Minors on Campus Evacuation and Emergency Response Planning Resource

It is important for staff members to be familiar with their surroundings in the event that minors, and staff members must evacuate an academic or residential building.

Prior to minor arrival:

1. Become familiar with your surroundings. Walk around the building and familiarize yourself with various exits.
2. Learn at least two ways out of any building. Learn at least one other way out of the building in addition to the main entrance/exit.
3. Know where to meet minors after they have exited the building. Meeting locations for the various buildings that minors, and staff members occupy will be provided at training by the event organizers. Staff members should take attendance and account for their assigned group of minors. Staff members should share this location with their minor group on the first day of the program.

Additionally, it is extremely important that all staff members are familiar with the following plans for responding to specific emergencies.

Emergency Heat Plan

In hot summer temperatures, it is important that all staff members and minors stay hydrated, wear sun block, and limit physical activity. Water should be accessible to minors during activity periods. If staff members suspect a minor has contracted heatstroke or sunburn, seek medical attention.

The Program Administrator will let staff members know when the emergency heat plan is in effect; however, all staff members are expected to be aware of the weather and thoughtful about its potential effects on minors and staff. Recreational activities that require physical activity should be canceled or postponed to a later time (no soccer, tennis, etc.) Staff members also need to advise minors on how to stay cool: drink water, wear light/loose clothing, stay out of the sun, etc. Maryville University Athletic sponsored camps please follow the direction of the Athletics Departments Policies for further heat plan details.

Thunderstorms, Hail, & Lightning

It is important to be aware of impending weather when planning and facilitating activities. In case of inclement weather while outdoors, seek shelter in the nearest campus building and do not return to the residence hall until the weather has cleared. If you are unable to return to your designated facility, call the Program Administrator to report your whereabouts.

Evacuation Plan

1. Calmly and quickly walk to the nearest exit, making sure to evacuate minors.
2. Do not use elevators.
3. Follow instructions of emergency personnel.
4. Meet minors and staff at a designated meeting area. Account for minors. If a minor is missing, notify emergency personnel immediately.

Fire Response Plan

1. Activate closest fire alarm.
2. Call 911 and report the location and nature of the fire, if this can be done without personal risk.
3. If safe to do so, evacuate the building and aid minors in evacuation.
4. Meet minors and staff at a designated meeting area. Account for minors. If a minor is missing, notify emergency personnel immediately.
5. Do not use elevators.
6. Contact the Department of Public Safety at (314) 529-9500.

Earthquake Response Plan

1. Take cover under a desk or table, protecting as much of your body as possible, especially your head and neck.
2. Stay away from windows and objects that may fall.
3. Do not run outside.
4. If outdoors, stay in an open area.
5. After shaking stops, move to the designated evacuation area.

Tornado Response Plan

1. Take cover at the lowest level of the building. If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias and large hallways.
2. Stay away from windows.
3. If outdoors, take cover inside a building, if possible. If shelter is not available, or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
4. After tornado passes, remain alert for signs of additional tornadoes and/or flash flooding.

Active Shooter Response Plan

• How you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and call 911 as soon as possible.
• An active shooter is a person actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, typically through the use of firearms. In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter. Keep in mind there could be more than one shooter.

If an active shooter is outside your building or inside the building you are in, you should:

1. Run

• Have an escape route in mind and plan ahead.
• If it is possible to flee the area safely with the minor children you are responsible for to avoid danger, do so.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• If you are able to do so safely, call 911 and another contact Public Safety at (314) 529-9500 if you’re able.
• Give the following information:
  • “This is Maryville University (give your location) we have an active shooter on campus, gunshots fired.”
  • If you were able to see the offender(s), give a description of the persons(s) gender, race, size, clothing, type of weapon(s), location last observed, direction of travel, and identity (if known).
  • Give a description of the location and number of any victims you observed.
  • If you observed any suspicious devices (improvised explosive devices), provide the location observed and a description.
  • If you heard any explosions, provide a description and location.

2. Hide

• If escape is not possible with the minors, hide in an area out of the shooter’s view.
• Block entry to your hiding place with furniture and other heavy objects.
• Turn off all lights and close and lock all windows and doors.
• Close all window blinds and curtains.
• If you are able to do so safely, contact call 911 and then Public Safety at (314) 529-9500.
• If you are able to do so safely, get all individuals on the floor and out of the line of fire.
• Silence your cell phones/mobile devices.
• Remain there until an “all clear” instruction is given by Public Safety or other authorized personnel or via MU Saints Alert.

3. Fight

• Fight back as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger.
• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
• Act with physical aggression and throw items at the shooter.

Things to Remember

• Turn off radios or other devices that emit sound.
• Keep yourself out of sight, stay away from windows and take adequate cover/protection, i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets.
• Silence cell phones.
• Wait patiently until a uniformed police officer, or a University official known to you, provides an “all clear.”
• Unfamiliar voices may be an active shooter trying to lure you from safety; do not respond to voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer or university official.
• Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if they can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area.
• Depending on circumstances, consideration may also be given to exiting via ground floor windows as safely and quietly as possible.

What to Expect From Responding Police Officers

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area where shots were last heard. Their purpose it to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.

The first responding officers will normally be in teams of four (4); they may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms or they may be wearing external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets and other tactical equipment.

• The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns or handguns and may use pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation.
• Regardless of how officers appear, REMAIN CALM. Follow instructions the police give you. Do not be afraid of the officers. Put down any bags or packages you are carrying and keep your hands visible at all times; if you know where the shooter is, tell the police.
• The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people; rescue teams of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove the injured.
• Keep in mind that even once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene; police usually will not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Until you are and the children are released, remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.

If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, you should:

• Try not to do anything that will provoke the active shooter.
• If there is no possibility of escape or hiding, only as a last resort when it is imminent that your life is in danger should you make a personal choice to attempt to negotiate with or overpower the assailant(s).
• Call 911, if possible, and provide the information listed in the first guideline.
• If the active shooter(s) leaves the area, barricade the room or proceed to a safer location.

If you are in an outside area and encounter an active shooter, you should:

• Move away from the active shooter or the sounds of gunshot(s) and/or explosion(s).
• Look for appropriate locations for cover/protection, i.e. brick walls, retaining walls, large trees, parked vehicles, or any other object that may stop bullet penetration.
• Try to warn other faculty, staff, minors and visitors to take immediate shelter.
• Call 911 and provide the information listed in the first guideline.

Revised February 10, 2020