Emergency Preparedness

Lockdown and Shelter in Place Procedures

There are a number of emergency situations during which building or facility evacuation is not the best solution and may not be advisable. In such cases, either a lockdown or a shelter in place may be preferable.

Shelter in Place

You may be advised to "shelter in place" rather than evacuate your building during emergency situations such as large hazardous material releases or severe weather emergencies. Advice to shelter in place will be conveyed through official university notification systems.

• Stay inside the building or go indoors as quickly as possible if you are working outside.
• Close windows to provide tighter seal against chemicals vapors, smoke and/or fumes.
• Locate supplies you may need such as food, water, radio, or flashlights if you have them.
• In case of a tornado, go to a central room or corridor where there are no windows and few doors.
• In the event of a hazardous material release, turn off fans, air conditioning or ventilation systems, if you have control of these systems. Most UMD building ventilation systems are centrally controlled and will be shut down during such events.
• Stay tuned and monitor official university emergency notification systems information for further instructions.

Emergency Lockdown

A lockdown may be preferable during situations such as the presence of a hostile or armed intruder inside a building.

A lockdown requires locking doors, windows, and barricading oneself to block entry to a campus facility, a classroom, or to an office compound. Since many UMD classrooms, work, and service areas are not lockable, there is no official UMD policy at the present time requiring staff to practice a lockdown. University staff who wish to practice a lockdown may do so at their own discretion.

The following are general lockdown procedures:

• Lock or barricade classroom doors.
• Close windows and window treatments.
• Turn off the lights.
• Instruct everyone to remain silent and not to go into hallways.
• Crouch down in areas out of sight from doors and windows to conceal yourself as much as possible.
• If the fire alarm sounds unexpectedly, do not evacuate the building unless
  • you have firsthand knowledge that there is a fire in the building
  • you are in imminent danger
  • you have been advised by UMD police to evacuate the building
• If you are in hallways during the emergency, seek shelter immediately in the nearest classroom or office compound.
• If you are in outdoor areas, you should immediately take cover.