Campus Emergency Preparedness

You can also download this PDF flyer to post in your workspace to keep you informed.

What to Do for Earthquake, Fire Alarm Or Attack

Earthquake

Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Then head to Rally Point.

Fire Alarm

Evacuate. Whether or not there is smoke and/or fire. Head to Rally Point.

Gunshots/Criminal Activity

Call University Police at 911 or 826-5555. If at all possible, GET OUT and get away. Don't linger at Rally Point. If you can't get out, lock/barricade the door and HIDE OUT quietly. If trapped by a shooter entering your hiding place, work as a team to TAKE OUT the intruder by force.

Exits, Rally Points, and Emergency Assembly Points (EAP’s)

• In each classroom or lab, identify the exit(s). Take note of alternate exits such as windows.
• Faculty and students must know how to get to the class “Rally Point” immediately outside the building. This is usually a commonly-known outdoor landmark such as a specific walkway, staircase, fountain, or planter. Gather and count heads.
• Assist those in need or disabled to safely exit the facility. Reference evacuation map, know when to avoid elevators and be aware of alternate exit routes.
• Emergency Assembly Points (EAP’s) are for gathering people when our buildings aren’t safe to occupy (e.g. a following a major earthquake). Each class should head there to organize themselves. Signs at EAP’s give guidance what to do. Police arrival at EAP’s will be delayed.

Campus Emergency Alert System

The following alert system is for any type of emergency!

Seek Information & Make Appropriate Decision

Go to these sources of information when you hear bells, receive cell-phone text or see emergency signage:

http://www.humboldt.edu/emergency/

Recorded campus conditions line will take multiple simultaneous calls

Will broadcast regular updates as information becomes available.

• Emergency Conditions Website
• 826-INFO (4636)
• KHumboldt 90.5 FM

Emergency Signage

Color coded signs will be put out with campus status

Campus (or area) CLOSED to all but essential/emergency personnel

Campus classes & activities CANCELLED by President, but campus is open

Campus OPEN and situation back to normal (posted only after Red or Yellow)

Safety ADVISORY to community (e.g., tsunami warning, wildfire risk, etc)

• Red
• Yellow
• Green
• Orange

Emergency Cell/Text Message Alert

All those who entered their personal cell phone number via the Account Center (QuickLink on Homepage) will receive a brief text message about the emergency as soon as the information is confirmed and our technology can send it.

Power Outage Procedures

• When electrical power is first interrupted, individual faculty members, with consultation with their department chairs, are responsible for deciding on a class-by-class basis, if the class should continue, be relocated, or be canceled.
• If the power outage appears likely to continue for several hours or longer, campuswide information about continuing/suspending classes will be disseminated from the President or Vice President through deans, departments, and chairs.

Students Must Get Themselves Informed and Prepared

• The North Coast is prone to earthquakes, severe weather, road slides, and utility interruptions. In case of severe emergency, every person should be prepared to sustain themselves with food, water and shelter. Emergency response or support could take 3-5 days or longer to arrive.
• Every student, faculty and staff should/must store sealed bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlight, and a battery-operated radio.
• Interested students/faculty may seek specialized training from the American Red Cross and/or by applying to Humboldt’s Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT).
• Watch real-life earthquake videos, explore links to CERT, to Humboldt County Red Cross, and print out supply lists - all of which are available on our website.

Additional Hazard Information

Learn our North Coast Safety Risks:

Clocktower Bells Universal Alert Signal

• Bells Ring Continuously Multiple Tones
• Listen to the Ringing (Example of Bells)
• Be Cautious
• River Safety: Our local rivers are beautiful, swift, cold and life-threatening to swimmers, fishermen, and boaters. Pay attention to currents, waves, rocks and “sweepers” - branches that can hold you under a river’s powerfully flowing waters. Take river safety training, study the river with an experienced person or guide, wear a life vest, and stay sober at the river.
• Coastal Safety: Always keep an eye on the ocean and especially for “sneaker” waves that may be 2-3 times larger than the surf pattern. Sneaker waves pull victims out to sea every year. Hypothermia and powerful currents are deadly threats. If the water draws down low or you hear a loud roar, head to higher ground immediately as a very large wave or a tsunami from a distant earthquake may be approaching. Before you go on a beach hike, carefully check the tide schedule using a tide table from a local shop, so that high tides don’t trap you in a cove.
• Earthquake: Duck, cover, and hold on during strong shaking. Then, evacuate.
• Tsunami: If you are at the beach and feel strong earth shaking, head to higher ground immediately. If you hear that a Tsunami Watch/Warning is in effect, evacuate ONLY if you are in a coastal zone (the Humboldt main campus is not in a coastal zone). If you are at the beach and you see the sea rapidly recede and draw back from the waterline, head inland and to higher ground; there may be a tsunami wave coming from a distant earthquake.
• Wild Animals: Report sightings of large wild animals including bears and mountain lions. Use the “buddy system” so that you are never alone. If you encounter a lion or bear, do not approach animals; give them a way out. DON’T CROUCH OR RUN. You should retreat slowly, maintain eye contact, speak loudly, and act without fear while giving the animal a wide berth. Do all you can to appear larger: stand alongside your buddy, raise your arms, open your coat, hold up your bike, etc. Never feed, touch, or try to pick up wild animals as many mammals (bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, feral cats) in this area may carry rabies.