Emergency Response Priorities
The College has established the following order of priorities for emergency response on campus:
Priority I: Protect Lives
Examples – Manage building evacuations; fire suppression; hazardous materials release response; search and rescue; medical aid; communications; utilities stabilization
Priority II: Protect Facilities and the Environment
Examples – Building inspections; facilities security; shelter; food / water
Priority III: Restore Operations
Examples – Resident re-occupancy or relocation; mutual aid arrangements; vital records security; resume academic schedule; safeguard research
The College Campus Security Director works closely with the College’s Workplace Safety Director to lead the Emergency Management group and oversee its policy and procedural content. This group is comprised of representatives from units across the College, who continually work to enhance our Emergency Operations Plan.
Crime Log Data
Principia College campus security will create, maintain, and make available to any person requesting the daily crime log during normal business hours. This Daily Crime Log will include the nature, date, time, general location of each crime that occurs within the institution’s Clery Geography, and the disposition of the complaint, if known.
Principia will make an entry or an addition to an entry to the log within two (2) business days, as defined in 34 CFR 668.46(a), unless that disclosure is prohibited by law or would jeopardize the confidentiality of the victim.
Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
Individual campus departments play a key role through the development of site-specific department Emergency Action Plans (EAP) to ensure personnel can:
- Identify and use on-site emergency equipment (e.g., fire alarms, extinguishers, AEDs)
- Implement emergency response procedures based on the nature of the emergency (e.g., earthquakes, hazardous material spills, extended power outage)
- Evacuate buildings and relocate to designated safe assembly areas. Department Emergency Action Plans are reviewed and evaluated annually on a periodic basis
The Emergency Operations Plan, which is an all-hazards plan, also includes a Tornado Plan consistent with National Weather Service's Storm Ready program and a Pandemic Flu Plan that existed before the 2019 pandemic, and played a crucial role in helping Principia College continue in-person classroom learning with most students remaining on-campus. The Emergency Management Group recommends best practices and policies for safety in the College community and coordinates training to strengthen the Emergency Operations Plan’s effectiveness.
The Campus Security Department conducts announced and unannounced drills and exercises, often in conjunction with the Student Life department and Dean of Academics Office. Each drill and exercise are followed up by an after-action report that is designed for assessment and evaluation to assess and improve the emergency capabilities of the College. The Department of Campus Security documents and retains records of all drills and evaluations conducted by the College.
(a) Evacuation Procedures
In the event of an emergency/fire alarm, occupants must evacuate from the building. Departmental Emergency Action Plans provide detailed information about the evacuation procedures for individual buildings. The EAPs are listed below.
As a general guideline, procedures include the following steps: stop working as soon as it is safe to do so, and gather personal belongings, such as glasses, keys, and purse or handbag. Avoiding elevators, use the nearest door with an EXIT sign to leave the building. Proceed to your designated assembly area, report for a head count, and stay in the area until you receive direction from emergency responders or authorized Principia College staff.
(b) Evacuation of Campus Buildings
In case of fire, use stairs for the exit. Do not use the elevator. Quickly move to the outside of the building using the nearest door marked with an EXIT sign. Be certain that all people in the area are evacuated immediately. Help those who need special assistance. Report immediately to the designated assembly area to do a headcount (see evacuation locations below). Do not reenter the building and wait for instructions from emergency response personnel.
Emergency Phone Numbers:
Fire, Police, Medical – 911
Campus Security – Ext. 5111 or 618.374.5111
Emergency Services:
- Jerseyville Community Hospital
400 Maple Summit Rd. Jerseyville IL 62052
618.498.6402 - Alton Memorial Hospital
1 Memorial Dr. Alton IL 62002
618.463.7311
Poison Control:
Illinois Poison Control Center – 800.222.1222
Calmly state:
- Your name
- Building and room location of emergency
- Nature of the emergency: fire, chemical spill, etc.
- Injuries
- Hazards present which may affect responding emergency personnel
- A phone number near the scene where you can be reached
Fire Procedures:
If a situation arises in a house that is likely to trigger the fire alarm, the person present should take action before the alarm sounds:
Determine if the situation is safe or not
- If the situation is safe (i.e., a toaster fire that has been put out, a smoke machine, etc.) let the Resident Coordinators know as soon as possible. If they are not present call the Gatehouse to warn them an alarm may be triggered (618.374.5111)
- If the situation is not safe, the person present should find and activate the nearest pull station
If the situation is considered safe, the RC must respond to assess the situation personally
If the RC confirms the situation is safe, they must call and inform the Gatehouse officer
