Emergency Response Procedures

In This Section

The emergency response procedures (ERP) provide information for various emergencies, including earthquakes, fires, environmental hazards and acts of violence. A printed version of the ERP can be obtained from the campus safety office.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Remain calm and call campus safety at extension 8611 or (626) 914-8611. Campus safety has direct access to local first responders who are familiar with the campus and its layout. If it is a life or death situation, please call 9-1-1.

Campus safety or 9-1-1 may also be called from the campus safety mobile app, Citrus Guardian.

Assess the condition of people and any building damage in your immediate area.

Be prepared to report that information to your building's emergency information officer (EIO) or to an emergency responder.

Know the location of the emergency exits in the building where your office is located and any other buildings you frequent.

When ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not return to the building until you receive re-entry permission from campus safety, the building EIO or a Citrus Alert.

ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION

An "active shooter" is an individual actively engaged in shooting or attempting to shoot people in a populated area. Recent active shooter incidents have emphasized the need for a coordinated response by all.

Remain calm. Have a plan. Be aware of your environment and know the possible escape routes and safe rooms. You will have three options: run, hide or fight.

RUN: If you believe you can safely do so, exit the building immediately, move far away and seek shelter.

Notify anyone you may encounter to also exit the building.
As soon as possible, call 9-1-1 and campus safety at (626) 914-8611, or extension 8611, if you are calling from a campus phone. Calls can also be made by utilizing the panic button function on the campus safety mobile app, Citrus Guardian.
- Calmly state:
  1. your name and location
  2. location (building/room) of incident
  3. number, identity and description of shooter(s) if known
  4. other information as requested

Remain in a safe place until the threat is over.

HIDE: If you are NOT able to flee:

Go to the nearest room or office. Close, lock and barricade the door by any means possible.
Stay away from doors or windows where you might be seen.
Turn off cell phones, radios, computers or anything else that might draw attention.
Lights off! ACT AS IF NO ONE IS IN THE ROOM.
Get in to the most secure place/position you can find, away from doors and windows and remain quiet and hidden.
DO NOT ANSWER OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. Safety responders will have the necessary access keys. It may take time for help to get to you. If injured, quietly call 9-1-1 and give your location.

FIGHT: As a last resort, if confronted by an "active shooter," an attempt to overpower the shooter may be your only option.

You may need to "incapacitate" the shooter by throwing items or attacking with physical aggression. Look for items you can use as a weapon, e.g. fire extinguisher, chairs or flagpole. Be prepared to fight.
Fully commit to taking action. DO NOT HESITATE to follow through. Your life may depend on it.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Evacuation is the removal of all persons from a building or area in the wake of impending or immediate danger.

When ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not return to the evacuated building until you receive re-entry permission from campus safety or the building emergency information officer (EIO).

Go to the nearest and safest Evacuation Gathering Area (EGA).

Any time a fire alarm sounds, the building is to be evacuated.

Stay at least 150 paces away from the building that has been evacuated.

Employees and building EIOs shall provide assistance and leadership during evacuations.

Emergency Evacuation Assistance Areas (EEAA)

The Americans with Disabilities Assistance Act requires that public multistory buildings designate EEAAs as part of the building's emergency evacuation plan.

EEAA are formal assembly points where emergency responders could initially be directed, if needed, to help mobility impaired persons evacuate the building. There are two on each floor and each location has been placarded for easy identification.

When a mobility-impaired person cannot exit the second or third story of a campus building on his or her own (or cannot initially be evacuated without additional assistance), direct them to the nearest EEAA site to await evacuation assistance.

Citrus College has several multistory buildings. They include (alphabetically):

Administration (AD)
Center for Innovation (CI)
Educational Development (ED)
Field House (FH)
Hayden Library (LI)
Mathematics/Sciences (MA)
Physical Science (PS)
Professional Center (PC)
Student Services (SS)
Technology Center (TC)
Video Technology (VT)
Visual Arts (VA)

Students With Mobility Challenges: Help Us Support You

In an emergency evacuation, it is essential for your health and safety that you understand your specific access needs and communicate them to your instructor, work supervisor or a trusted student.

In addition and on your own, be familiar with:

exits in buildings you learn and work in.
the nearest EGA.
the emergency alarm system.

If appropriate, designate a person to assist you during the evacuation. Keep in mind the safety of your helper during the evacuation; they cannot assist you if they are injured or hurt.

Know what the safest method is to assist you in an emergency and be able to explain it to others.

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES

If you receive a notification to "lockdown," do the following:

Keep everyone in the classroom for their safety until more information is provided.
Lock and/or barricade building and/or classroom doors if possible.
Lights off! ACT AS IF NO ONE IS IN THE ROOM.
Move everyone away from doors and windows.
For situations involving the potential discharge of firearms, stay low to the ground and away from view.
Instruct everyone to stay down until subsequent instructions are given.
DO NOT ANSWER OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. Safety responders will have the necessary access keys.

In the event you are outside when a lockdown directive is given, take the following actions:

Move away from the danger area and get to a safe location.
Proceed to a classroom or an indoor secure area unless otherwise instructed by the building EIO or campus safety.
If the classroom is not accessible or is unsafe, proceed to the nearest safe classroom or building.
If no classroom or building is available, seek shelter in the safest place available that will offer concealment (hide you) or provide cover (protect you from gunfire).

ACTS OF NATURE

Before the Earthquake: Plan Ahead

Earthquakes give no obvious warning before they occur. Locate potential safe areas: under a desk, inside doorways and in halls are structurally safe locations. Stay away from windows, unsecured bookshelves and file cabinets.

Know the location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits and how to use them. For fire extinguisher training, contact the environmental, health and safety office at (626) 914-8704.

During the Earthquake

Duck - Move away from possible falling objects: books, small office equipment, knick-knacks, unsecured bookshelves and file cabinets.
Cover - Tables and desks provide protection from falling objects and glass. Hallways are structurally more secure than open office areas and will have less flying debris. Doorways also provide good structural support but watch out for swinging doors on fingers.
Hold - In a violent earthquake, things will be moving. Get on the floor; hold onto your desk. Brace yourself in a hallway or doorway. Remain calm and ride out the shaker.
Outdoors - Move away from buildings, utility poles, trees and other structures if you can.

After the Earthquake

Make sure you and those around you are safe. Assess your immediate conditions.

Be prepared for aftershocks. Evacuate structures only after a safe exit route has been explored. Watch out for broken glass, exposed electrical wiring and potential falling lighting and other ceiling fixtures.

Assist the injured and those with disabilities to exit the building safely. If they are unconscious or you are unable to assist, report their condition and location to emergency responders. Make every effort to account for the location and status of people in your immediate area to members of the emergency information team. The phones may be out; use wireless communication systems or cell phones. If necessary, assign messengers/runners.

Listen for additional information. The emergency alert system (EAS) for Los Angeles County can be found on:

Local Primary 1: KFI (640 AM), KNX (1070 AM and 97.1 FM) and KBIG (104.3 FM)
Local Primary 2: KROQ (106.7 FM) and KCBS (93.1 FM)

Annually, in October, Citrus College conducts a campuswide "drop-cover-and-hold on" earthquake drill in conjunction with the Great ShakeOut.

On the specified date and time, all faculty and staff are requested to direct their classes or the people around them to drop, cover and hold on to whatever available furniture, desks, etc., may provide cover.

For more information on the Great ShakeOut, including what individuals, families and schools can do to prepare, log on to www.shakeout.org/california.

For information and training on the "drop-cover-and-hold on" drill, view the FEMA safety video. You are encouraged to view the video and to take proactive steps to be prepared for this important drill. This is an exercise that, quite literally, could save lives.

Please update your Citrus Alert information so we can keep you informed of campus occurrences.

Fire Extinguishers
Know the location of fire extinguishers in your area and how to use them. For fire extinguisher information and training, contact the environmental, health and safety office at (626) 914-8704.

Know the location of the nearest fire alarm breaker.

Minor Fires
If a fire appears controllable, access the nearest fire extinguisher. Initiate the PASS system:

Pull the pin.
Aim at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the trigger while holding the extinguisher upright.
Sweep the extinguisher from side to side.

Other Fire Situations

Be smart. If a fire does not appear to be containable, evacuate the building.
Immediately activate the fire alarm system.
Call 9-1-1.
Call campus safety at (626) 914-8611.

When the fire alarm sounds, everyone must leave the building. Stay calm. Leave doors unlocked.

Whenever possible, assist anyone with a disability or with injuries to exit the building. In the event of a fire, no one is to use the elevators including those with disabilities.

Once outside, move at least 150 feet away from the building. Keep streets, fire lanes, hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews. Do not return to an evacuated building until cleared to do so by campus safety or the emergency responder in charge.

If you are unable to assist the injured or people with disabilities out of the building, be able to tell emergency responders the location and condition of those remaining inside.

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. Stay calm.

If there is no window, stay low to the floor where the air will be less smoky and toxic. Make noise or shout at regular intervals to alert rescuers to your presence and location.

Emergency Response Procedures

Earthquake

Great ShakeOut: Annual Campuswide Earthquake Drill

Fire