Tag: threats

Fire drill fiasco?

We just had to evac IST and objectively speaking, there are a number of issues I think we need to address (not necessarily in any order).

  1. We have to update the safety monitors for each section of the building. A lot of us just went through office moves and our responsibilities may have changed since then.
  2. We have to update everyone about meeting points, shelter spots, and how to manage students.
  3. We need to figure out a plan for the bridge. When is the bridge closed? How do we close off traffic? What about the street traffic? I know we cannot do anything legally about the street traffic, but that is a serious vulnerability as well.
  4. We need 2-way comms between safety monitors. Instant communication among the entire group and independent of cellphone towers.
  5. We may need to consider emergency lighting in the building. I just took a look around and I didn’t see a thing.
  6. We may need to be clear about egress routes and temporary signage for elevators.
  7. We need to make sure all faculty and staff know about evacuating the building when the alarm goes off.
  8. We need a way to inform people about when it is OK and not OK to enter the building.
  9. As the SAC represents different areas, the safety monitors should be responsible for informing their respective areas of any changes or reminders of what to do in threat situations. Our goal should be to develop an aware and able individual, not allow a sheep-mentality that looks to authority for well being.
  10. What happens after 5 PM? Who’s around to assist the students then? Perhaps we should assess and determine the preparedness of the students as a whole.
  11. What about coordinating with EECS on the other side of the building?

I should mention that I am one of the safety monitors, or at least I was before my office move, so much of this is my responsibility. Ultimately, we have a whole program in Security and Risk Analysis here at the College. It would be a shame to have something happen and not be as prepared as we could have been.

I don’t want to sound entirely negative. Lisa Ammerman and Peggy Stanton have done a great job organizing the safety monitors on our side of the building and we’ll continue to look to them for future leadership.