Approved by: President
History: Issued             -- August 2004
Revised            -- February 26, 2018
Last Reviewed -- January 17, 2019
Related Policies: Campus Bus and Escort Services Policy; Crime Reporting and Response Policy: Missing Student Notification Policy; Sexual Offenses Policy (students); Sexual Offenses Policy (employees)
Additional References: D.C. Text Alert Homepage; Campus Fire Safety Site; Emergency Response Plan; Environmental Health & Safety Manual: 3 - Emergency Preparedness and Response; Personal Emergency Plan; Safety First; 29 CFR §1910.38; University Statement on Unanticipated Closures
Responsible Official: Associate Vice President for Emergency Management and Public Safety tel. (202) 319-5111

 

I. Policy Statement

The Catholic University of America is committed to the safety and security of the campus community. All members of the University community should be familiar with this policy and with the University's Emergency Response Plan, which provides guidance for members of the community to use in preparing for emergencies. The University will communicate emergencies to the campus community, and what steps the community should take in responding to an emergency.

Emergency occurrences on campus, whether perceived or actual, should be reported immediately to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at tel. (202) 319-5111. Any of the emergency telephones located throughout campus may be used. Off campus emergencies should be reported by calling 911.

II. Emergency Preparedness

 

All members of the University community - students, faculty and staff - are strongly encouraged to prepare for potential emergencies in advance by developing a Personal Emergency Plan (PEP). A PEP will assist the individual, and the University, when responding to an emergency. A PEP should include strategies for storing extra equipment or medications, evacuation and sheltering procedures specific to each individual and facility, identification of volunteer Rescue Assistants, and means of communication in the event of an emergency.

For more detailed guidance and resources in preparing for emergencies see the following University websites:

Questions about this policy or about the University's emergency preparedness, response and recovery initiatives and duties should be directed to the Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management, or the Associate Director of Public Safety, at tel. (202) 319-5111. Questions regarding environmental health and safety, including fire safety, should be directed to the Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Risk Management, at tel. (202) 319-5789.

III. Reporting Emergencies

 

Emergency occurrences on campus, whether perceived or actual, should be reported immediately to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at tel. (202) 319-5111. Any of the emergency telephones located throughout campus may be used. Off campus emergencies should be reported by calling 911.

In the event the University determines that there is a campus emergency, the emergency plan will be activated and the following action will be taken to communicate with the campus community:

DPS will:

• Deploy the "All-Campus Alert" announcement system on campus with a set announcement

• Send a set text announcement for display on the Alert DC System

[Anyone can sign up to receive emergency notifications affecting the University, even if you do not live in the DC area. To register, please visit the Alert DC homepage (https://hsema.dc.gov/page/alertdc) and create an account]

• Alert the University President

• Alert the University's Office Marketing and Communications

• Alert University senior leadership as set forth in the DPS-maintained Notifications List

The Office of Marketing and Communications Will:

• Send additional notices to students, faculty and staff via e-mail lists

• Send a text to Technology Services, Housing Services, and Pryzbyla Management broadcast over the voicemail system (if during business hours) and on University cable TV channels and plasma screens on campus

• Alert Technology Services to provide a message to faculty and staff on voicemail, if during business hours

• Provide initial texts and updates as needed for the Safety First web page

• Post information on the University home page and via social media outlets

Further details regarding how the University manages emergencies is available at http://publicsafety.cua.edu/emergency/index.cfm.

Emergencies that occur during an overseas academic or co-curricular program also should be reported immediately to DPS at tel. (202) 319-5111. For details see the University's Overseas Crisis Management Protocol. See also the global education resources pertaining to health and safety provided by the University's Center for Global Education.

IV. Responding to and Recovering from Emergencies

 

The two basic responses in an emergency are Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place. Evacuation is used for an emergency that would be dangerous to your life and health if you were to stay in your building. Shelter-in-Place is used for an emergency that would put you in danger if you were to leave your building (shelter-in-place is advised in most situations, unless the building you are in is affected by the incident). All members of the University community should become familiar with the specific steps and guidelines for Evacuating and Sheltering-in-Place published on the DPS website at http://publicsafety.cua.edu/emergency/index.cfm. This website also provides guidance for responding to other types of emergencies on campus.

DPS and Marketing and Communications will notify the campus community, via the methods discussed in section III above, whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Follow the evacuation or shelter-in-place guidelines until notified by DPS or Marketing and Communications that the emergency has ended.