Emergency Evacuation Procedures

All evacuation drills are coordinated by the Safety Committee at Seattle Central College (with assistance from Campus Operations and the Public Safety Department) during each academic school year for all buildings on the main campus.

The emergency response and evacuation procedures are tested (quarterly) for the entire campus. Students learn the locations of the emergency exits in the buildings and are provided guidance about the direction they should travel when exiting each facility for a short–term building evacuation.

The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency. At Seattle Central College, evacuation drills are used as a way to educate and train occupants on fire safety issues specific to their building.

During the drill, occupants "practice" drill procedures and familiarize themselves with the location of exits and the sound of the fire alarm. In addition to educating the occupants of each building about the evacuation procedures during the drills, the process also provides an opportunity to test the operation of fire alarm system components.

Evacuation drills are monitored by Seattle Central College Public Safety Department and the College's Safety Committee to evaluate egress and behavioral patterns. A report may be prepared that identifies deficiencies and recommends improvements to the appropriate departments/offices for consideration. Students receive information about evacuation and shelter–in–place procedures during the first week of each quarter and during other educational sessions that they can participate in throughout the year.

Seattle Central College will publish a summary of its emergency response and evacuation procedures in conjunction with all drills or exercises during the academic year.