Developing an Evacuation Plan

Knowledge and preparation are the key elements to reducing the impact of emergency situations. The safety needs of students with disabilities should be examined individually, as each student requires different steps. Students, as well as visitors to the Whitman campus, are asked to be responsible for developing their own evacuation plans. The Safety Coordinator and the Academic Resource Center are available to assist in the development and execution of plans.

Emergency Evacuation Plan Form

Hints for Development:

• Make sure that your plan includes situations where you are alone, as well as around other people
• Get input/feedback from relevant individuals, i.e. Resident Director, faculty, supervisors, coworkers, roommates
• Contact Whitman’s Safety Coordinator for information about the campus regarding evacuation
• Make sure to have at least two different evacuation routes
• Consider setting up a buddy system
• Do not include the use of elevators in your plan
• Develop an emergency kit (including, as applicable, disability equipment, a communication device, service animal food, and three days worth of medication)
• Create a list or identification card containing your name, specific disabilities, emergency protocol, a list of medications, physician name, and emergency contact information to be placed in emergency kit
• Attach written instructions to disability equipment
• Consider door/window markings so that emergency personnel will know your location
• Contact campus security when in buildings after hours
• Be aware of where all exits in the building are located---even if they are not part of your evacuation plan
• Participate in drills and restructure your plan as needed
• Inform your Resident Director and Campus Security of your specific disability, as well as your evacuation plan
• Make sure your evacuation route has signs that are easy to follow

Buddy System:
Buddies will need to be willing and capable of assisting in an evacuation. Plan to have a specific buddy for each building or area of campus. It will be necessary for students with disabilities and their buddies to be able to contact each other quickly and easily. The buddies will need to be trained and informed about the evacuation plan when it is developed. Buddies will be expected to offer feedback and comments about the plan and its further development.

Types of Evacuation:
Your evacuation plan should include at least two separate evacuation routes from each location. They may be the same type of evacuation, but make sure that you leave yourself with an alternate in case one route is inaccessible or too dangerous.

Main Floor Evacuation: Use building exits on the ground level to leave the building or that go into unaffected areas of the building or complex.

Stairway Evacuation: Use the stairs (including emergency stairways) to reach ground level exits.

Area of Refuge: The safest area of refuge is usually an enclosed stairwell. Landing areas attached to exit stairs and open air exit balconies are also possible options. Go to an area of refuge with a buddy, if possible, avoiding situations of obvious danger.

Stay in Place: Remain in place in sprinkler-protected areas, or in an area of refuge if an evacuation route is not immediately available. Unless danger is imminent, remain in a room with a window, a telephone, and a solid or fire-resistant door.