- Stop all activities immediately. Complete the internal departmental or class procedures that have been determined to be essential prior to emergency evacuation.
- Assess that all persons can evacuate the area. Department safety wardens, supervisors, laboratory managers and instructors are required to assure that everyone, including individuals with mobility limitations, have evacuated their area. Note: Evacuation plans for persons with disabilities must be made part of each department's documented emergency evacuation procedures.
- Follow EXIT signs to the nearest safe exit. Do not use elevators! Special care should be taken with some footwear, such as clogs, that could hamper rapid and safe descent.
- Use the stairs. Never use the elevator. Walk briskly, but do not run. Stay on the right in order to allow emergency response personnel clear access up the stairs, along the left side.
- Allow others to enter the stairwell. As you approach the landing of each floor, allow evacuees from that level to enter the stairwell.
- Steer clear of hazards. If evacuation becomes difficult via a chosen route, because of smoke, flames or blockage, re-enter the facility on a safe floor. Continue evacuation via the nearest safe exit route.
- Move away from the building. Once you have exited the facility, move at least 150 ft. away from the building and exit doors. Proceed to your Evacuation Assembly Area.
- Do not re-enter the building without an “all clear”. Do not, under any circumstances, re-enter the facility unless authorized by a FIU Police Officer, fire department personnel or until a recognized university authority broadcasts the "all clear" message.
In facilities without alarm systems, all persons must leave whenever it becomes clear that an emergency exists which necessitates evacuation for the protection safety and well-being of the occupants.
No one is expected to endanger him/herself in order to control a hazard or to effect or assist with evacuation of others, but everyone has a duty to ensure that other occupants are aware of an emergency.
Similarly, it is expected that individuals will aid anyone who requires physical assistance to safely evacuate.
False Fire Alarms
Fire alarms are a life safety system and should only be activated in the event of a fire. Therefore, FIU will pursue all available legal actions (F.S. 806.101) against anyone who willfully creates a false alarm of fire.
F.S. 806.101 - False Alarms of Fire - Whoever, without reasonable cause, by outcry or the ringing of bells, or otherwise, makes or circulates, or causes to be made or circulated, a false alarm of fire, shall for the first conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided under s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A second or subsequent conviction under this section shall constitute a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083 or 2. 775.084.
Persons with Disabilities
At the time an emergency occurs assistance may not be readily available if no prior arrangements are made since persons with disabilities may not be readily identifiable to others. Therefore, persons with disabilities who may require assistance must to request/arrange for assistance ahead of time.
Arrangements for assistance are usually best accomplished by establishing a personal relationship between the individual requiring assistance and one or more of his/her peers in the form of a "Buddy Plan". Redundant arrangements should be made to ensure that assistance would be available even when the designated "buddies" are unavailable.
Make the necessary arrangements with the Disability Resource Center, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Diversity, co-workers ("buddies") and/or the FIU Police Department as is appropriate to facilitate an evacuation plan at the time of an emergency.
