NIH Security Advisory #54:
NIH Building and Campus Evacuation Guidance
Thursday, August 7, 2003
The NIH has been working
to develop and implement an evacuation and
dismissal program for various emergency situations. In the event of an
emergency that requires a dismissal from the NIH Bethesda campus, the
Division of Public Safety will provide dismissal information to each
Institute/Center (I/C) through a variety of communication methods
including the ORS Information Line, global e-mail messages, website
updates, telephone calls to appropriate management and emergency personnel
and, when implemented, the WNIH AM emergency radio frequency. NIH
personnel in facilities outside the NIH Bethesda campus should follow the
guidance of their local emergency management officials. In Montgomery
County, visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov for emergency preparedness
information.
NIH Emergency Response Personnel:
The NIH has highly skilled and equipped
Fire and Police Departments that
are trained to respond to emergency situations. These emergency response
personnel utilize the Incident Command System (ICS), a nationally
recognized, standardized management system for responding to any
emergency. You should follow the directions of the senior police or fire
department official who will serve as the incident commander at any
emergency site.
Building Evacuations:
Evacuation drills for most
buildings are conducted twice a year, in the
fall and spring. On the Bethesda campus, every building has an Occupant
Emergency Coordinator (OEC) who is in charge of the evacuation team for
that specific building. To identify your respective OEC, click on the link
http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/dps/emb/index.htm. The OEC can provide you with
a list of the evacuation team members for your building. Training for the
team members and any interested building staff is available through the
Division of Emergency Preparedness and Coordination, 301-496-1985.
Online training for building evacuation
and shelter in place is also
available at: http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/dps/emb/index.htm. Take the time
to educate yourself and your coworkers and prepare for the unexpected.
For more information about the
building evacuation program, view the “NIH
Occupant Evacuation Plan,” detailed in the NIH Manual Chapter 1430, which
defines the scope and method for immediate, positive, and orderly action
to safeguard life and property during emergencies in all buildings
occupied by NIH employees. You can find a copy of the plan at:
http://www1.od.nih.gov/oma/manualchapters/management/1430/.
Campus Evacuation:
In the event that
several buildings or the entire campus must be
evacuated, employees and visitors will be directed to leave the campus by
the nearest exit. NIH law enforcement, security, and other first responder
personnel will direct traffic and movement. The roads around the center of
campus will be restricted to emergency response vehicles as much as
possible. All roads into the NIH will be used to dismiss the campus with
the exception of South Drive, which will allow two-way traffic to
accommodate emergency response vehicles and allow access for employees
with children at the Day Care Centers.
In the event the nearest
exit is not available, employees should identify
alternate routes that do not require crossing the center of campus and
practice using them. Car pool and vanpool members should meet at their
vehicle to expedite their dismissal and avoid driving through the campus.
If there is a need to leave the campus by foot, you will be directed to
assembly points or shelters by members of the NIH Police Department.
Regional Evacuation:
In an evacuation that
involves the entire Washington region, the NIH
follows the direction provided by the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM), General Services Administration (GSA) and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). These agencies have developed a Federal
Emergency Decision and Notification Protocol and will coordinate and
communicate the early release of federal employees with regional partners
as necessary. If the event causing the evacuation takes place downtown,
that area would be evacuated first, followed by the suburban areas. It is
important to follow the evacuation instructions and avoid panic. Remember
that in a mass evacuation of the Washington area, the primary goal is to
move as many people as possible from potential sources of harm.
If you have any questions, please contact
the ORS Information Line at
orsinfo@mail.nih.gov or 301-594-6677.
USEFUL WEBSITES AND CONTACT INFORMATION:
Security for NIH visitors and patients: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm
OPM Emergency Preparedness Guide: http://www.opm.gov/emergency/index.asp#employee
Non-emergency questions or comments:
ORS Information Line - 301-594-6677, TTY- 301-435-1908 or orsinfo@mail.nih.gov.
Emergencies: voice - 911; TTY - 301-496-0063.
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