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Different emergencies require different evacuation strategies. This site contains evacuation directions for most emergencies. When evacuation is not indicated for the emergencies described here or by obvious circumstances, you should stay where you are until given direction by emergency personnel. The unpredictable nature of emergency situations requires quick action and clear thinking to avoid injury. The decision to evacuate is based on factors that give you the best chance of remaining safe and avoid putting yourself in a more harmful situation.

When to evacuate*

1. Anytime you hear the fire alarm bells in your building.
2. If you smell smoke or know an actual fire is burning.
3. When instructed to do so by the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ police dispatcher, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ police officer, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ facilities representative, or local police, fire/EMS personnel.

When not to evacuate (shelter-in-place)**

1. When a tornado warning is sounded (find appropriate shelter within your building).
2. During a hostage/barricade situation.
3. During a power failure.
4. When instructed to not evacuate by the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ police dispatcher, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ police officer, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ facilities representative, or local police, fire/EMS personnel.

What to do if you must evacuate

1. Listen carefully to instructions of emergency personnel.
2. Remain calm.
3. Close your office door as you leave.
4. Do not try to gather materials on the way out, leave quickly.
5. Keep talking to a minimum.
6. Exit via stairwells, not elevators.
7. No smoking.
8. Alert emergency personnel of any disabled persons who need assistance.

*      Certain circumstances may prevent safe evacuation. If this happens, move away from the danger and find shelter in an area with a window to allow rescue. Try to notify rescuers of your location.
**    These situations require you to stay put initially. Emergency personnel will let you know when it is safe to evacuate.

Campus Evacuation

An emergency that dictates the evacuation of the entire University will be handled in conjunction with the emergency procedures of Cuyahoga County, the City of University Heights, and surrounding communities. In the unlikely event that a campus evacuation is necessary, you will be directed to leave the University in the following manner.

If you drive to campus:

1. Take your normal route to your vehicle.
2. Leave the campus area via these suggested routes:
   1. Belvoir to Fairmount Boulevard east
   2. Belvoir to Cedar Road east
   3. Fairmount Circle to Warrensville Center Road south

Exit to Carroll Boulevard, Miramar Boulevard, and East Washington Boulevard may be available through the emergency gates.

Evacuation procedures for Cuyahoga County direct traffic away from Cleveland, so all major routes from downtown will be eastbound only. Police may direct traffic in other ways dependent on circumstances.

If you take public transportation or reside on campus:

1. Go to the nearest RTA station to take a bus or rapid away from the area. RTA/mass transit will be on a rush hour status unless circumstances prohibit mass transit operations.
2. If mass transit is not available, go to the Intramural Gym in the RecPlex and await further instructions.

Building/Area Evacuation

Certain emergencies may affect a specific building or area of campus. In this case, persons in those buildings/areas will be evacuated to a predetermined site nearby as listed in the building evacuation plan. Depending on circumstances, emergency personnel may need to direct you to a secondary evacuation site. The evacuation shelter sites are listed below.

Shelter-in-place

An incident may occur which dictates that you remain inside a building during an emergency. A decision to shelter-in-place may or may not be obvious based on information known to you at the time. Your decision to shelter-in-place may come from first responders’ instructions, or may initially be made on your own. This decision should be made based on what gives you the best chance of remaining safe and avoiding putting yourself in a more harmful situation.

Factors to consider when deciding whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place include:

• Where is the threat now and where is it likely to go?
• Where will I be safest now and in the near future?
• Will I be more likely to get help for myself and others by evacuating or staying in place?
• Does this space provide adequate safe shelter for the emergency at hand, i.e. locking door, place to take cover/hide, availability of more than one exit, windows to allow alerting or rescue, phone/internet/email?

When to shelter-in-place

1. When a tornado warning is sounded (find appropriate shelter within the building).
2. During a hostage/barricade situation.
3. During a power failure.
4. If you cannot leave due to being trapped by a fire or hazardous materials release.
5. Any other situation where it is apparent that leaving will put you in a potentially more harmful situation than staying in place.
6. When instructed to do so by University or local first responders/emergency personnel.

When not to shelter-in-place

1. Anytime you hear a fire alarm bell/horn sounding.
2. If you smell smoke or know there is an actual fire or hazardous material release, and you have a safe evacuation route away from danger.
3. Any other situation where it is apparent that staying in place will put you in a potentially more harmful situation than leaving.
4. When instructed to do so by University or local first responders/emergency personnel.

What to do if you must shelter-in-place

1. If it is safe to do so, move to an area farthest away from the incident/hazard.
2. As soon as possible, if it is safe to do so, notify emergency responders (216.397.1234 on campus or 9.1.1) and keep responders informed of changes in your situation.
3. Be aware of your surroundings and be ready to move quickly if needed.
4. In case of hostile intruder, lock doors and plan for a secondary escape route.
5. Leave only if told to do so by responders, or the situation changes requiring evacuation. Notify responders if you must evacuate before being told to do so.