During the past three several years, significant progress has been made on refining and testing Seattle Pacific University’s Emergency and Crisis Management Plan. The purpose of this message is to inform students about a variety of topics related to the plan.

Emergency Flip-Chart Booklet
In the fall of 2003, a new booklet organized in a flip-chart format and titled Stop. Think. Act. Seattle Pacific University Emergency Procedures, was published. The booklet contains a list of evacuation sites for each building as well as steps to be taken in response to specific types of emergencies. A copy of the booklet has been attached to the podium (or other obvious location) in each classroom as well as other gathering spaces around campus. In addition, the RLCs and PAs in each residence hall have copies of the booklet.

Classroom Evacuation Information
Almost all classrooms contain a wall plaque or poster on or next to the classroom door showing the evacuation route and the assembly site for the building. Students should locate the plaque and review the information on it in all of their classrooms at the beginning of each quarter. In addition, all campus buildings have evacuation signs posted near each building entrance. The knowledge of how to evacuate quickly and appropriately may be critical to ensure safety during an actual emergency.

Faculty members have been encouraged to ask students in their classes to pair up and create a “buddy system” for use in the event of an emergency. The purpose of this request is to expedite the identification of and the search for students who may still be inside a building during an emergency.

Emergency Drills
Approximately once per quarter an emergency drill will be conducted to help evaluate the effectiveness of the University’s emergency plan and determine whether people know appropriate emergency response procedures. The buildings affected and the times of the drills will vary from drill to drill so that the occupants of all campus buildings will have the opportunity to practice for an actual campus emergency.

Building Emergency Coordinator (BEC)
A BEC has been appointed for each building. In larger buildings, multiple BECs have been appointed. In the residence halls, the RLCs serve as BECs. These individuals are vital in the efforts to respond successfully to an emergency situation and to determine whether everyone in a given building is accounted for. During an emergency, BECs will be easily recognizable by their bright orange vests. In the event of an emergency, please give the BEC your full cooperation whenever they issue directions or information. These people will be the first line of contact during an actual emergency and cooperation with them should be immediate and complete when it is requested.

Thank you for taking the time to review this message.