The University of Houston-Clear Lake recognizes the need for an orderly plan to evacuate its facilities in emergency situations occurring inside buildings, such as fire, explosion, chemical spills, or bomb threats.

This evacuation plan will provide for a timely and effective exit of campus facilities in the event of such an emergency.

This plan is a working document that will be continually reviewed and updated.

2.1 University Safety Officer is the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Jessie Zapata, Room B1117, telephone 283-2106.

 

2.2 Audible alarm system - a system of low- and high-pitched alarms, accompanied by strobe lights for the hearing impaired, located in hallways and bathrooms in campus buildings.

 

2.3 Area coordinator - an individual designated to be in charge of the evacuation of personnel from a block of suites, classrooms, or similar work areas. Alternate area coordinators should also be appointed and trained in advance to assume the duties of the area coordinator if necessary.

 

2.4 Evacu-Trac - a device used to enable operators to transport disabled individuals down flights of stairs in a seated position. Located on the second and third floor center stairwells number 4 and number 5 of the Bayou Building. See instructions in Attachment 2.

 

2.5 Primary evacuation route - the quickest and most accessible safe route from an individual's location when the emergency is announced to a designated safe area outside the building. Evacuation route diagrams will be strategically located throughout the buildings. These diagrams will indicate by a green dot your location on the building map. Exits and stairwells will be indicated in red.

 

2.6 Secondary evacuation route - the next closest safe route to a designated safe area if the evacuation route cited in 2.5 is announced or seen to be unsafe for use.

 

2.7 Work area leader - an individual designated for each work area to coordinate the evacuation of personnel from that suite and to account for the return of personnel to the suite when the emergency is resolved. The work area leader for a classroom is the faculty member in charge of the class. Each work area leader or alternate shall make a reasonable effort to assure that disabled personnel receive assistance to exit the building.

 

2.7.1 A work area leader has the option to request volunteers from either the class or the work area to assist in the evacuation. If a work area leader is for any reason unable to perform the evacuation duties, he/she should request further assistance from the University Police Department. Questions pertaining to evacuation of disabled students or employees may be directed to the Coordinator of Disability Services, Bayou Room 1402, extension 2627.

 

2.7.2 Faculty members as work area leaders will inform the class of evacuation routes when needed and will coordinate a plan for the evacuation of any students needing assistance. Students needing this assistance will inform the Coordinator of Disability Services, Bayou Room 1402, Ext. 2627, and the faculty member at the beginning of the semester.

 

Work area leaders are responsible to ensure that all employees and students in the work area are informed about the exit plan for the area.

 

2.8 Alternate - an individual designated to perform the duties of the work area leader if that individual is not present during the emergency. Alternates are also responsible to ensure that all employees in the work area are informed about the exit plan for their area.

 

2.9 Designated safe area - a site safely away from the building where personnel should wait until the emergency is resolved. Designated safe areas for Bayou Building occupants shall be either lot "V" for personnel exiting from the rear of the building or lot "R" for personnel exiting from the front of the building.

 

2.9.1 The designated safe area for the Arbor Building is the grassy area between the sidewalk and University Drive and the sidewalk between the Arbor and Delta Buildings.

 

2.9.2The designated safe area for the Delta Building is the outside part of the parking lots which are located by the front and rear entrances.

 

2.9.3The designated safe area for the Central Services Building is the grassy area just past the parking lot in front of the Central Services Building.

 

2.10 "All Clear" - an oral announcement that it is safe to return to the building. This announcement will be made by a University Police Officer who may either be on foot or operating a public address system from a police vehicle.

 

2.11 Emergency command center- The University Police Department office, Room B1636. The command center may temporarily assume a stationary or mobile location either inside or outside the building, depending on the nature of the emergency. The University Police Department is authorized to issue an "All Clear" announcement when the building(s) have been declared safe by the proper authority.

3.1 The university attempts to provide a safe learning and working environment for students, employees, and visitors. An evacuation plan, to be used in the event of an emergency, is an integral part of this environment. UHCL Executives and Administrators will ensure that this policy and its procedures are observed by employees under their purview.

 

3.2 The emergency evacuation procedures described in this document will be observed in any situation requiring the evacuation of personnel from campus buildings. Deliberate violations of these guidelines will be cause for disciplinary action as follows:

 

3.2.1 Such misconduct by a student will be grounds for disciplinary action through student life policies and procedures;

 

3.2.2 Such misconduct by a staff employee will be grounds for disciplinary action through the staff discipline and dismissal policy and procedures;

 

3.2.3 Such misconduct by a faculty employee will be grounds for disciplinary action through faculty discipline and dismissal policies and procedures;

 

3.2.4 In addition, such misconduct by any person may be grounds for criminal charges against the individual in a court of law.

 

3.3 Fire and evacuation drills may be conducted on an "as needed" basis. The same provisions apply during a drill as would apply during a real emergency requiring building evacuation.

4.1 Responsibility

 

4.1.1 The university safety officer is responsible for implementing the evacuation plan, assessing its effectiveness, updating the plan to achieve increased safety or efficiency, and for training personnel in the use of the plan.

 

4.1.2 The area coordinator is responsible for facilitating and assisting the safe exit of any employees, students, or visitors from a block of work areas or classrooms at the time the notice of evacuation is received. The area coordinator is responsible for directing personnel under his/her supervision to the nearest evacuation area via the nearest safe evacuation route. If an area coordinator becomes unable to serve, an immediate replacement should be designated and the university safety officer should be notified to assure that the replacement receives adequate training.

 

4.1.3 The work area leader is responsible for assuring that personnel in a designated office or facility evacuate the area in accordance with procedures when a notice to evacuate is received. If a work area leader becomes unable to serve, an immediate replacement should be designated and the university safety officer should be notified to assure that the replacement receives adequate training.

 

4.1.4 The President is responsible for officially closing the university when the situation warrants and authorizing employees to leave the campus under "Administrative Leave" provisions. If the President is unavailable during such an emergency, this responsibility rests with the Senior Vice President and Provost, or in that official's absence, the Vice President for Administration and Finance. If none of these officials are present during an emergency situation, this responsibility rests with the Director of University Police or his designated representative.

 

4.1.5 Unapproved absences from work resulting from or associated with a building evacuation may be cause for disciplinary action, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

4.2 Notice to evacuate

 

4.2.1 Notice to evacuate any building will be received via the audible and visual alarm systems. In an emergency situation, the public address system may also be activated to provide oral instructions. If the alarm systems and public address system are disabled, University Police officials will provide the notice to evacuate by verbal commands.

 

4.2.2 When the audible alarm system is activated, the occupants of the building must evacuate, observing the procedures listed in Section 4.3.

 

4.3 Evacuation procedures

 

4.3.1 Stop what you are doing and walk, do not run, to the nearest stairwell and proceed down the stairwell to the first floor, and from the first floor to the designated safe area for your group. If you are working in an area away from your regular work station, follow the instructions of the work area leader and area coordinator for the area in which you are working when you learn of the emergency. Do not attempt to return to your regular work area if an emergency is announced.

 

4.3.2 Do not use elevators in any emergency situation.

 

4.3.3 Take personal belongings, such as purse, coat, and car keys if they are within easy reach and can be collected quickly.

 

4.3.4 Office doors should be closed but not locked when personnel exit.

 

4.3.5 Listen to instructions from work area leaders and area coordinators or those provided via the public address system. Follow these instructions.

 

4.3.6 Regroup with your co-workers or classmates in the designated safe area so that your presence can be accounted for. Because of the possibility of flammables, do not smoke in designated safe areas until the "All Clear" notice is received.

 

4.3.7 Do not re-enter the building until the "All Clear" signal is announced by University Police officials.

 

4.3.8 Return to your work area via stairwells.

5.1 UHCL building diagrams.

Arbor Building

Bayou Building - 1st Floor

Bayou Building - 2nd Floor

Bayou Building - 3rd Floor

Bayou Building - Basement

Central Services Building

Delta Building - 1st Floor

Delta Building - 2nd Floor

 

5.2 Evacu-Trac operating instructions