1. University Emergency Procedures

The following procedures follow the guidelines of the Austin Peay State University Emergency Action Plan (EAP). These procedures are designed to provide basic information that can better prepare you in the event of an emergency or critical event. The procedures are not are not designed to give definitive answers for every type of emergency, because each incident is unique and constantly evolving. Therefore, only those involved in the incident can make decisions that they believe are correct to ensure their own safety.

1.1 Emergency Notification Systems

The APSU Alert Notification System is made of four systems: outdoor warning sirens, RAVE Alert notifications. Rave Guardian app, and Alertus Desktop notifications. Other forms of communication that APSU may use to broadcast messages are:

X
Facebook
University website
Local news outlets

RAVE Alert

RAVE Alert communicates official information during an emergency that threatens the health and safety of members of the campus community or disrupts normal campus operations. All APSU faculty, staff, and students are registered for the RAVE Alert with their university email address. All are encouraged to add their cell number to their APSU Alert accounts.

RAVE Guardian App

RAVE Guardian is a personal safety app that APSU provides to all faculty, staff, and students to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate with APSU Police and 911 to enhance your overall safety. The app additionally provides location-based safety alerts, campus safety directories, and anonymous reporting of campus activities.

Download “RAVE Guardian” from the Apple App Store or Google Play and sign up using your APSU email address.

Alertus Desktop Notifications

Alertus can perform university-wide alerts from APSU Public Safety. If an alert is issued it will take over every university-owned computer with important information. The system is tested every third Thursday of the month.

In addition, every university-owned computer on the secure network has the Desktop Activator button to silently alert APSU Police of any incident in progress. The computer must be hardwired to the network to provide your exact location.

Outdoor Warning System

Three sirens are located on campus and provide warnings for individuals who are only outdoors. They are not designed to be heard inside buildings.

If the National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or a Tornado Warning, you will hear a ten-second tone with the spoken text of the alert. The alert will repeat. When the threat is over, there may be an “All Clear” tone and spoken text.

1.2 Severe Weather

The following outlines procedures to be followed in the event that severe weather poses a risk to the safety of all faculty, staff, students, and APSU property.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood and damage can be more than one mile wide to 50 miles long. Interesting facts about tornadoes:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning
They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up
The average tornado moves from Southwest to Northeast.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water

Tornado WARNING at airport:

City sirens will sound
Take shelter immediately
- Each bathroom, to include the bathroom located on the hangar floor
- The IT/storage closet
Go to the lowest floor of the building
Under stairwells and in bathrooms
Keep away from windows and doors
Stay in place until “All Clear”

Severe Thunderstorm

In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm WARNING at airport:

Take shelter indoors immediately

Power Outage

Some buildings on campus have emergency generators and NOT THE HANGAR.

Report a power outage on campus, call Physical Plant at 931-221-7465 or visit the Physical Plants Website.

Please take the following precautions:

Turn off or disconnect any equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out
Leave one light turned on so you know when your power returns
Leave the doors of the refrigerator and freezer closed
Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio can provide the latest information
Eliminate unnecessary travel. Traffic signals may stop working

After the Storm Passes

After the severe weather passes through the area, please remember the following:

Be aware of fallen trees and power lines
Throw away food if the power outage was longer than 4 hours
Use a portable generator only in an open area

1.3 Active Shooter

Immediately decide your best course of action based on your specific situation.

RUN: If there is a clear and safe escape path, run. Leave your belongings behind, keep your hands visible, and move away from the danger area.
HIDE: If you cannot escape safely, find a secure place to hide. Lock and barricade doors, turn off lights, silence your phone, and stay away from windows.
FIGHT: As a last resort, and only if your life is in immediate danger, act with aggression to disrupt or incapacitate the attacker. Improvise weapons and work with others if possible.

Call 911, Campus Police at 931-221-7786, or text silently with APSU PD through the RAVE Guardian app as soon as you are out of immediate danger.

Let the dispatcher know the following:

Location of the shooter
Description of the shooter
Number of potential victims
Describe the weapons, if you can
Even if you cannot speak, keep the line open

When Police arrive, do the following:

Do not assist, their job is to stop the shooting
Put down any items in your hands
Keep your hands raised and visible at all times
Avoid quick movements
Avoid pointing, screaming, or yelling
Do not stop an officer and ask for help or directions

1.4 Fire

When the building’s smoke alarm sounds, state law mandates that everyone must evacuate the building.

Please keep the following in mind, in the event of a fire:

Close your door as you leave
Know the least two escape routes from wherever you are
If you see smoke or fire, activate the alarm as you exit
Go to the nearest exit
Do not use the elevator
Stay low to the ground, if you see smoke
Once outside, stay outside
Do not re-enter the building until emergency responders have given the “all clear”
If your clothing catches on fire – Stop, Drop, and Roll

A fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire. However, fire extinguishers only last for about 30 seconds. You should only consider using a fire extinguisher if you have been properly trained on its use and feel confident that you can use one safely.

1.5 Hazardous Material or Spill

Hazardous materials are substances that are flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, noxious, corrosive, oxidizing, irritant, or radioactive. A hazardous material release or spill can kill you or affect your health or property. An incident can result in the evacuation of a few people, a section of a facility, or an entire neighborhood.

To help protect yourself, you must obtain and have access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous materials in your location.If there is a release or spill, please do the following:

Evacuate the area
Secure the location
Contact APSU Environmental Health and Safety at 931-221-6103 or 911

1.6 Medical Emergencies

APSU Students

During hours of operation, APSU students are eligible for care at Boyd Health Services in the Ard Building, Contact Campus Police at 931-221-7786.

APSU Employees

Emergency treatment for job-related injury or medical illness can be obtained by calling 911 or Campus Police at 931-221-7786 or 931-221-4848.

An Employer’s Report of Illness or Injury form must be completed for all incidents of job-related illness and injury. Please contact APSU Human Resources or APSU Environmental Health and Safety

Contacting Emergency Personnel

When contacting 911 of Campus Police, please provide the dispatcher the following information:

Your name and telephone number
Location (building and room number)
What happened
Where will someone meet the ambulance

1.7 Psychological Crisis

A psychological crisis exist when an individual is threatening harm to themselves or others, or is agitated and disruptive.

In an unusual or potentially dangerous situation occurs, remember the following:

Never try to handle a situation that you feel might be dangerous
Notify Campus Police at 931-221-7786, and clearly state that you need immediate assistance
Give your name, telephone number, location, and nature of the problem

Who Do You Call

Table Content
Column 1	Column 2
Suicide Hotline	988 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
If the situation becomes violent or life threatening	911 or APSU PD at 931-221-7786
APSU Counseling Center (Students)	931-221-6162
Employee Assistance Plan (Employee)	800-308-4934 or 931-221-7177 (APSU HR)
Crisis Hotline	1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Community Crisis Hotline	1-800-928-8000
Rape Crisis Center	1-800-656-4673

1.8 Bomb Threats and Suspicious Packages

Bomb Threats

If you receive the bomb threat, report the time and phone number or the way the threat was received. In addition, report as much information as you can to the Police about the threat.

Call 911 immediately, if the caller is still on the phone. Call 911 from another phone. Or call APSU PD at 931-221-7786.

If you receive a verbal bomb threat, ask the caller the following question and make note of as many details about the conversation as you can.

When will it explode?
Where is it right now?
What does it look like?
What kind of bomb is it?
What will make it explode?
Did you place the bomb?
- Why?
Where are you calling from?
What is your name?
What is your address?

Suspicious Packages

Please follow the following steps, is you suspect a suspicious package:

STOP – Do not handle, shake, or bump the package
ISOLATE – Shield yourself from the package. Do not open, touch, taste, or smell the package
CALL – 911 or Campus Police at 931-221-7786
EVACUATE – Leave immediately. Stay together in a safe place until you receive the “All Clear"