Crisis Response

Bryn Athyn College Doering Science Center lobby with lots of natural light through a glass wall

Crisis Response

The Bryn Athyn College Crisis Plan outlines protocols, information, and appropriate steps for responding to crises on campus. There are many levels or categories of emergencies, each of which requires an appropriate level of response from responders within and outside the college community. We define three categories of crises below, realizing that every crisis is unique and will require both an orderly well-rehearsed response as well as careful assessment to determine appropriate adjustments to the plan. Many problems do not rise to level of needing coordinated crisis management. In these cases, problems will be handled by established policy within the affected area.

Categories of Crises

  1. Isolated incident: Local issue, doesn’t trigger committee (Ex: fire alarm, suicide attempt)
  2. Campus-wide incident: Triggers committee
  3. Regional incident: Engages surrounding communities, broader than committee can handle

Crisis Management Team

  • President
  • Dean of Students
  • Director of Public Safety
  • Assistant Director of Public Safety
  • Chief Academic Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Director of CPO
  • Chaplain
  • Communications Manager

Additional members, such as the Chemical Hygiene Officer, will be added to the management team, based on the nature of the crisis.

Crisis Response

The information provided are risk reduction strategies but they are not foolproof. There are no guarantees and nothing works all the time. We hope that these tips will be used by you as broad preparatory steps towards overall safety. While all scenarios cannot be covered, the following are generally helpful:

Call for Immediate Help

Make sure that the people needed to deal with the situation have been notified. This could include first responders (police, fire, ambulance), campus security, administration. Consider building access, possible relocation of students and staff, etc.

First responders will operate under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), using the Incident Command System (ICS). They will establish a command post and look for representatives from the College to serve as an information conduit. The NIMS and representatives from the College will work together to develop an Incident Action Plan.

Priorities Are:

  • Protection of Life
  • Protection of Property
  • Protection of Environment

Specific Crisis Response

An evacuation is implemented when conditions make it unsafe to remain in a building.

NOTE: The activation of a Fire Alarm, whether or not smoke/fire is present, signals the need for an evacuation.

An evacuation is considered an appropriate (but not exclusive) response to the following types of emergencies: Fire, Bomb Threat, Chemical Spill, and Earthquake.

Procedures

Announcement

  • Fire Alarm

  • Public Address System

Course of Action

  • Leave the building quickly and in an orderly manner. Do not use elevators.
  • Offer assistance to any persons who have difficulty leaving the building.
  • Gather nearby, at a safe distance from the building (500 feet).
  • Wait for First Responders, and provide any relevant information.
  • Notify First Responders if the whereabouts of any persons cannot be determined.
  • Remain outside the building until First Responders indicate that it is safe to re-enter.

Other Considerations

  • In the event of inclement weather, or if directed by Campus Safety or First Responders, move to a designated Primary Evacuation Site.
  • In the event that the Primary Evacuation Site cannot be used, move to a designated Secondary Evacuation Site.
  • In the event that the reason for evacuation indicates that re-entry will not occur for an extended period of time, the Crisis Management Team will decide on next steps.

Off-Site Evacuation

An off-site evacuation is implemented when it is unsafe to remain on the College campus.An off-site evacuation is considered an appropriate (but not exclusive) response to the following types of emergencies: Weather, Chemical Spill, Fire, Extended Power Outage, and Earthquake.

Announcement

  • Call-Em-All (phone or text option)
  • College website
  • Email
  • College Facebook page

Course of Action

  • A designated team member will notify all members of the College community via one or more of the announcement methods above.
  • All members of the College community should report to the Asplundh Field House for further instructions.

Evacuation Sites

BUILDING EVACUATION SITE
Primary Secondary Off-Site
Alden Cottage Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Brickman Center Doering Center MPAC Asplundh Field House
Brock Hall Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Childs Hall Grant Hall Brickman Center Asplundh Field House
Cooper Hall Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Doering Center Brickman Center MPAC Asplundh Field House
Gladish Hall Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Goodenough Hall Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Grant Hall Childs Hall Brickman Center Asplundh Field House
Gyllenhaal Cottage Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Hyatt Cottage Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
King Hall Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House
Pendleton Hall Doering Center MPAC Asplundh Field House
Swedenborg Library Brickman Center MPAC Asplundh Field House
Woodard Cottage Childs Hall Grant Hall Asplundh Field House

If an emergency situation arises (e.g., armed hostile intruder) that suggests LOCKOUT or LOCKDOWN procedures, DO NOT HESITATE.

LOCKOUT: Prevents unauthorized persons from entering the school. Commonly used when the threat is general or occurring off the property. Allows activities to continue as normal during the outside disruption.

      1. Secure exterior doors so they cannot be opened from the outside. Consider whether reopening doors for others may be hazardous to those inside.
        • Continue normal activities
        • Using 911 call center, report observations that may assist with locating fleeing suspects and further stabilize the incident
      2. If High Risk activity moves onto campus, proceed immediately to LOCKDOWN.

LOCKDOWN: Responds to an immediate threat, such as intruders. Minimizes access to the building and secures staff and students in rooms.

      • Secure the doors so they cannot be opened from the outside.
        • Do NOT sound fire alarm.
        • If outside, access a secure building; flee to a more secure location; or remain in place, under cover, until the immediate danger has passed, and then seek a secure location.
      • Proceed to the nearest room preferably with telephone and door lock. Lock or barricade door(s).
        • Turn off lights. Remain quiet, silence cell phones and pagers, and turn off radios and other electronics that might alert the intruder to your presence.
        • Conceal yourself as much as possible. Seek cover; crouch down out of sight from doors and windows. Do not huddle together in case the intruder makes entry into your area. Stay calm and make a plan of action, including the possibility of confronting the intruder if you have no other options.
      • Call 911 and provide as much information as possible regarding the current situation and the intruder.Curtail other telephone use so that systems are not overloaded and calls can reach emergency responders.
      • Should the fire alarm sound, do not evacuate the building unless there is a fire or instruction from emergency personnel.
      • Wait for further instructions from police or other emergency personnel. Do not open the door until emergency personnel declare all clear or direct an evacuation. Follow police instruction. Do not make any quick movements; show the police that you have no weapons in your hands.

Hostage Situation:

If you are taken hostage, conventional wisdom suggests that you:

  • Remain calm and be patient
  • Follow directions
  • Wait for the police to resolve the situation

General priorities for protecting yourself, unless another plan is in place:

  • Run
  • Hide
  • Fight

Upon Discovery of Fire

  1. Pull the fire alarm. This calls 9-1-1.
  2. Immediately evacuate the building using the primary or alternate fire routes.
  3. Call the Fire Department (9-1-1).
  4. Do not return to the building until the Fire Department declares that it is safe to do so.

Fire Safety

  1. Act quickly and decisively to prevent injuries and contain the fire.
  2. All doors leading to the fire should be closed. Do not re-enter the area for belongings.
  3. If the area is full of smoke, crawl along the floor, close to walls, which makes breathing easier and provides direction.
  4. Before opening any door, place a hand an inch from the door near the top to see if it is hot. Be prepared to close the door quickly at the first sign of fire.
  5. All fires, regardless of their size, require a call to the Fire Department to indicate that the “fire is out.”

IMPORTANT: All threats should be taken seriously and considered real.

Upon receiving a threat, notify Campus Security (267-502-2424) who will contact police. If Security is not available, contact the police (9-1-1).

  1. If the chemical involved in the spill is judged by the user, the Chemical Hygiene Officer, or any trained responder to be an immediate hazard, evacuation is to be absolute, and the area should be isolated until a HAZMAT team arrives.
  2. If there is no immediate danger, cleanup procedures listed on the MSDS should be followed. Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be used.
  3. If a major spill occurs (cannot be cleaned-up safely by yourself), cleanup shall be undertaken only by individuals who are trained in HAZMAT procedures.

Person who finds the deceased should contact Security (267-502-2424).

Earthquakes strike without warning. Fire alarms or sprinkler systems may be activated by the shaking. The effect of an earthquake from one building to another will vary. Elevators and stairways will need to be inspected for damage before they can be used. The major shock is usually followed by numerous aftershocks, which may last for weeks.The major threat of injury during an earthquake is from falling objects, glass shards and debris. Many injuries are sustained while entering or leaving buildings. Therefore, it is important to quickly move away from windows, free-standing partitions and shelves and take the best available cover under a sturdy desk or table, in a doorway or against an inside wall. All other actions must wait until the shaking stops. If persons are protected from falling objects, the rolling motion of the earth may be frightening but not necessarily dangerous.

During Event – Inside Building

  • Crouch low to the ground with your hands covering the back of your head and neck. Get under table or other sturdy furniture with back to windows. Move away from windows, bookshelves and heavy suspended light fixtures.
  • Check for injuries, and render First Aid.
  • After shaking stops, EVACUATE Avoid evacuation routes with heavy architectural ornaments over the entrances. Do not return to the building.
  • Inform responders of building occupancy.
  • Avoid touching electrical wires and keep a safe distance from any downed power lines.
  • Stay alert for aftershocks
  • Do NOT re-enter building until it is determined to be safe.

During Event – Outside Building

  • Move away from buildings, trees, overhead wires, and poles. Drop to knees, clasp both hands behind neck, bury face in arms, make body as small as possible, close eyes, and cover ears with forearms. Maintain position until shaking stops.
  • After shaking stops, check for injuries, and render first aid.
  • Inform responders of building occupancy.
  • Stay alert for aftershocks.
  • Keep a safe distance from any downed power lines
  • Do NOT re-enter building until it is determined to be safe.

The National Weather Service issues severe weather watches and warnings:

  • Watch: Conditions are favorable for the formation of a thunderstorm.
  • Warning: Storms have formed and may pose an imminent threat.

Severe Thunderstorm

  1. Campus Safety will monitor both “watch” and “warning” alerts.
  2. Campus Safety officers in the field will alert anyone who is outside.
  3. If instructed to do so by Campus Safety, Student Life personnel, or if weather conditions dictate, individuals who are inside should be prepared to move quickly to safe areas within their buildings (such as hallways or enclosed classrooms, away from windows).
  4. Individuals who are outside should immediately seek shelter in the safest nearby building or under structures that will provide safety, avoiding trees or structures that may collapse or attract lightning.
  5. Any injuries or damage resulting from the storm should be reported to Public Safety immediately.

Tornado

  1. Campus Safety will monitor both “watch” and “warning” alerts. However, personnel need to be aware that warning periods may be short.
  2. If a tornado warning has been issued and you are inside,
    • Stay inside.
    • Stay away from outside walls, windows, mirrors, glass, overhead fixtures, and unsecured objects such as filing cabinets and bookcases.
    • If possible, move to an interior corridor, room or office without windows and crouch low to the ground with your hands covering the back of your head and neck.
    • Do not use elevators.
    • Assist persons with disabilities to the safest area on the same floor.
    • Wait out the storm and expect the power to go off. Be alert to downed power lines and unstable structure.
    • Render aid to the injured and notify Campus Safety immediately of injuries and damage.
  3. If a tornado warning has been issued and you are outside,
    • Look for a nearby safe structure in which to seek shelter.
    • If you are in your car, get out of it; never try to outrun a tornado.
    • If there is no shelter, lie down flat in a low area such as ditch away from trees, power lines and poles, and cover the back of your head and neck with your hands.
    • Wait out the storm and expect the power to go off. Be alert to downed power lines and unstable structures.
    • Render aid to the injured and notify Campus Safety immediately of injuries and damage.

Winter Storm

  1. Campus Safety will monitor weather and road conditions and notify the president’s office of their status.
  2. Only the president or his/her designee shall have the authority to cancel classes or adjust the times at which they end or resume.
  3. If a decision is made to close the College, please see Unplanned School Closing procedure.

Flood

  1. Flooding on or near campus can result from hurricanes, major or multiple rainstorms, water main breaks, plumbing problems, or roof leaks. In the case of imminent, weather-related flooding, Campus Safety shall monitor both “watch” and “warning” alerts.
  2. If instructed to do so by campus Safety, individuals who are inside should quickly move to safe areas within their buildings, or evacuate buildings as instructed by Campus Safety. If it is safe to do so, secure vital equipment, records, chemicals, laboratory experiments, and electrical equipment prior to evacuation. Assist persons with disabilities.
  3. Once evacuated, avoid areas susceptible to flooding and seek shelter as necessary.