Emergency Evacuation

Building Evacuations

Responsibilities of All Faculty, Staff, and Students

• Learn locations of exit routes, exit stairwells and areas of refuge in any buildings you routinely use (areas of refuge are the landings located in a stairwell)
• Know how to activate the fire alarm system
• Participate in all fire drills - Take them seriously and treat every alarm as an actual emergency
• Learn in advance the needs of anyone for whom you are responsible that may need assistance during an emergency
• Know where the pre-designated rally and assembly points are located
• Know emergency phone numbers and keep them posted
• If you are the first to notice an emergency, notify campus police at ext. 5911 or call 911 if you are off campus

Evacuation Procedures

1. Building evacuations will occur when announced over the campus emergency warning system and/or upon notification by campus police.
2. When the building evacuation alarm is activated during an emergency, leave by the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same. Do not use the elevator in cases of fire and/or earthquake! Use the stairs. In the event of a fire alarm, all elevators are designed to recall to a predetermined floor and allow for exit.
3. When evacuating your building or work area:
   1. Stay calm; do not rush and do not panic
   2. Safely stop your work If there is time, turn off personal computers to protect university data from possible damage and other critical devices or equipment.
   3. Gather your personal belongings if it is safe to do so. (Reminder: take prescription medications out with you if at all possible; it may be hours before you are allowed back in the building)
   4. If safe to do so, close your office door and window, but do not lock them.  The last person to leave an office, classroom, or lab will close and lock the door behind them.
   5. Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit
   6. Be alert for individuals with disabilities or injuries who may need assistance. However, under no circumstances should an individual risk or jeopardize his/her personal safety in an attempt to rescue another person.
4. Once outside proceed to the “Rally Point” for the affected building and wait for further instructions.  Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrant areas and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel. Important: Wait for further instructions from emergency responders. Do not reoccupy the building until directed to do so.
5. Upon notification by responding external public agencies that the emergency is contained and that any evacuated buildings are suitable for re-occupancy, Campus Police, in consultation with appropriate authorities, shall determine when occupants will be allowed to re-enter those buildings. Appropriate authorities may include, but not be limited to, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Campus Services, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, and a representative from Residence Life & Housing, or their designees. Occupants shall not be allowed to re-enter a building where there is visible smoke; in such situations, the fire department and/or Facilities will be requested to ventilate the structure prior to re- occupancy.

For more information please view our General Campus Evacuation Guide and Rally Point Maps.

Campus Evacuations:

1. Evacuation of all or part of the campus grounds will be announced by the Loyola Emergency Notification System (LENS) and/or Campus Police officials, as described.
2. All persons (students, faculty and staff) are to immediately vacate the site in question and relocate to another part of the campus grounds or as directed.