Residential Staff are trained to respond to fire and emergency situations. Should a resident smell smoke, hear or see fire immediately sound an alarm or otherwise alert authorities and vacate the building.
- Report fire to Campus Police and Security at 423.869.6911 or dial 911
- Provide your location (building and floor and room number)
- State the type of emergency (fire pull station, smoke detector, unknown)
- Remain calm
- Staff should proceed to help evacuate the building and wait for the proper authorities
- Staff should never silence an alarm
- Once outside the building, please restrain residents from re-entering unless approved by Fire Chief or Campus Police and Security
Fire Alarm and Drill Report
Each semester, every dormitory shall practice fire alarm drills at the beginning of each semester and randomly throughout the semester. Fire alarm drills are to be taken seriously and procedures followed as if it were an actual emergency. Residential Life Staff are trained at the beginning of the semester and the staff member on site will be responsible for following procedures.
Each time a Fire Alarm is sounded in your building a Fire Alarm and Drill Report should be completed. This report must be e-mailed to the Senior RD, the building RD, and the Director of Residential Life within 24 hours of the alarm.
Once University Officials are notified of a tornado warning, the implementation of the Tornado Emergency Plan is the responsibility of all members of the University community. The LMU Campus Police and Security Office Staff has the following additional roles and responsibilities:
- Obtaining information in the event the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for the campus community
- Notifying high risk facilities of the tornado warning
- Receiving information about confirmation of tornado
- Warning pedestrians of dangers while monitoring and reporting any indications of confirmed tornado
- Issuing the LiveSafe notification alert.
Procedure
If a tornado watch is issued for the campus area, an alert will be broadcasted over the NOAA public alert radio and local TV and radio stations. There is no City of Harrogate emergency siren.
If a tornado warning is issued for the campus area, the LMU Campus Police and Security Office will notify the University community. The University community will be notified via LiveSafe notification alert or other appropriate modality. The LMU Campus Police and Security Office will make a special point to notify representatives at each high risk facility by contacting the designated person for high risk facilities. The information given shall pertain to the type of warning, a time of when the warning will expire, and any further directions.
The LMU Campus Police and Security Office will issue an all clear once the warning/watch has been lifted.
Response Actions
During a tornado warning, follow the procedure listed below:
Inside Buildings:
- Stay away from all windows and doors
- If time permits, go to the interior hallway on the lowest floor
- Move to an interior corridor away from windows
- Stay away from lobbies, walkways, atriums, and other large glassed-in areas, and large open areas with a long roof span
- If available, take cell phone, radio and flashlight
- Crouch down along the wall and protect your head with your hands from possible debris
- Remain at the sheltered area until given the all clear by LMU Campus Police and Security Office
- At the beginning of each semester a designated evacuation location will be assigned to residential students
Outside of Buildings:
- When instructed or conditions warrant, seek shelter in the nearest building
- Stay away from all windows and doors
- Move to an interior corridor away from windows
- Stay away from lobbies, walkways, atriums and other large glassed-in areas, and large open areas with a long roof span
- If there is no shelter available, lie in a ditch or other earthen depression; and never attempt to outrun a tornado
Once an all-clear has been given, follow the procedure below:
If the building was not affected by incident, return to your previous location; and if your building was affected by the incident, attempt to safely exit the building. If unable to do so, seek help by calling the LMU Campus Police and Security Office at 423-869-6911. If no telephone is available, try to get the attention of outside personnel by making noise, such as yelling.
LMU Campus Police and Security Office personnel will patrol campus following the incident to assist those affected and to dispatch additional emergency response teams if necessary.
Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30. Hurricanes:
- Can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
- Can affect areas more than 100 miles inland.
- Are most active in September.
IF YOU ARE UNDER A HURRICANE WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY
- Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds and flooding.
- Evacuate if told to do so.
- Take refuge in a designated storm shelter, or an interior room for high winds.
- Listen for emergency information and alerts.
- Only use generators outdoors and away from windows.
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
Storm Surge
Storm surge is water from the ocean that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around a hurricane. Storm surge is fast and can produce extreme coastal and inland flooding. When hurricanes cause storm surge, over 20 feet of water can be produced and pushed towards the shore and several miles inland destroying property and endangering lives in its path.
Be Informed
- Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States.
- Water weighs about 1,700 pounds per cubic yard, so battering waves from surge can easily demolish buildings and cause massive destruction along the coast.
- Storm surge undermines roads and foundations when it erodes material out from underneath them.
- Just one inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to your home. Homeowners and renter’s insurance do not typically cover flood damage.
Prepare NOW
- Know your area’s risk of hurricanes.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
- If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for warning signs such as heavy rain.
- Practice going to a safe shelter for high winds, such as a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not subject to flooding.
- Based on your location and community plans, make your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place.
- Become familiar with your evacuation zone, the evacuation route, and shelter locations.
- Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.
- Keep important documents in a safe place or create password-protected digital copies.
- Protect your property. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. Consider hurricane shutters. Review insurance policies.
When a hurricane is 36 hours from arriving
- Turn on your TV or radio in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
- Restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include food and water sufficient for at least three days, medications, a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
- Plan how to communicate with family members if you lose power. For example, you can call, text, email or use social media. Remember that during disasters, sending text messages is usually reliable and faster than making phone calls because phone lines are often overloaded.
- Review your evacuation zone, evacuation route and shelter locations. Plan with your family. You may have to leave quickly so plan ahead.
- Keep your car in good working condition, and keep the gas tank full; stock your vehicle with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.
- If you have NFIP flood insurance, your policy may cover up to $1000 in loss avoidance measures, like sandbags and water pumps, to protect your insured property. You should keep copies of all receipts and a record of the time spent performing the work. They should be submitted to your insurance adjuster when you file a claim to be reimbursed.
When a hurricane is 18-36 hours from arriving
- Bookmark your city or county website for quick access to storm updates and emergency instructions.
- Bring loose, lightweight objects inside that could become projectiles in high winds (e.g., patio furniture, garbage cans); anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside (e.g., propane tanks); and trim or remove trees close enough to fall on the building.
- Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install.
When a hurricane is 6-18 hours from arriving
- Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website every 30 minutes in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
- Charge your cell phone now so you will have a full battery in case you lose power.
When a hurricane is 6 hours from arriving
- If you’re not in an area that is recommended for evacuation, plan to stay at home or where you are and let friends and family know where you are.
- Close storm shutters, and stay away from windows. Flying glass from broken windows could injure you.
- Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting and open only when necessary. If you lose power, food will last longer. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator to be able to check the food temperature when the power is restored.
- Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website every 30 minutes in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Survive DURING
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not drive around barricades.
- If sheltering during high winds, go to a FEMA safe room, ICC 500 storm shelter, or a small, interior, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor that is not subject to flooding.
- If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water.
- Listen for current emergency information and instructions.
- Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery outdoors ONLY and away from windows.
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Stay off of bridges over fast-moving water.
Be Safe AFTER
- Listen to authorities for information and special instructions.
- Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
- Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock.
- Avoid wading in flood water, which can contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
- Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
- Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
How You Will Be Alerted
- One or more of the following methods may be used to alert the campus community of a hurricane warning. The use of any particular method will depend on the circumstances presented.
- Emergency Messaging: LMU has the LiveSafe alert system in place that should be utilized. The LiveSafe app can be download through your cell phone. Emails are automatically sent to your LMU email.
- Word of Mouth: If the situation safely permits, Public Safety or other staff may provide word of mouth notification to individual present on campus that a hurricane is approaching.
- IP Informers: The IP Informer are centrally located in different places on campus. IP Informers will alert occupants when a hurricane warning has been activated.
- Security Phones: Security officers are armed with an LMU Security phone.
