Preparing for an Evacuation

All members of the campus community need to prepare to respond to any emergency that involves evacuating a building. There are five key steps to take to prepare for evacuations:

1. Learn the location of emergency exits and the shortest route to the exit.
2. Learn the location of emergency alarm activation stations. They are red, box-like devices located on the wall near emergency exits.
3. Learn the procedure for reporting emergencies. Dialing 911 will connect you directly to the Knox County Emergency Communications Center. If the telephones in the building or your own cellular phone are not working, use any Blue Light Phone on campus. They are connected to the emergency communications center.
4. Learn the sound of emergency alarm systems. Emergency alarms vary from building to building, but are designed to sound distinctly different from all other bells, buzzers, or signaling devices in the building. If you hear a constant ringing or buzzing you are unable to identify, report the situation to the 911 operator.
5. Learn the location of fire extinguishers in the buildings in which you work, live, or visit.

Evacuating Individuals with Disabilities

Special arrangements should be made for individuals who have a disability that would hinder their evacuation from the building. The head of a unit in which a disabled person is employed is responsible for making necessary arrangements to provide assistance during an emergency. The disabled person’s designated “assistant” should find the person when the alarm sounds. UTPD should be informed of people for whom special arrangements have been made.

About Building Representatives

Each building on campus has a designated building representative. This person, named by the administrator whose units occupy the majority of space in a building, serves as the point of contact between the occupants of the building and the Facilities Services Department. Among other functions, building representatives are responsible for communicating with building occupants in the event of an emergency that will cause the shutdown of some or all of the building, and they can provide information about evacuation plans from their building.

A complete listing of campus building representatives is available online at web.utk.edu/~space/bldreps.html.