Emergency Protocols
Know what to do in an emergency
Know how to respond in emergency situations by becoming familiar with response procedures for specific events.
Posted on Oct 27, 2008 - 10:39 AM
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Bomb Threat
A bomb threat is a warning, usually verbal or written, to detonate an explosive or incendiary device to cause property damage, death, or injuries. Bomb threats can be received by phone, note, or email; however, phone threats are most common. All bomb threats are to be taken seriously. It is best to let emergency response personnel determine the validity of any threat by conducting a thorough investigation.
If you receive a bomb threat, take the following actions:
- Take notes. If the threat is received by phone, keep the caller on the phone for as long as possible, taking note of any details the caller provides about the bomb, characteristics of the caller’s voice and speech, and identifying background sounds.
- Dial *57 to trace call. Do not hang up on the caller. When the caller hangs up, you may then hang up and immediately dial *57 (do not dial ‘9’ as you would normally do to call outside the campus). Listen to the recording, and write down the 1-800 number. You may then hang up.
- Call 911. Report the threat to law enforcement authorities, and give them the 1-800 number you received in the previous step as well as the specific time that you dialed *57. Provide the police dispatcher with all of the information you took note of when interacting with the caller.
- Secure sensitive areas. If you work in a sensitive area, such as a research lab, kitchen, or cash register, secure these areas before leaving to help prevent theft.
- Exit the building. If instructed by emergency response personnel, evacuate the building immediately. Be sure to secure or take with you any personal items.
- Go to the designated assembly area. Go to and remain at the designated assembly area until instructed by emergency responders to move to another location. Attempt to account for all building occupants once at the assembly point. Obey the instructions of emergency response personnel at all times.
At no time should you
- Delete any emails that contain a bomb threat
- Use a two-way radio or cell phone as radio signals emitted by these devices can detonate a bomb
- Activate any fire or burglary alarm system
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Campus Violence
Campus violence is defined here as encompassing any action(s) threatened or taken by an individual(s) with the intent of killing or inflicting serious bodily harm to others. An example is a person wielding a weapon. The perpetrator may be a student, member of the University faculty or staff, or an individual from outside the University community. The target of the violence may be a specific individual or group or may be randomly selected.
If you witness an act of campus violence, take the following actions:
- Call 911. Report the situation to law enforcement authorities. If you are unable to speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can hear what is going on.
- Find a safe place. Attempt to remove yourself from the situation and exit the building, even if that means climbing through a lower-level window. If you cannot safely exit the building, seek shelter in a secure area that can be locked or barricaded. If possible, turn off lights and cell phone ringers without drawing attention to yourself.
- Go to the designated assembly area. Go to and remain at the designated assembly area outside the building until instructed by emergency responders to move to another location. Attempt to account for all building occupants once at the assembly point.
- Avoid touching items left by the attacker. An attacker may intentionally leave explosives at the scene. Additionally, police will need to conduct an investigation after the emergency has concluded, so it is important not to tamper with potential evidence.
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Concerning Behavior
Concerning behavior is conduct that would suggest that a person is at risk of harming themselves or others. While all individuals feel upset or distressed at times, the following behaviors may suggest that the problems are more than the “normal” ones:
- Highly disturbed behavior
- Outbursts of anger
- Inability to communicate clearly
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Irrational conversation or speech
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Loss of contact with reality
- Suspiciousness, irrational feelings of persecution
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Statements related to death, dying, or feelings of hopelessness
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Threats of harming self or harming others
If you witness a student exhibiting concerning behavior, you should contact the CARE Team. Be prepared to provide the name of the student and a brief narrative of his/her behavior. You may reach the CARE Team by email at or by phone at (940) 565-4373. For staff and faculty who witness another member of the staff or faculty exhibiting concerning behavior, notify the appropriate supervisor.
Immediately call 911 if at any time you feel a person poses an imminent threat of harm to him/herself or others.
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Fire
Building fires can occur as a result of unsafe practices, mechanical failure, or external conditions, such as lightning striking a building. All building fires have the potential to injure or kill anyone in the vicinity and can cause extensive property damage. The dangers from fire are not only the result of visible flames, but are also due to extremely hot temperatures, smoke, and toxic gases.
If you get caught in a fire situation, take the following actions:
- Secure sensitive areas. If you work in a sensitive area, such as a research lab, kitchen, or cash register, secure these areas before leaving if possible to help prevent fire damage and/or theft.
- Exit the building immediately. Be sure to secure or take personal items with you. Do not use elevators. If the fire alarm has not already been activated, pull the alarm on your way out. Leave the building through the nearest exit. If the door handle is hot, don’t open the door. Instead, go to a window and call for help.
- Call 911. Once you have exited the building, call 911.
- Go to the designated assembly area. Go to and remain at the designated assembly area until instructed by emergency responders to move to another location. Attempt to account for all building occupants once at the assembly point. Obey the instructions of emergency response personnel at all times.
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Flooding
A flood is an accumulation of water on land as a result of heavy rainfall or utility failure. Flooding that occurs as a result of a utility failure has the potential to affect operations on campus due to damage to facilities or work spaces. Heavy rainfall can also cause flooding by inundating rivers and streams as well as overwhelming the capability of storm water sewage systems to remove water from streets and highways.
In advance of approaching storms, the National Weather Service issues flash flood watches and warnings, so citizens are able to make sound judgments about the appropriate actions to take. Remember the following:
- Flash flood watch indicates conditions are favorable for flash flashing flooding to occur in the area.
- Flash flood warning indicates flash flooding is imminent or already occurring in the area.
If you encounter flooding in a campus facility, take the following actions:
- Report incidents. Report all instances of flooding in campus facilities to Facilities Work Control.
- Protect equipment and documents. If flooding appears likely to affect your work area, take steps to ensure that equipment and important documents are not damaged.
- Avoid areas of standing water. Flooding can cause damage to electrical systems, potentially resulting in dangerous currents of electricity moving through the water.
If you encounter flooding on roadways, take the following actions:
- Slow down. Hydroplaning is a loss of steering or braking control due to a layer of water that prevents direct contact between vehicle tires and the road surface. Slow down on wet roads to prevent your vehicle from hydroplaning.
- Turn around, don’t drown. Do not overestimate your vehicle’s ability to drive through floodwater. One foot of water will float most cars, and two feet of moving water will sweep away most vehicles.
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Hazardous Material Spill
A hazardous material is any item or agent (biological, chemical, physical) which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors. Hazardous materials are used daily on campus and are an integral part of many important university functions. Additionally, a wide variety of hazardous materials are transported through Denton via truck and rail traffic.
Some hazardous materials spills may occur on a small scale and require few responsive actions. However, other spills may be large, involve more toxic substances, and require extensive actions by emergency response personnel. It is these situations that pose the greatest risk to your life and the lives of others.
Depending on the type and location of a spill, emergency response personnel may direct you to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
If a hazardous materials spill occurs inside your building, take the following actions:
- Secure the spill area. If you can safely do so, attempt to isolate the spill by barricading the spill area to prevent other employees from entering the area.
- Evacuate the building. If instructed by emergency response personnel, evacuate the building immediately. Be sure to secure or take with you any personal items.
- Call 911. Once you have exited the building, call 911.
- Go to the designated assembly area. Go to and remain at the designated assembly area until instructed by emergency responders to move to another location. Attempt to account for all building occupants. If the spill involves a gas leak, avoid smoking, creating sparks, or using electrical equipment.
If a hazardous materials spill has occurred somewhere outside your building, take the following actions:
- Go indoors. If instructed by emergency response personnel, go to or remain inside the nearest building to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
- Stay in an enclosed area. Avoid windows and areas with glass. Call Facilities Work Control and request that the Heat or A/C be turned off to avoid drawing in outside air.
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Public Health Crisis
Communicable diseases are diseases transmitted through contact with contaminated people, animals, or surfaces that have the potential to spread quickly through the community. Examples include H1N1 and Tuberculosis. Similarly, food-borne illnesses can spread quickly through a population but result from the consumption of contaminated foods. Examples of food-borne illness include Salmonella and Hepatitis A. Exposure to both food-borne illnesses and communicable diseases can cause a variety of symptoms and can even result in death.
In the event that a communicable disease or food-borne illness is circulating throughout the community, please take the following preventative actions:
- Get the facts. Learn the signs, symptoms, and preventative actions for the disease or illness outbreak.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often. Cover your mouth when you cough. Use hand sanitizer. Clean and sanitize surfaces regularly.
- Stay home when you are sick. Do not go to work or class when you are sick; you run the risk of infecting those around you. Additionally, staying home will enable you to get needed rest so you can more quickly return to good health.
- Seek medical attention. If you begin to experience the signs and symptoms associated with an identified outbreak contagion, visit your physician in order to receive the prescribed care for the health condition.
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Suspicious Letter or Package
A suspicious letter or package is a piece of mail which may contain a written threat of violence or a harmful substance such as an explosive, radiological, biological, or chemical substance. Suspicious letters and packages are often identifiable by any the following traits:
- No return address
- Excessive postage
- Strange stains, odors, or sounds
- Marked with restrictions, such as “Personal,” “Confidential,” or “Do not x-ray”
- Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
- Misspelled words
- Foreign postage
- Addressed to no specific person
- Powdery substance felt through envelope
Suspicious letters and packages may pose a threat to the health and safety of the recipient as well as people in the vicinity and should therefore be handled with caution.
If you receive a suspicious letter or package, take the following actions:
- Call 911. Report the threat to law enforcement authorities. Be prepared to provide a description of the suspicious letter or package.
- Handle with care. Do not open, smell, or taste the item. Avoid shaking or bumping the letter or package. Isolate the item away from yourself and others.
- Wash hands. If the package is already open and you have identified the substance as being radiological, biological, or chemical, you should wash your hands with soap and water immediately.
- Exit the building. If instructed by emergency response personnel, evacuate the building immediately. Be sure to secure or take with you any personal items.
- Go to the designated assembly area. Go to and remain at the designated assembly area until instructed by emergency responders to move to another location. Attempt to account for all building occupants once at the assembly point. Obey the instructions of emergency response personnel at all times.
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Tornado
A tornado is a destructive wind event, often coinciding with a strong thunderstorm. Tornadoes are described in terms of their wind speed with the most powerful storms achieving 3 second gusts of over 200 miles per hour.
In advance of approaching storms, the National Weather Service issues severe weather watches and warnings so citizens are able to make sound judgments about the appropriate actions to take. Remember the following:
- Tornado watch indicates conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in the watch area.
- Tornado warning indicates that tornadic activity is imminent or already occurring in the warning area.
All severe weather watches and warnings are broadcast to NOAA Weather Radios as well as made available on the National Weather Service’s website.
If you receive notification that a tornado warning has been issued for Denton County, take the following actions:
- Secure sensitive areas. If you work in a sensitive area, such as a research lab, kitchen, or cash register, secure these areas before leaving if possible to help prevent theft.
- Go to the tornado shelter area. If outdoors, go indoors. If possible, take shelter in an interior room away from glass or windows on the lowest floor of the building. Before going to the shelter area, note the time that the warning is set to expire. Remain at the shelter area until the warning expires.
- Bring a radio. Bring a NOAA Weather Radio or other radio to the shelter area with you so you can monitor weather conditions and determine when it is safe to return to normal activity.
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Winter Storms
Winter storms typically occur between the months of October and March and bring extremely cold temperatures and precipitation to the region. This combination of cold weather and wet conditions often causes snow and ice accumulations and can result in
- Slick roads and slick sidewalks
- Downed power lines
- Road closures
Take the following actions to prepare for winter storms:
- Dress appropriately. Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Remember to provide adequate protection for your head, neck, hands, and feet as these are the areas where heat most easily escapes your body.
- Winterize your home. When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, the water inside plumbing fixtures may freeze. Water expands as it freezes, which causes pipes to burst. You can help prevent this from occurring by leaving the water running at a slow trickle and insulating all external or exposed water piping when pipes are cold enough to freeze
- Winterize your car. Check windshield wiper blades and replace them promptly when worn out. Ensure fluid levels are at the appropriate levels. Make sure all lights are working. Have your brakes checked. Check that your tires are appropriate for winter conditions and inflated to the appropriate level.
- Avoid driving if possible. Drive only when necessary. Remember: most North Texans do not have experience driving in icy conditions. If you must drive, travel during daylight hours if possible, and stay on heavily-traveled roads where the constant flow of traffic will help keep ice and snow from accumulating.
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