6.3 Emergency Information

When power to the building is down or the internal phone service is lost, the School has three POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines connected directly to lines in the street.

Basic Emergency Procedures

The Public Safety Department needs you to serve as additional eyes and ears and be proactive regarding your own safety, as well as the safety of our community. Let us know of your concerns, inform us of problems and potential problems, heed the advice and directions outlined below, and let us know how we can improve our service to you. When fire alarm bells ring, unless otherwise instructed, respond as if a real emergency exists and await verbal instructions which will come through the fire command system and/or the building internal communication response system. If we do need to vacate the school, unless otherwise instructed, our assembly location is at the New York State Court House located 500 feet diagonally across from our building entrance. Wait there, until given the all clear to return by Public Safety or administrative staff or civil authorities.

The College Emergency Plan

The succession of events in an emergency is not predictable, and operational plans will serve only as guidelines and may require on- the-spot modification in order to meet the needs of the emergency. Stay calm, stay focused, follow formal instructions, and exercise common sense.

Emergency Communication Response System

The system will give oral instructions for you to follow and will be repeated several times. Floor Coordinators will assist, if time and situation permit, if we need to vacate the School. Please follow their instructions.

Emergency Two-Way Call Stations

These are located throughout the building. Activating the device by pressing the red button will put you in hands-free, direct communication with the main Public Safety Desk.

Fire Emergency Plan

Fire Wardens and Floor Searchers are designated to serve specific areas of the building. Their job is to facilitate evacuations of all kinds and to pass information to the Public Safety Office. Please heed their directions. However, there may exist circumstances when a rapid evacuation is necessary. In this case, Floor Searchers will evacuate with the rest of the staff and students. When fire alarms ring, proceed to the nearest exit and leave the building at once. If a false alarm has occurred, we will make an “all clear” announcement through our emergency communication response system. Treat all fire alarms as real, unless otherwise directed by the Fire Wardens, Floor Searchers, or members of the Public Safety staff. Drills should be treated as emergency incidents and require everyone’s quick and full cooperation.

In all cases of fire, please contact 911, or activate an emergency pull station, located on each floor, at each stairway. Contact the Department of Public Safety as soon as it is safe to do so. This can be done via phoning the department at 84440 or 84270 or using one of our two-way emergency call stations. Make note of the location of stairways, fire extinguishers, fire exits, and call stations. If a minor fire appears Fire alarms will cause corridor doors to swing shut to contain smoke and fire. Card access devices will power down to allow unfettered access. Do not attempt to pass through corridor doors that have shut. Go to the nearest stairway and exit the building. Most injuries and fatalities associated with fires are the result of smoke inhalation. Get out of the building quickly.

If time permits, close the door of the room where the fire exists. When the building evacuation alarm is sounded, always assume that an emergency exists. Touch closed doors; do not open them, if they are hot. If the door is cool, brace yourself behind the door and open it slowly. Bracing yourself behind the door prevents the door from being blown open due to the pressure created by the fire. Walk quickly to the nearest exit and alert others to do the same. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS DURING A FIRE EMERGENCY, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE STAFF. Smoke is the greatest danger in a fire, so stay near the floor where the air will be less toxic. If you must pass through smoke, cover your mouth and nose with an article of clothing, preferably wet. STAY LOW. Smoke and heat tend to rise, as cooler air is denser. If you have any suspicion that the fire or smoke is related to a gas leak, DO NOT USE A CELL PHONE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. Electrical energy can ignite fumes.

Once outside, move to a clear area. Our usual assembly point is 500 feet diagonally across from the building at the New York State Court House. Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews. These essential personnel must be allowed to do their jobs. Do not return to an evacuated building, unless told to do so by a College official.

If you become trapped in a building during a fire and a window is available, place an article of clothing (shirt, coat, etc.) outside the window as a marker for rescue crews. Place a wet cloth at the base of doors to keep smoke from entering. Shout at regular intervals to alert emergency crews of your location. Dampen a cloth with water, place it over your nose, and breathe lightly through it. Should your clothing catch fire, stop, drop, and roll. Rolling on the ground will help smother the fire.

Hostile Intruder

Don’t panic. Keep breathing and keep focused. When an intruder in a campus building is actively causing deadly harm or the threat of imminent deadly harm, you must immediately seek cover and if possible, contact 911 then the Public Safety Department. If you are able to make a call, give as many details as possible relative to location, number of assailants, means of aggression, and other pertinent information. IF POSSIBLE, USE AN EMERGENCY CALL STATION DEVICE. It is always preferable to contact 911 before contacting Public Safety. Be aware of alternate exits, if it becomes necessary to flee. Persons should lock themselves in classrooms, dorm rooms, and offices as a means of protection. Persons should stay low, away from windows, barricade their door(s), if possible, and use furniture or desks as cover. If possible, cover any windows or openings that have a direct line of sight into the hallway. Students and staff should not attempt to leave the building, until told to do so by Public Safety or NYPD. The only exception to this is, if given the specific circumstances, a person is certain beyond any doubt that more danger exists by remaining in the building than in attempting to escape. When a hostile intruder is actively causing deadly harm or the threat of imminent deadly harm to people on the campus grounds, we recommend the following course of action: Run away from the threat if you can, as fast as you can. Do not run in a straight line. Use buildings, trees, shrubs, and cars as cover. If inside, desks, chairs, or bookcases may help. If you can get away from the immediate area of danger, summon help and warn others. If you decide to hide, take into consideration the area in which you are hiding. Will I be found? Is this really a good spot to remain hidden? Do not give your position away or stand up, until Public Safety or civil authorities give an all-clear signal. If the person(s) is causing death or serious physical injury to others and you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to play dead, if other victims are around you. If there is no other alternative prepare yourself to fight. Common items such as chairs, laptops, books or any other object which can be thrown should be used against the attacker.

Bomb Incident Plan

While it is important to note that the overwhelming majority of bomb threats are unfounded, it is the policy of the Law School to treat them as potentially real. Each threat will be thoroughly investigated, until all avenues of investigation have been explored.

A suspicious looking box, package, object, or container in or near your work area may be a bomb or explosive material. Do not handle or touch the object. Move to a safe area (far from the object) and call the Department of Public Safety immediately at 84440 or 84270. Do not operate any electronic devices, radios, or light (power) switches.

If you receive a bomb threat, remain calm and try to obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Specifically try to ascertain the following:

a) location of the device;

b) time, if any, the device is scheduled to go off;

c) appearance or type of container used for the device;

d) reason for placing the device;

e) size of the bomb;

f) type of explosive used in the device;

g) name of the caller or organization taking responsibility; and

h) additional information that might be available.

The person receiving the call should note the following:

a) whether it’s a male or female voice;

b) time of call;

c) mood of caller (excited, nervous, calm, despondent);

d) background noises that may be present at the location of the caller;

e) approximate age of the caller; and

f) any other peculiarities that may be helpful in identifying the source of the call or its purpose.

The police will be called, if an evacuation is deemed necessary, an announcement will be made via the public address system. If an evacuation is necessary, only use stairs. Do not use elevators. Move well away from the building and follow the instructions of floor coordinators and emergency personnel at the scene. In lieu of an evacuation, a designated staging area will be used. Please follow the directions broadcast on the public address system.

If there is an explosion:

a) immediately take cover under sturdy furniture;

b) stay away from the windows;

c) do not light matches;

d) move away from the site of the explosion to a safe location; and

e) use stairs only, do not use elevators.

Medical Emergencies

All medical emergencies should be reported immediately to Public Safety at 84440 or 84270. If the medical emergency is life threatening, call 911 before dialing Public Safety. When making the call, give your name, describe the nature and severity of the medical problem, and the location of the victim. Try to answer all of the questions the dispatcher asks you and let him/her hang up the phone first. Do not move the victim. If you are certified in CPR and first aid and able to help, try to assist the victim, until help arrives. Look for emergency medical ID’s such as bracelets on injured persons, and try to keep the victim as comfortable as possible until emergency personnel arrive. If a medical problem is non-life threatening, call the Public Safety Office at 84440 or 84270. The School has seven Automatic Electronic Defibrillators. Each floor contains a device located just outside each passenger elevator vestibule. Note that there is an emergency call station near each device.

If the victim can be safely moved, then she/he will be escorted to the Public Safety Office, room 1-102. If campus police personnel believe that a victim should not be moved or that emergency medical care is required immediately, they will call 911. Please remember that the decision to call or not call 911 is not based on financial circumstances or insurance status. The focus is on assisting the ill or injured party.

Medical Emergencies that are Emotional in Nature

The Office of Students Affairs can be most helpful in assisting anyone who feels in need of counseling or mental health services. Linda Penkower, our Law School counselor, is available at 84216. Whenever an individual demonstrates or reports a risk for self-destructive or suicidal behavior, immediate assistance is needed. If the situation poses an imminent physical danger, call 84270 to reach the Public Safety Office. If imminent physical danger is not posed, then call the Office of Students Affairs at 84207 or Linda Penkower at 84216. If they are unavailable, contact Public Safety.

Utility Failures

Report any power failure immediately to Public Safety at 84440 or 84270. In the event of a building-wide power failure, building phones may not function. A large, diesel-powered emergency generator that can power lights and other emergency systems for up to several hours serves the building. Having a flashlight attached to a key chain, belt clip, or in a bag may be helpful even when not in the School. Never use candles. During daylight, add as much natural lighting as possible by raising blinds. Faculty with classes should remain where they are until notified otherwise. During a power failure or possible power failure, never use an elevator. Once power is restored, Public Safety will make an announcement using the School’s emergency communication response system.

Plumbing Problem/Flooding

Cease using all electrical equipment. Notify Public Safety immediately. If necessary, vacate the area and prevent anyone else from entering. If a toilet overflows, contact us.

Gas Leaks

Gas leaks are very rare but can be very serious. If you smell gas, contact PUBLIC SAFETY by coming down to the main security desk or utilize a phone away from the smell of gas. Do not use a mobile phone near a gas leak, whether here or at home. Gas vapors can be ignited by static electricity.

Evacuation Procedure

Although it is highly unlikely that there will ever be an emergency in the building that will require you to evacuate immediately, it is prudent to be prepared for such an occasion. The first rule of any emergency is to remain calm and have a plan. Once this is done, you will find that almost any situation has a safe solution. When in the School, familiarize yourself with the floor layout. Know where the emergency exits are. Know where the fire extinguishers are. Take time to learn where the stairways are and where they lead. Emergency exit doors in the building are never chain locked. You can exit the building from any stairway. WHEN USING A STAIRWAY FOR EMERGENCY EXIT, DO NOT REMAIN IN THE STAIRWAY. EXIT THE BUILDING AND MOVE AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE TO OUR BUILDING ASSEMBLY POINT, 500 FEET DIAGONALLY ACROSS OUR MAIN ENTRANCE AT THE NEW YORK STATE COURT HOUSE. If possible, assist those who are moving slowly or are hindered by the stress of the situation.

It is our policy to have the schedules of those persons who may need special assistance to evacuate the building. Generally, persons unable to leave the building because of a physical limitation are asked to assemble by the freight elevator vestibule located on each floor. A building management team member will use the freight elevator to stop at each floor and evacuate them through the building loading dock. Those who can leave the building without such assistance should evacuate themselves. If there is a large fire or explosion, do not waste time gathering personal effects. Remember to never use the elevator (except as described above) when the building is being evacuated, unless specifically instructed by police, fire, or civil authorities. The key to safe building evacuation is to know your surroundings and move quickly.