arrival of emergency personnel. Once outside: Call the Department of Public Safety (202-319-5111) from a safe location.

In the event of a bomb threat: Take bomb threats seriously If you have received a bomb threat: Stay calm and keep your voice calm. Pay close attention to details. Talk to the caller to obtain as much information as possible. Take notes. Write down other data: Date and time of call or written threat was received. How threat was received (letter, note, telephone) Call the Department of Public Safety at X5111. Submit your notes from the telephone call or the bomb threat (letter or note) to public safety. Follow the university officials’ instructions.

Faculty and Staff Responsibilities CUA faculty and staff should immediately document and report incidents of aberrant, dangerous or threatening behavior to the Department of Public Safety, Office of the Dean of Students and/or the Counseling Center.  Reporting recommendations may be found at: http://counseling.cua.edu/resources/slresources.cfm