While Adelphi University has been fortunate not to have experienced such an occurrence, it is important to set guidelines to address the response and management of any incidents that would require a Lockdown or Shelter in Place order.
Although the probability of such incidents occurring on campus is minimal, preparedness is important for survival in a hostile intruder encounter or other event requiring the community to shelter in place.
When people are instructed to lockdown, it is in response to an active shooter. During an active shooter emergency, people are asked to barricade themselves in a room with no windows, if possible. If a room with no windows is not available in their building, people are asked to cover or stay away from any windows to avoid making themselves or others visible to any potential threat.
The idea of a lockdown is for people to remain properly secured and out of the line of vision of an active shooter until they are told the area is secure.
This video provides detailed instruction on how to lock classroom doors from the inside in the unlikely event of a lockdown.
What it means to “Shelter-in-Place”
If severe weather or an incident occurs and the buildings or areas around you become unstable, or if the air outdoors becomes dangerous due to toxic or irritating substances, it is usually safer to stay indoors, because leaving the area may expose you to that danger. Thus, to “shelter-in-place” means to make a shelter of the building that you are in, and with a few adjustments this location can be made even safer and more comfortable until it is safe to go outside.
Basic “Shelter-in-Place” Guidance
If an incident occurs and the building you are in is not damaged, stay inside in an interior room until you are told it is safe to come out. If your building is damaged, take your personal belongings (purse, wallet, etc.) and follow the evacuation procedures for your building (close and lock your door, proceed to the nearest exit, and use the stairs instead of the elevators). Once you have evacuated, seek shelter at the nearest university building quickly. If police or fire department personnel are on the scene, follow their directions.
How You Will Know to “Shelter-in-Place”
A shelter-in-place notification will come from the Department of Public Safety via the RAVE university mass notification system and/or Emergency Public Address System announcement.
How to Shelter-in-Place
If an incident occurs where sheltering-in-place is the best option, follow these steps, unless instructed otherwise by emergency personnel:
These steps should only be followed if safe to do so:
- When you are notified of an emergency, seek or remain in a location that is safe from the affected area.
- When in a safe area, attempt to secure the space in whatever reasonable manner is applicable.
- Stay in the safe area and remain quiet, unless making noise would be beneficial to your safety (i.e. to increase the likelihood of rescue or recovery).
- Stay away from objects that may lead to higher risk of injury (i.e. windows during a storm).
- Do not leave the area of safety until you are notified that the emergency is no longer a threat to personal safety.
Lockdown or Shelter-in-place
The Lockdown or Shelter-In-Place plan protects students and staff in the event of potential exposure to a dangerous chemical that could be released through:
- An industrial accident
- A chemical spill
- A break in a natural gas pipeline
- Materials transported through our community
- A terrorist attack
- Severe weather events such as a tornado, earthquake, blizzard, or hurricane
When a hostile person(s) is actively causing death or physical injury or the imminent threat of death or physical injury within a residence hall, recommend the following actions should be implemented:
- If you are in a residence hall: Lock yourself in your room and call the police by dialing 911.
- If you are in a classroom or office: Faculty and staff should immediately lock the students, staff and themselves in the classroom or office and call the police by dialing 911.
- If in-house telephones are available for communication to notify public safety, dial #5 or extension 3511 or call 516 877-3511.
- Call a personal contact and give your location.
- If away from your room, join others in a room that can be locked.
- Do not stay in the open hall.
- Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal the occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm as they attempt to exit.
- Barricade yourself in your room with desks, beds or anything you can push against the door.
- If in a classroom or office: If possible cover any windows or openings that have a direct line of sight into the hallway.
- Keep classrooms or offices secure until police arrive and give you directions.
- If you’re in a building other than a residence hall: If you are not in a classroom, try to get to a classroom or an office if you cannot safely escape from the building.
- When and where available lock your window(s) and open blinds or curtains.
- Stay away from the window (when possible).
- Turn all lights and audio equipment off.
- Turn off cell phones or place on vibrate.
- Stay out of open areas and try to stay calm and be as quiet as possible.
- If for some reason you are caught in the open such as hallways and lounge type areas, you must decide what you are going to do. This is a very crucial time and can possibly mean life or death depending on what actions you take.
- You can try to hide, but make sure it is a well hidden space or you may be found as the intruder moves through the residence hall looking for more victims.
- If you think you can safely make it out of the building by running, then do so.
- If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. Keep any objects you can between you and the hostile person(s) while in the building.
- Once outside, do not run in a straight line. Use trees, vehicles or any type of object to block your view from the residence hall as you run. When away from the immediate area of danger, summon help any way you can and warn others.
- If the person(s) is causing death or serious physical injury to others and you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to feign being dead if other victims are around you.
- The last option you have if caught in an open area in the residence hall may be to fight back. This is dangerous, but depending on your situation, this could be your last option.
- If you are caught by the intruder and are not going to fight back, obey all commands and don’t look the intruder in the eyes.
Once the police arrive, obey all commands. This may involve you being handcuffed or made to put your hands in the air. This is done for safety reasons and once circumstances are evaluated by the police, they will give you further directions to follow. The police may not know who the shooter is or if there are multiple shooters.
Hostile Intruder Safety Video and Poster
By viewing this video you will be equipped with the knowledge to make a lifesaving decision by running, hiding or fighting.
The content of this video will not only provide lifesaving information at Adelphi but the same techniques can be utilized in a mall, theater, restaurant or any other public environment.