MSU Emergency Response Guidelines

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Communication in an Emergency
Safety instructions for students, faculty and staff will be made available to the campus community through e-mail, text messaging, phone, the Minot State Web site, and local media. The NotiFind System will be used by MSU to contact faculty, staff and students in the event of an emergency. The Office of Public Information is the only office authorized to give official information about emergencies to the campus and community. If you receive phone calls regarding an emergency situation, direct the media to Public Information.

Emergency Phone List
You can reach the Minot Police, at 911, directly from a university phone without having to dial 9 for an outside line first. Be prepared to give your location, name and problem.

• Police: 911 or 852-0111
• Public Information Office: 858-3298
• Plant Services: 858-3210
• Plant Services After Hours: 858-3567
• Campus Switchboard: 858-3000

General Evacuation Tips
To be prepared for an emergency, you should:

1. Know at least two ways out of the building.
2. Know the predetermined meeting location foryour unit.

When you hear the alarm or are verbally instructed to begin evacuating the building:

1. Try to make sure all members of your department evacuate the area by quickly checking nearby restrooms, storage rooms, etc. as you exit.
2. Use the nearest stairway, not the elevator.
3. Accompany and assist those with disabilities.
4. Shut all doors behind you as you go.
5. Evacuate as quickly as possible but in an orderly manner. Do not push or shove.
6. Once outside, move at least 100 feet from the building or follow the instructions of emergency personnel on the scene. Stay away from building entrances.

Explosion

1. Evacuate the building if the fire alarm sounds or if you are directed to do so.
2. Call police at 911.
3. Be prepared for possible further explosions.

If you are unable to evacuate:

1. Crawl under a table or desk.
2. Stay away from windows, mirrors, filing cabinets, bookcases and electrical equipment.
3. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in obvious immediate danger.
4. Feel doors for heat before opening.
5. Watch for falling objects.
6. Accompany and assist those with disabilities.
7. Do not use matches or lighters.
8. Limit use of the telephone.

Flooding and Water Damage

1. Call Physical Plant at 6-3210, or after hours 858-3567, immediately. Report the exact location and severity of the leak.
2. If there is any possible danger, evacuate the area.
3. If you know the source of the water and are confident of your ability to stop it (i.e., unclog the drain, turn off the water, etc.), do so.
4. Be prepared to assist as directed in protecting objects that are in jeopardy.

Fire

1. If a burning odor or smoke is present, pull a fire alarm and call emergency services (911).
2. If possible, shut off gas in your area.
3. If you are trained or capable to help control the fire, use an available fire extinguisher or fire hose. If not, leave the area.
4. Leave the building, checking as you leave to make sure everyone has left the immediate area. Close doors behind you.

Evacuation Process for Fire Alarms

1. Try to make sure all members of your department hear the alarm and evacuate the area.
2. Use the nearest stairway, not the elevator.
3. Accompany and assist those with disabilities.
4. Shut all doors behind you as you go.
5. Evacuate as quickly as possible but in an orderly manner. Do not push or shove.
6. Once outside, move at least 100 feet from the building.
7. Return to the building when given the "all clear" by police or other emergency personnel.

Hazardous Material Spill
A hazardous material spill is a spill in which there is a significant amount of a hazardous material released or one in which the release of the substance cannot be controlled. Examples could include more than one gallon of bleach, more than 100 ml of sulfuric acid, more than one gallon of gasoline, and any quantity of mercury. Examples of infectious materials include blood and other body fluids.

If the hazardous material comes in contact with your skin, immediately flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention.

1. Call emergency services at 911.
2. Stop the source of the hazardous material if possible.
3. Evacuate the immediate area.
4. Unless trained, DO NOT attempt to clean up the spill yourself.
5. Be available to emergency personnel to supply information to aid in clean-up.
6. Provide the following information:
• Where, specifically, has the hazardous material spill occurred?
• Has there been a fire and/or explosion?
• Are there any injuries?
• What material has been spilled?
• What is the state of the material (i.e., solid, liquid, gas, combination)?
• Is any of the hazardous material escaping from the spill location in the form of chemical vapors/fumes or running or dripping liquid?

Infectious Material Spill Response

1. If infectious material gets on your skin, immediately wash with soap and water.
2. Unless trained, DO NOT attempt to clean up the spill yourself.
3. Contact Plant Services until 4:30 p.m. or police after hours. Be available to responding environmental health and safety personnel to supply information to aid in clean up.

Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm
A tornado watch means that weather conditions are favorable for a tornado. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted in the area. NotiFind will be activated to provide instructions in a tornado warning.

If a tornado warning has been issued and you are inside:

1. Stay inside.
2. Stay away from outside walls, windows, mirrors, glass and unsecured objects such as filing cabinets or bookcases.
3. If possible, move to a below ground level floor, interior corridor, or room or office without windows. Crouch low with your hands covering the back of your head and neck.
4. Do not use elevators.
5. Assist those with disabilities to a safe area on the same floor.
6. Continue to monitor the weather via radio or television until the warning has been lifted.

If a tornado warning has been issued and you are outside:

1. If you are in a car, get out of it.
2. Never try to out run a tornado.
3. Look for a safe structure nearby for shelter.
4. If there is no shelter, lie down flat in a low area such as a ditch away from trees with your hands covering the back of your head and neck.

Violence in the Workplace/Armed Assailant

1. Do whatever you can reasonably do to protect yourself and others.
2. Contact a supervisor or co-worker.
3. Leave the area immediately, if possible. If this is not possible, find a place to hide-out and try to lock yourself in a secure area and barricade the door.
4. Dial 911, give police as many details as possible. Help others, if possible.
5. Only as a last resort should you engage the perpetrator.

Bomb Threat
If you receive a telephone bomb threat:

1. Listen carefully. Be polite and show interest.
2. Try to keep the caller talking so you can gather more information about the device, the validity of the threat or the identity of the caller. Listen for background noises.
3. Note the phone number of the caller if your telephone has a display.
4. Gather as much information as possible. Use the Bomb Threat Checklist to question the caller in a non-threatening manner.
5. After the call, immediately notify the police. Then complete the checklist and notify your supervisor.
6. Remain available to answer questions.
7. Do not evacuate unless told to do so.

Bomb Threat Checklist
Questions to ask:

1. When is the bomb going to explode?
2. Where is it right now?
3. What does it look like?
4. What kind of bomb is it?
5. What will cause it to explode?
6. Did you place the bomb?
7. Why?
8. What is your address?
9. What is your name?

Write down the exact wording of the threat.

Is the caller’s voice:
_____Calm     _____Angry    _____Excited    _____Slow     _____Rapid
_____Soft     _____Loud     _____Laughter   _____Crying   _____Normal
_____Slurred  _____Distinct _____Disguised  _____Accent   _____Familiar
_____Deep     _____Nasal    _____Stutter    _____Lisp
_____Raspy    _____Ragged   _____Clearing Throat
_____Deep Breathing         _____Cracking voice

Does the threat language indicate:
_____Well spoken _____Educated   _____Foul  _____Irrational
_____Incoherent  _____Taped      _____Message read by threat maker

Are there background sounds like:
_____Street noises     _____House noises    _____PA System
_____Music             _____Static          _____Office machinery
_____Factory Machinery _____Animal Noises   _____Phone Booth
_____Voices            _____Local           _____Long Distance

Other:
Sex of caller: _____________________________________
Race/nationality of caller: ________________________
Age of caller: _____________________________________
Length of call: ____________________________________
Time of call: ______________________________________
If the voice is familiar, who did it sound like?

Give responding officers all the information you have gathered about the call
including the following details:
Date: ______________________________________________
Job Title: _________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________
Department name: ___________________________________
Phone number: ______________________________________

Suspicious Object
A suspicious object is any package, parcel, container or other object that is suspected of being an explosive device because it is out of place or unusual for that location and cannot be accounted for, or because a threat has been received.

If you find a suspicious object:

1. Do not touch the object.
2. Move people away from the object.
3. Do not use a portable radio or cell phone.
4. Immediately notify the police (911).
5. Follow police instructions precisely.
6. Do not attempt to evacuate the building without the authorization or assistance of emergency personnel. Emergency guidelines caution against automatic evacuation. In most cases, people are likely to be more secure in their offices or classrooms than in hallways that have not been searched or outdoors where an actual threat may be even more likely to exist.

Suspicious Mail or Package

Characteristics of a Suspicious Letter or Package:
Some typical characteristics, which in combination may trigger suspicion, are:

1. Restricted markings such as "personal" or "special delivery."
2. No return address or one that cannot be verified as legitimate.
3. A city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address.
4. Unusual weight based on size.
5. Lopsided or oddly shaped, strange odors, oily stains, crystallization, protruding wires, rigid or bulky, excessive tape or string.

If you open a package containing suspicious material or alleged to contain suspicious material:

1. Set it down where you are. Do not move the contaminated material. If any material spills out of the package, do not try to clean it up and do not brush off your clothes as this could disperse the material into the air.
2. Close the door to the area where the suspicious parcel was opened and do not allow others to enter the area.
3. Call police at 911.
4. Stay at the scene to answer questions from police and environmental health and safety personnel. If anyone enters the closed area in which the suspicious letter or package, that person should also stay at the scene.

Demonstration/Disturbance
Not all demonstrations are unlawful. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that certain activity is protected. However, any demonstration on university property that interferes with the educational process or in which violence, property damage, or other unlawful behavior occurs is unlawful.

If a disturbance appears to threaten the safety of faculty, staff or students:

1. Immediately call police.
2. Lock doors as possible and appropriate to isolate the disturbance.
3. Take steps to protect your own safety and the safety of other faculty, staff and students.
4. Encourage people to leave the area.

Hostage Situation
If you are involved in a hostage situation:

1. Notify the police, if possible, and supply as many details as possible including number of persons involved, description of hostage takers, weapons displayed, threats, etc.
2. Do what you are told without argument.
3. Do not attempt to negotiate or argue with the hostage taker.
4. Try to get others to remain calm. Tell them to do what they are told.

Medical Emergency

1. Notify the police (911). Provide details on the location of the ill or injured person.
2. Unless trained, render any first aid to the best of your abilities until assistance arrives.
3. Do not attempt to move a fallen individual.
4. Attempt to obtain the following information from the ill or injured person: their name, a description of symptoms, allergies or medications they may have and any major medical history.
5. Remain at the scene after emergency personnel have arrived to provide information.

If someone has been poisoned:

1. 1. If the person has collapsed, is not breathing, or is having seizures, notify the police (911).
2. Dial 1-800-222-1222 to reach the Poison Control Center.

Power Outage

1. Keep a flashlight in your area.
2. Call Plant Services.
3. Provide assistance to others who may be unfamiliar with the space.
4. If you are in an unlit area, proceed cautiously to an area that has emergency lights.
5. If you are in an elevator, stay calm. Use the emergency button or telephone.