SPH Office of the Dean Emergency Operations Plan
Hans Rosling Center
Overview
Purpose
The purpose of this plan is to establish procedures relating to the most common types of emergencies.
Scope
Most emergencies require some form of Run (evacuate the building or leave the area), Hide (shelter in place) or Call for Help (dial 9-1-1) response. The specifics of the response vary widely, depending on the type of emergency. This plan will cover a few of the most common or hazardous events, including an extended power outage, an active shooter event, as well as a fire, an earthquake, and suspicious persons or objects. If in doubt about what to do for a specific situation, begin with a Call for Help (dial 9-1-1).
Chain of Command/Contacts
Office of the Dean personnel will follow general UW emergency procedures in the event of an emergency. Individuals are primarily responsible for their own health and safety, and secondarily responsible for the health and safety of those around them. The Office of the Dean may cease functioning during an emergency. As such, there are no emergency chain of command requirements and no mandated contact requirements for each emergency. The Safety Director (Asst. Dean, Finance and Administration, Uli Haller) will establish contact with UW authorities as needed during and/or immediately after an event as necessary. All employees should subscribe to UWAlerts and respond to information posted through UWAlerts as appropriate (https://www.washington.edu/safety/alert/).
Because cell phones or land lines, as well as internet connections, may or may not function in the aftermath of an event, no presumption is made about the ability of the OD to contact individuals and individuals should continue to make reasonable efforts to contact their supervisor or other OD representatives as long as necessary.
General Responses
Dial 9-1-1
Dialing 9-1-1 from any campus phone will connect you with UW Police. Dialing 9-1-1 from your cell phone will connect you with Seattle Police, who in turn will notify UW Police. Responses on the Bothell and Tacoma campuses will be analogous (e.g., Tacoma Police).
Evacuate
When evacuating a building, choose the nearest exit and proceed to the designated Assembly Point. For the HRC, the Assembly Point is the courtyard east of the building. Because the UW Seattle Campus is a large complex and you may be in another building on campus when the need to evacuate becomes clear, follow others to the most immediate designated Assembly Point. Wait there until released to re-enter the building or leave the area. 2
Shelter in Building
SPH maintains limited emergency supplies – small amounts of food, emergency blankets, and first aid supplies. These may be found in the red emergency kits in each individual staff office. Campus buildings are not intended to serve as long term refuges and are not equipped as such.
Specific Emergency Procedures
For additional information and tips, see UW Emergency Management.
Fire Emergencies and Building Fire Alarms
- A. If you discover a fire, activate the nearest pull station and call 9-1-1 if possible.
- B. When an alarm sounds on your floor or area, evacuate your building.
- C. Do not re-enter the building until authorized to do so by emergency personnel.
Earthquakes
- A. Drop, Cover, and Hold under a table or desk or against and inside wall – not in a doorway – until the shaking stops.
- B. After the shaking stops, check yourself and others for injuries.
- C. Evacuate the building as needed.
Active Shooter Emergency
- A. You may become aware of an Active Shooter before you receive an alert or other warning.
- B. If you have an accessible escape path, leave the building for a safer location and stay there.
- C. If you do not have an escape path or you do not know where the shooter is, hide within your office, conference room, or other enclosed space. a. Silence cell phones and other devices, stay silent and out of view of windows and doors.
- D. Once police units are on scene, follow police directions.
- E. For additional tips, see: UW Police/Active Shooter.
Suspicious Person
- A. Do not physically confront the person.
- B. Do not let anyone into a locked building/office.
- C. Do not block the person’s access to an exit.
- D. Call 9-1-1 and provide as much information as possible.
Suspicious Object
- A. Do not touch or disturb the object.
- B. Call 9-1-1.
- C. Notify your supervisor and/or Evacuation Director.
- D. Be prepared to evacuate the building.
Power Outage
- A. Turn off and unplug computers and other voltage sensitive equipment.
- B. Move cautiously to a lighted area. Exits may be indicated by lighted signs if emergency power is operating.
Hazardous Materials Release
- A. If an emergency, or if anyone is in danger, call 9-1-1.
- B. Move away from the site of the hazard to a safe location.
- C. Alert others to stay clear of the area.
- D. Notify emergency personnel if you have been exposed or have information about the release.
- E. Follow the instructions of emergency personnel.
Medical Emergencies
- A. Call 9-1-1.
- B. Give the operator as much information as possible, about the type of emergency, what help is needed, exact address, building name, room number, telephone number, information from medic bracelet or necklace, victim information, etc.. Don’t hang up until you are told to do so by the 911 operator.
- C. Do not move the victim.
- D. First Aid and CPR guides located in all first aid kits.
Extended Emergencies and Business Continuity
The SPH OD maintains a separate business continuity plan in the Husky Ready system. In general, SPH business continuity is dependent upon the availability of UW systems (finance, HR, email, etc.). SPH does maintain backup servers for its own data in UW data facilities (currently the Tower).
For extended emergencies that preclude physical operation from within the building, every effort will be made to keep in email contact with school employees and students.
(April 2022)