Emergency

Readiness for
St. Johns University
Adjunct Faculty
Office of Public Safety
Center for Counseling and Consultation
Office of Human Resources

Emergency Readiness Training

Introduction
This informational session has been designed especially for adjunct
faculty members to be informative and provocative.
The session consists of two parts.
Part one Emergery Readiness, prepared by the Office of Public
Safety, describes the Universitys emergency response plan. In this
section, you will become familiar with the Universitys systems of
communication and notification in the event of an emergency and
appropriate protocol in a variety of emergency situations.
Part two Identifying and Responding to Students
in Distress, prepared by the Center for Counseling and
Consultation, addresses student behavioral issues and how to
recognize and respond to a student who is in distress and exhibiting
disruptive behavior.

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Expertise on Campus
St. Johns is fortunate to have the caliber of personnel in the field
of Emergency Preparedness equal to any of the best organizations
anywhere in the world, including:
Veteran New York City Police Department Chief
High Ranking U.S. Army Personnel
Former Emergency Service and Office of Emergency
Management Responders
9/11 Survivors and Recovery Workers
Former Chief of New York City Fire Department
Center for Counseling and Consultation
Employee Assistance Program (EAP More to Life)

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Expertise Readiness at STJ

FOUR STAGES OF EMERGENCY PLANNING
1. Prevention Policies, procedures, planning, education
and awareness.
2. Readiness Emergency Plan, ongoing committee reviews,
training, drills and Emergency Evacuation Volunteer
(EEV) Program.
3. Response Multiple notification systems, evacuation and
stay-in-place procedures, effective communication.
4. Recovery Counseling and other assistance programs to address
needs of community members, effective communication and
panic management.

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Emergency Plan Structure

EMERGENCY PLAN: two levels
Structure Plan: Addresses three threat levels identified by the
emergency management team and operations centers.
Operating Plan: Addresses eight types of emergencies identified
by a risk assessment and provides initial response actions to be
taken for each. The plan addresses prevention, readiness, response
and recovery at the functional levels of the University and branch
campus response.

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Threat Levels
level 1
A minor, localized department or building incident that is quickly
resolved with existing University resources or limited outside help.

level 2
A major emergency that disrupts sizable portions of the
campus community.

level 3
Catastrophic event that disrupts the entire campus and
local community.

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Emergency Types
There are eight different types of emergencies that may effect
St. Johns University and our surrounding communities, which would
require immediate response from Public Safety, local emergency
services and YOU.
1. Adverse Weather Conditions
2. Bomb Threats
3. Extended Power Failure
4. Fire and Explosions
5. Hazardous Materials Release
6. Workplace Violence
7. Hostage Situations
8. Pandemic
Fortunately, these more serious situations are rare occurrences.

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Common Emergency Situations

Below is a list of the most common situations to which Public Safety
Officers are called to respond.
Heart attack or complaints of chest pain
Unconscious person or slip and fall resulting in injury
Vehicle accident with or without injuries
Minor burns or seizures and diabetic issues
Person exhibiting emotional distress
ALWAYS SEEK ASSISTANCE

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Systems of Notification
How Will You Know What to Do?
Emergency Text and Voice Messaging
In the event of an emergency, you will receive an automatic text
(and voice message) with frequent updates on your personal cell phone
and a voice message on your St. Johns phone.
To register to receive automatic text and voicemail notifications on your
personal cell phone during emergencies or school closure, log on to
http://intranet.stjohns.edu/safety/ens.stj.
Note: This communication system will be used solely for
emergency and closure notifications and no other purpose.

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Systems of Notification

(continued)

Other emergency notification systems

Telephones in every classroom with 911 access
Public Announcement System (hallways, common areas, exterior
of buildings)
Bullhorns (used by Public Safety Officers)
Campus Emergency Information Hotline (888) STJ-2499 (recorded
message) or the Customer Service Call Center (718) 990-6161
An automatic pop up window with a message will appear on
St. Johns Central and St. Johns website
St. Johns University Web Digest and/or direct email
Electronic Message Boards (various locations around campus)

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Evacuation and Stay in Place

Protocol
There are times when evacuation will be the appropriate
response. Other situations may require you to stay in place.
Lets look at each protocol separately.

Evacuation Protocol
Possible situations when evacuation may be ordered
Fire in the building
Fire alarm sounds
A confirmed bomb threat

Anytime Public Safety Advises You to Evacuate

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Evacuation and Stay in Place

Protocol (continued)
General Evacuation Procedures
When evacuating the building or classroom
Stay calm
Safely stop work
Do not rush or panic
Gather personal belongings if it is safe to do so, e.g., prescription
medications, keys, purse, glasses, etc. if at all possible since it may
be hours before occupants are allowed back in the building
If safe, close classroom or office doors and windows, but do not
lock them
Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit
do not use the elevator
Follow the instructions of emergency personnel who will direct you
to an evacuation area
Wait for instructions from emergency responders
Do not re-enter the building or classroom until instructed to do so
by the proper authorities
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Stay in Place Protocol

Under certain circumstances, you may be instructed to stay in
place rather than evacuate. Possible situations when a Stay in Place
directive may be ordered include:
An armed hostage situation
A riot outside the campus perimeter
A hazardous or toxic airborne plume
Armed person not apprehended who is on or near the
University grounds
An earthquake

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Stay in Place Procedures

In the event of a direct threat, such as an
armed gunman:
Stay calmdo not panic
Safely stop work
Move to the safest area; get to a room or office that can be locked
or barricaded
Close and lock or barricade classroom or office doors and
windows. Stay away from glass doors and windows and close
blinds or cover glass, if possible
Hide under a desk, behind a file cabinet or fire hydrant
Turn off computers and silence cell phones and beepers, etc.
Call 911 as soon as possible
Wait for instructions from emergency responders
Do not leave the building or classroom until instructed to do so by
the proper authorities

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Stay in Place Procedures

In the event of a indirect threat, such as a riot
outside the campus perimeter or hazardous
airborne plume:
Stay calmdo not panic
Safely stop work. Stay alert and wait for instructions from
emergency responders
Close classroom and office windows and doors, but do not lock
them unless there is a direct threat
Move to the safest area, e.g., get indoors and as far away from the
threat as possible
Do not leave the building or classroom until instructed to do so by
the proper authorities
In the event of an earthquake, it is best to shelter inside. Protect
yourself from falling debris by hiding under a desk or standing in
a door frame. By venturing outside, you increase the risk of being
struck by debris that was dislodged from a building

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Remember
One

Call Brings it All as a university located in the

metropolitan New York City area we have access to a tremendous

number of emergency first responders including 36,000 police
officers and 14,000 fire fighters
There are plans in place to guide us in many types of emergencies
The University and the Office of Public Safety conduct
periodic drills in collaboration with local emergency units to
ensure readiness
In the event of an emergency, stay aware, observant and listen for
instructions from the Emergency Management Team
Remain calm, do not panic and lead by example

ALWAYS seek assistanceDO NOT GO IT ALONE

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Important University
Phone Numbers
Public Safety
Queens

(718) 990 5252

Manhattan

(212) 277 5155

Staten Island

(718) 390 4487

University Emergency bulletins

1 (888) STJ-2499

Campus Customer Service Center

(718) 990-6161

Office of Human Resources

(718) 990-1502

(718) 990-6333

Dean of Students (718) 990-6774 or Student Life (718) 990-7464

or Center for Counseling and Consultation (718) 990-6384 in
Queens and (718) 390-4451 in Staten Island

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