Emergency Management
Mission & Goals
WesternU’s mission is to support our students, faculty, and staff to ensure that as a university we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards that may impact our campus.
Our goal is to develop, maintain, and sustain a campus-wide, comprehensive, all-hazard, risk based emergency management program that engages the whole community.
Emergency Preparedness Department of Environmental Health & Safety
Inclement weather conditions can happen at any time. Always be safe and avoid any unnecessary travel. If you have to travel, please be prepared and drive cautiously. Less traffic on the roads will allow first responders and maintenance crews to provide critical services more effectively. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind during the winter season when there is the possibility of inclement weather:
- If conditions are unsafe to get to campus, stay at home or any other safe location. Employees: please be sure to notify your supervisor if you do not plan to come to work.
- Employees: If you are on campus and weather conditions worsen to the point that it may influence your safety on your journey home, speak with your supervisor about your concerns. Your supervisor will attempt to come to a mutually acceptable solution in accordance with University policy.
- In the unlikely event that our Campus has to close due to inclement weather conditions, a phone call, text message and email notification will be sent alerting all faculty, staff and students. Additionally, you may call our emergency line: California 909-706-3000 or Oregon 541-259-0700 for the latest reports or check our WesternU social media outlets. We will make every reasonable attempt to update the messages each work/school day before 7:00 a.m.
Injury and illness are the most common of all campus-related emergencies. If a serious injury or illness occurs, remain calm and proceed as follows:
Call 911 from any phone. If a cell phone is used, please call campus security at 909-706-3000 to report the incident. If a campus phone was used to make the 911 call, the University has a reverse 911 system which will immediately notify Campus Security on where the call originated.
The 911 operator will ask you for the following information:
- Your name.
- The nature and severity of the medical problem.
- The campus location of the victim.
- An estimated age and gender of the victim.
- Whether or not the victim is conscious and breathing.
- If victim has an emergency medical ID and if so, give all information to the security officer or 911 dispatcher.
- Administer first aid to the extent possible based on your level of training.
In case of minor injury or illness, an injured employee may go to Kaiser on the Job or to the nearest urgent care facility.
All injuries must be reported via the on-line incident report form. Notify security at ext. 3000 from any campus phone or from any other type of phone call 909-706-3000.
- Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as hanging objects, lighting fixtures or furniture.
- If you are unable to take cover under a sturdy desk or table, drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.
- Do not enter or exit the building during the shaking—there is danger from falling debris.
- Do not use the elevators.
- If you are outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines. Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops. Do not enter any building until authorized to do so.
- If you are in a car, stop in the safest place away from underpasses/overpasses, bridges, etc. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops.
BE PREPARED FOR AFTERSHOCKS!
- After the earthquake, evacuate the building and stay away from damaged buildings/structures.
- Proceed to your designated evacuation area and do not re-enter buildings until told it is safe to do so.
- If it is safe to leave the premises, you may do so after checking in with your supervisor.
In general how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one shooter involved in the same situation.
If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.
When an active shooter is encountered, consider your options: Run, Hide or Fight. If you are in a position to run and get away, go blocks away out of the situation. If you can get to a lockable room, lock the door and silence your cell phone and get low to the ground behind anything that might stop a bullet. If you are left with no option, then fight for your life. Control the barrel of their weapon and you control where the bullet goes, keep it pointed in a safe direction. If possible, yell for help and “dog pile” the suspect to the ground and keep body weight on them until police arrive.
If you encounter a locked building door, please continue to run in the opposite direction of the shooter. Personnel are taught not to open doors and possibly let the shooter in.
If you are inside and a shooter is outside your building:
- Proceed to a room that can be locked, enter and use furniture to block the doors.
- Turn off lights and get down on the floor below window level.
- Silence cell phones. Put your phone on silent, not vibration mode so you don’t alert the suspect to your location.
- Call 911 if you have information. Do not risk your safety or others to do so.
- Advise the dispatcher of what is taking place if it is safe to speak.
- Inform him/her of your location.
- Remain in place until the police, or a campus administrator known to you, gives the all clear.
- Do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
- Keep calm, quiet, and out of sight.
- Follow instructions of emergency personnel.
Remember the tactics taught in the active shooter response training. If the gunman enters your hiding place, take them by surprise and fight for your life. There are no rules, other than you winning the fight.
Report ALL bomb threat calls to and Campus Security at ext. 3000 from a campus phone or 909-706-3000 from any other type of phone.
Any person receiving a phone call that a bomb or other explosive device has been placed on campus should ask the caller:
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Where is the bomb located?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What does it look like?
- Why did you place the bomb?
Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible. Listen carefully to the caller and try to determine and record the following:
- Date and time of the call.
- Exact words of the caller.
- Age and sex of the caller.
- Speech pattern and/or accent.
- Emotional state.
- Background noises (e.g., traffic).
Do not ever make a threat, even as a “joke.”
Have a healthy suspicion that causes you to alert faculty or staff when something does not seem right.
For major chemical spills where hazardous or medical assistance is required:
- Call 911 from a campus phone or from a cell phone. Afterwards, call security at ext. 3000.
- Immediately evacuate and limit access to the affected area. Close doors.
- Avoid breathing vapors. All evacuations should be upwind from the release location.
- If the spill is flammable, turn off any ignition sources if safe to do so.
Unless immediate medical attention is needed, all persons who have been potentially exposed in a large spill event should report to emergency personnel at the incident command post site and notify the incident commander, or their designee, that they have been exposed.
For small spills not involving immediate danger to lives or property:
- Confine the spill.
- Secure the immediate area and limit access to authorized personnel.
- Contact Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) at ext. 8231 (if you are calling from a different phone, dial 909-469-8231)
- Identify yourself and report the hazardous spill location.
- Be as specific as possible about the type and amount of the spill/material released.
- SDS sheets are currently found in SiteHawk (located on desktops across campus). We also have SDS binders outside most of our research labs that can be used as a resource.
Should a railroad emergency occur, e.g., a railcar explosion, chemical leak or a train derailment on or close to the campus, take the following actions:
- Do not approach the area.
- Call 911 from any campus phone or your cell phone. Give your name and describe the location and details of the accident to the dispatcher. Do not hang up until told to do so. Treat the accident as a potential hazardous materials site due to things such as diesel fuel leaking from the train engine as well as other items being transported on the train.
- In the event a train derailment involves a chemical spill, emergency responders will identify the chemicals and determine if an evacuation is necessary or if you should just a shelter in place. If you are outside, attempt to get upwind (into the wind) and uphill of the contaminated area to keep hazardous materials and any plume behind you.
- After you have secured your own safety, notify emergency personnel of any injured people or if individuals are still in the affected building or accident site. If requested, assist emergency crews as necessary.
- Listen or check your phone for updates on the status of the campus, e.g., open or closed. This information can also be found at www.westernu.edu
Unless authorized by emergency personnel, keep clear of the incident command post that could be set up near the disaster site.
If you discover fire or see smoke:
Gather the following information and call 911 from any campus phone or from a cell phone. Identify yourself and report the following:
- Building name and address.
- Room/location of fire.
- Type of fire.
- Smoke or flame.
- Smoke odor.
For large fires, evacuate the building and pull a fire alarm — do not take the elevator.
If you are the last person out of a room, close the door behind you — do not lock the door.
For minor fires such as smoke in a waste basket, locate the nearest fire extinguisher. Call security at ext. 3000 from any campus phone or from any other type of phone call 909-706-3000 to report the incident.
If you become trapped inside a building during a fire:
- Call 911 from campus phone or cell phone. Tell them your location and that you need fire department assistance to get out.
- Stay near a window and close to the floor.
- If possible, signal for help and/or call Campus Security at 909-706-3000.
Fire Extinguisher Instructions (PASS)
P is for PULL– Pull the pin, breaking the tamper seal
A is for AIM – Aim the nozzle or hose low at the base of the fire
S is for SQUEEZE – Squeeze the lever above the handle to expel the extinguisher agent. To stop, release the lever
S is for SWEEP – Sweep the nozzle or hose side to side at the base of the fire until the fire is put out
Continue to monitor the area. If the fire reignites repeat Aim —> Squeeze —> Sweep
For more information regarding Fire Extinguishers please visit Fire Extinguisher Usage.
Some emergencies may require you to take shelter in your office, classroom or lab. If you are notified to shelter-in-place or you find you cannot exit because of greater dangers outside:
- Move to an interior room or building space away from as many windows as possible.
- Do not use elevators.
- Bring everyone into the room.
- If available, take a radio with you to monitor the news.
- Shut and lock all windows and doors.
- Make a list of who is there and call Campus Security and ext. 3000 or from any other type of phone call 909-706-3000 to report who is in the room with you.
- If available, check your WesternU email regularly for messages giving you further instructions or go to www.westernu.edu.
- Keep calm and review evacuation procedures with others.
- Stay where you are until otherwise notified to move. Wait for a police officer, fireman, or security officer for further directions.
- Follow instructions of emergency personnel.
- Do not leave the room until notified to do so by emergency personnel.
Building evacuation will occur via one of the following mechanisms:
- When a building evacuation alarm is sounded, or
- Upon notification by a Campus Security officer, university official, building safety coordinator, or by a floor captain.
When a notice to evacuate the building is given:
- Take your personal belongings with you.
- Walk quickly to the nearest marked exit.
- Do not use the elevators.
- Assist people with disabilities or special needs in exiting the building.
- Once outside the building, move to designated evacuation area.
- Stay at least 100 feet away from any affected buildings or structures.
- Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.
- DO NOT return to an evacuated building unless directed to do so by a Campus Security officer or university official.
Under no circumstances should any member of the university community unilaterally decide to ignore a fire alarm, fire drill, or a request for evacuation in order to continue working without interruption.
Emergency preparedness begins at home. How well you and your family survive in an emergency often depends upon how well you prepare beforehand. The information provided below can be applied to emergency planning at home as well as in the work place.
Before An Emergency:
- Conduct a room hazard hunt — know the safe and danger spots.
- Secure and anchor furniture.
- Know how to shut off utilities.
- Know where fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
- Have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Create an emergency plan with your family that includes plans for:
- Communications
- Emergency finances
- Evacuation
- Alternate transportation
- Practice your plans with your roommates or family!
- Create an emergency supplies kit of food, water and supplies for your home, car, your workplace, and your animals.
- Create/store on your phone an out-of-state contact list.
- Try to have cash on hand and credit cards.
- Store electronic copies of important documents.
- Medications and prescriptions.
- Know the emergency plans at your children’s school, child care, etc.
- Learn first aid and CPR.
Supplies in your emergency backpack:
Emergency backpack
- Battery powered flashlight
- 2 D-cell batteries
- AM/FM battery powered radio
- 4 AA batteries
- Rain poncho
- Roll of duct tape
- Water rations
- Water container
- Food rations
- Dust mask
- 8″ scissors
- 6 moist towelettes
- 2 hand sanitizers
- Whistle
Comfort kit:
- Fluoride toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Shampoo
- Hand and body lotion
- Bar of facial and body soap
- Pocket tissues
- Washcloth
- Comb
- Roll-on antiperspirant deodorant
Portfolio first aid kit:
- 10 Adhesive bandages 3/4″ x 3″
- 5 Adhesive bandages 1″ x 3″
- 5 Adhesive bandages 3/8″ x 1.5″
- 1 Adhesive bandage 2” x 41/5″
- 1 Fingertip bandage
- 1 Knuckle bandage
- 2 non-adherent bandages 2″ x 3″
- 1 roll gauze 2″ x 4 yards
- 4 Sterile gauze pads
- 10 BZK towelettes
- Roll first aid tape 1/2″ x 5 yards
- Tweezer
- CPR barrier
- Pen light
- Ball point pen
- Emergency blanket
- Pair nitrile gloves
- First aid guide
It is also recommended that you keep a pair comfortable walking shoes and other personal necessities like prescription medications.
Batteries should be swapped out yearly.
Emergency Operations Center
In the event of a major emergency the university’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated to manage and coordinate resources, personnel, the flow of information as well as strategies required to deal effectively with an emergency.
The EOC is the central command and coordination point for disaster response for WesternU. The EOC is where campus emergency management staff are deployed to coordinate the response to an emergency event impacting the campus, and any requests from or to the City/County EOCs, if needed.
Criteria for Activation of the EOC:
- Resources beyond university capabilities are required.
- The emergency will be of a long duration.
- Major policy decisions will or may be required.
- Local or state of emergency is declared.
- Activation of the EOC will be advantageous to the successful management of the emergency.