Organization of the Building Emergency Response Team will vary from building to building. The Center for Environmental Health and Safety (www.cehs.siu) has developed a BERT Start up Organizational Checklist (see Appendix A). In the Communications building, the organization is rather straightforward. There is one BERT team leader for the entire building. Currently, that person is Gary Kolb.

In addition to the BERT team leader, each floor has BERT team members. One of these persons may be designated as primary. The roles and responsibilities may be the same for each team member, but the designation may facilitate communication procedures during an emergency. The primary will be the first to be called in an emergency; this person will then disseminate information to other team members on their floor. All BERT team members respond directly to the BERT team leader. The BERT team members are listed on page three and four of this document.

Emergencies may be restricted to a particular building (e.g., fire, chemical spill), but often they are campus-wide and may require the involvement of building and emergency services. In such a case, the BERT organization extends beyond the Communications building and involves other campus and community resources.

In the event of a major disaster, the University will convene the University Emergency Operation Center (UEOC), which will be located at the Department of Public Safety Office in Building A, Washington Square. The University has established this center as the central point to direct all emergency operations during major emergency situations (see Appendix B for Organizational Chart). The UEOC is comprised of representatives from a variety of campus facilities and departments. The BERT team leader will be provided with information and directions from the UEOC.

It is unlikely that BERT team members will be involved directly with the UEOC. This information is provided only so that you may better understand the organizational relationships among the various SIUC services that may respond in an emergency situation.

To begin, consider that emergencies may arise in three different ways:

• Public Warning (e.g., tornado, fire)
• Building Warning (e.g., chemical, bomb threat)
• No Warning (e.g., earthquake, medical, tornado

Public warning: When the fire alarm or emergency siren sounds, all personnel receive warning of an imminent threat to life. Your role as a BERT team member is immediate and clear. Follow the procedures indicated for the specific emergency situation found later in this manual.

Building Warning: The Communications building internal emergency communication system may be activated as necessary. Emergencies limited to our building may require notification of BERT team members prior or concurrent to involvement of outside agencies.

If the threat is campus-wide, the SIU Department of Public Safety’s telecommunicator will initiate the Emergency Notification System. This will be accomplished through a series of conference calls. Twenty-five areas will be contacted simultaneously. There will be three conference calls to reach the 75 areas on campus.

The area in the Communications building assigned to receive this call is the Dean's Office reception area. When the conference call is answered, there will be a recorded message ("Stand by for an Emergency Message"). This message will be repeated for 50 seconds to allow all parties to answer the conference call. At the end of the prerecorded message, emergency information and instructions will be given to all persons on the line.

Once the call has been received in the Dean’s office, the information is then passed to BERT team leaders and members by telephone or voice. The BERT team members then communicate the necessary information to their Bert team contacts, students, faculty, and staff on their floor.

No warning: The primary example of a no-warning emergency is an earthquake. In such cases (unless an isolated injury), communication through BERT channels is still recommended. Whenever possible, communications to, from, and within the building should be through the BERT team leader.

Under ideal circumstances, information will be communicated quickly and accurately from BERT team members to the BERT team leader and from the BERT team leader to emergency personnel. Maintaining this line of communication helps to ensure that miscommunication is avoided. However, under real emergency conditions, following this chain of communication may not be possible or practical.

If you have information about the emergency that is vital for emergency personnel, you or an appointed person should proceed immediately to entrance that the emergency personnel was directed to use. Stand outside the door and watch for the emergency vehicle you have called. You should be prepared to identify yourself and provide the following information:

• The location & type of emergency
• The number of people involved and the extent and severity of any injuries
• The presence of any potential hazards that must be considered

When faced with an emergency situation, BERT team members may have to communicate vital information to faculty, staff, and students. While this may sound simple, the pressure of responding in an emergency can make even the simplest task surprisingly difficult. For this reason, we encourage you to rehearse a “script” for each of the emergency situations you are likely to encounter.

In general, there are three things you need to communicate to others in an emergency:

1. You must identify yourself,
2. Describe the nature of the emergency, and
3. Provide appropriate instructions.

For example, when entering a class that is in session, you might say…

“Excuse me; I’m from the Building Emergency Response Team. A tornado warning has just been issued, and everyone in the building must move immediately to a storm safe area. Please go down to the ground floor using the stairwell down this hallway (pointing in the appropriate direction). Another BERT team member should be on the ground floor to provide more information.”

Or

In the event of a bomb threat (don’t start a panic by mentioning a bomb)…

“Excuse me; I’m from the Building Emergency Response Team. We have been ordered by the police to immediately evacuate the building. Please exit the building following the classroom map and move out the appropriate exits and gather together in the North and South parking lots with your instructor or Bert team member who will take attendance to make sure all have exited this area.”

Your goal is to be polite but authoritative. Your voice, tone, and body language should convey the seriousness of the situation without also causing panic. Avoid confrontation: if someone refuses, simply advise him or her that you are required to notify campus police of their decision.

• Building floor plans, including all exits, location of offices, etc. (See Appendix C)
• Location of faculty, staff, and students
• Special needs of faculty, staff, or students with disabilities
• Location and identifications of other BERT team members
• Channels of Communication
• Location and nature of high risk areas labs, chemical store rooms, etc.)
• General emergency guidelines (e.g., do not use the elevator)

• Remaining calm
• Providing leadership
• Giving directions
• Acting quickly and decisively
• Accessing all areas of the building
• Using building emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, first aid kits, defibulators)
• Providing basic first aid and CPR

While many of these items may seem simple, learning them will make you far more prepared to deal with an emergency. The following sections contain information for specific emergency situations.

Please note the location of all fire doors. These are the large black double-doors in the hallways on each floor. These doors must be closed manually during a fire or fire drill—they will not close automatically. Once closed, they may be opened from either direction for access, but they should remain in the closed position and should not be propped open.

The elevator in the Communications building will continue to operate when the alarm is activated. Nonetheless, use of the elevator should be avoided so that it may be available for disabled persons.

Call 911from a phone, not a cell phone, pull the nearest fire alarm, and initiate the evacuation procedures listed below.

Send a BERT team member to the street to direct the Public Safety Officer and/or Fire Department personnel as they arrive at the building.

Assess the situation. If safe to do so, extinguish the fire with portable extinguishers, but only if you have been trained in their appropriate and safe operation.

If the fire cannot be extinguished through these means, confine the area by closing doors and assist in evacuating the building.

Instruct all students, faculty, and staff to evacuate the floor using the nearest stairwell, when necessary, that is free of smoke. Do not use elevators. Working as a team, BERT members should check every room on the floor, including the restrooms.

In the unlikely event that ALL stairways are impassable, or if trapped by fire or smoke, look for a room with a window that is free of smoke. Close any doors between the smoke and your location. Stuff clothing or rags in any openings around the door to prevent smoke from entering. Open the window and call for help. If the phones are working, call 911. A sign or clothing may be hung out the window as a signal to fire department personnel. If the window does not open, hold a sign up in the window. If smoke is being drawn into the room, close the window. Keep your head near the floor if breathing becomes difficult.

Ensure that all students and staff who need assistance are helped to evacuate the building.

If accessible, turn off all electrical power, gas or liquid systems in labs in your area.

Assemble personnel away from the building at the predetermined assembly locations. For the Communications building, these are the North and South parking lot. Do not let people congregate in the circle drive; emergency vehicles will need to use this area. Once assembled, BERT team members will conduct a survey to verify that all faculty, staff, and students have safely exited the building. If you believe that someone is still inside the building, notify the BERT team leader, Fire Department, or Public Safety officials. DO NOT REENTER THE BUILDING YOURSELF.

If missing persons are relocated and accounted for, notify the BERT team leader or other emergency official immediately.

The Department of Public Safety or Carbondale Fire Department will determine whether it is safe to reenter the building. Wait for instructions from the BERT team leader before releasing, relocating, or returning personnel.

The National Weather Service (Kansas City, MO) has determined that conditions are right for a possible tornado in the Southern Illinois area, including Carbondale. The Department of Public Safety Emergency Notification System will be activated.

The BERT Team leader should notify all BERT Team Members of the potential for a tornado.

The BERT Team Leader and BERT Team members should ensure that all students and staff are alerted to the potential danger.

Window blinds should be lowered on all windows to prevent flying glass.

Stay alert for a possible upgrade in the watch to a warning.

The National Weather Service (Kansas City, MO) has determined that conditions are right for a possible tornado in the Carbondale area. The Department of Public Safety will activate the Emergency Notification System to alert the campus.

If a tornado has been sighted nearby, the City of Carbondale will activate the emergency sirens. This is your indication to take cover immediately.A tornado has been sighted nearby (3-5 minutes steady blast from SIUC's sirens) or notification has been received from the department of Public Safety Emergency Notification System.

Anyone hearing the siren (a 3-5 minute steady blast) should place the building Telephone Emergency Alert System into operation by calling the Dean's Office at 453-4308.

The siren may not be heard by all personnel in the building, and the internal emergency notification will be activated. When the siren is sounded (a wavering tone), immediately notify all students and staff that they should gather keys, purses, coats, etc. and take cover in the designated storm safe zones located in the basement. See the attached floor plan for the location of these areas. Close doors to offices and classrooms as you leave.

In addition, following the guidelines below will help to ensure your safety.

• Go to the stairs leading to the basement quickly and do not stand or gather in front of windows in the hallways.
• Don’t gather in the stairwells.
• Once evacuated, close the doors to offices and classrooms with exterior windows.
• Do not use elevators; electrical power failure may occur.
• Avoid auditoriums, large lounge areas or other rooms with long roof spans and few supporting beams.
• Avoid corridors that may become wind tunnels. These are corridors with exterior doors allowing direct exit outside.

Direct disabled persons in your assigned area to exits and appoint person(s) to assist them down stairwells and/or through doors.

Turn off all electrical power, gas or liquid systems in each lab, when possible.

Conduct a survey of the area to insure that all personnel have been evacuated.

If available, bring your BERT backpack or emergency flashlights and battery-powered radio.

Remain in storm safe areas until instructed by the BERT team leader. Sirens will not be used for an all clear signal.

See the building floor plans in Appendix C for storm primary safe zones in the basement and secondary safe zones first floor and storm safe staircases.

If you do not have time to get to a designated safe zone, try to get to any interior room away from glass.

• Communication Building, Basement, 1