Campus Emergencies
The Graduate Center is designated as a Class E high rise building and is required to comply with NYC fire regulations that apply to high rise office buildings under NYC Local Law 5. In 2004, NYC Local Law 26 required the NYC Fire commissioner to adopt standards, procedures and requirements for the orderly evacuation of occupants from any office building for non-fire emergencies including explosion, biological, chemical or hazardous material incidents or releases, severe weather emergencies, natural disasters or other emergencies. This regulation requires office buildings to develop procedures for sheltering-in-place, in-building relocation, partial evacuation and full evacuation in response to various emergency scenarios.
The Graduate Center, taking into account the safety of the community, will immediately notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, staff or faculty occurring on campus, unless issuing a notification will in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist victims or respond to, contain or otherwise mitigate the emergency. The method of notification will depend on the nature and scope of the emergency and can include community-wide emails, public address announcements and/or CUNY Alert messages.
Upon confirmation of a significant emergency by the Office of Security and Public Safety, the Director of Security and Public Safety or designee will determine the content and method of the communication, will determine the appropriate segments of the campus community to receive the notification, and will initiate the notification system. Time permitting, the Director of Security and Public Safety or designee may consult with other college officials but not to the detriment of the community’s safety. NYC FDNY Certified Fire Safety Directors/Emergency Action Plan Directors are authorized to make public address announcements in accordance with their training.
The Graduate Center will conduct two fire drills and one emergency action plan drill each year as required by local law. Child Care Center fire drills will be conducted each month when school is in session. These drills will be evaluated in order to assess and improve our emergency response capabilities. The college community will be notified of the drills in advance via community-wide emails which will have a link to Be Prepared: The Graduate Center Emergency Procedure Handbook. This handbook can be viewed on the web at http://web.gc.cuny.edu/security/Emergency_Procedures/index.htm. Other portions of The Graduate Center’s Emergency Operations Plan, including emergency notifications, will be tested and evaluated at least once a year through announced and unannounced exercises.
CUNY Alert Emergency Notification System - CUNY Alert is a secure, web-based emergency notification system that allows you to receive text or voice notifications of campus emergencies or weather related closings. You can sign up for CUNY Alert at www.cuny.edu/alert and will be able to select the best way to get messages: cell phone, home phone, e-mail, instant message, or any combination of these. The process takes only a few minutes and everyone is encouraged to sign up for this free service as it is an important part of The Graduate Center’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Reporting an Emergency - You can report an emergency in the following ways:
- Call x7777 to contact Security & Public Safety, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Call 911 to report emergencies directly to the New York City Police, Fire and/or Emergency Medical Services. If calling 911 while on campus, also call Security & Public Safety at x7777 so we can expedite the emergency response.
- Press the Emergency Assistance Stations located in corridors and places of public assembly throughout the building. Emergency Assistance Stations are circular in shape and lit for high visibility. Pressing the blue, center section sends a signal to the electronic security console and an officer is then sent to the station’s location.
- Press the Emergency Tapeswitches mounted on restroom walls. This device is white in color and similar to the device used on buses to request a stop. When pressed, a signal is sent to the electronic security console and an officer is then sent to that tapeswitch location.
- For smoke or fire, pull the Fire Alarm Pull Boxes, which are bright red in color, located adjacent to all fire exits. Lifting the cover and pulling down the handle activates the alarm. A signal is sent to the fire command station in the main lobby and to a central dispatch station that notifies the FDNY. When pulled, this device will also activate an audible fire alarm on the floor where pulled and the floor above.
Evacuations - Know your escape route using the building’s fire exits and fire stairs in advance (you should know your escape routes well enough to be able to make your way in the dark or in dense smoke). Also be prepared to use an alternate exit in case your primary route is obstructed. Remain calm and proceed to evacuate the area in an orderly manner. Rely on planning and knowledge, do not rush, push or panic. Listen for instructions from Fire Wardens, Security and Public Safety Officers and the Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director (via public address announcements). Do not use an elevator to evacuate unless directed to do so by emergency service personnel.
Fire – In case of fire or visible smoke, pull the nearest fire alarm; call NYFD at 911 and/or Security at 7777. Prepare to evacuate immediately upon the sounding of any fire alarm and alert those in the immediate area of the danger. Follow the instructions given by the Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director, Fire Wardens and Security and Public Safety Personnel. Before opening any door, touch the door with the back of your hand and do not open a door that is warm or hot. Close doors behind you to prevent fire spread, but make sure that you can reopen them if you need to retreat. Use stairs and not elevators. Help those less able and persons in wheelchairs to smoke free stairwells: Report their location and condition to NYFD and college security personnel. Do not remove any person from a wheelchair or attempt to carry or negotiate wheelchairs with people up or down the steps. When at other colleges, comply with posted or announced fire instructions.
Sheltering-in-Place – Sheltering-in-place simply means seeking immediate shelter inside a building. This course of action may be necessary during a release of toxic chemicals, biological agents or radiation to the outside air. Air quality may be threatened and sheltering in place keeps you inside an area offering more protection. Sheltering-in-place may also be used for civil unrest, severe weather or other emergencies. Stay inside the building and close all doors and windows. Seal off openings to your room if possible. Do not use elevators as they may pump air through the building. Remain in place until you are told that it is safe to leave.
Other Life Threatening Emergencies - Call NYPD or EMS at 911 and/or Campus Security at 7777. Security personnel will assist and coordinate emergency response forces. Graduate Center security guards and campus peace officers are not armed, and are not emergency medical technicians. The NYPD and Emergency Medical Service are called upon to perform these functions.
Injuries and Accidents - Students and employees injured in accidents should call Security (7777), seek medical attention, and notify their supervisor and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Director of Personnel as appropriate. Hazards should be reported immediately.
