Loss of power and utilities:

Electrical power routinely fails at the campus during severe rain storms and high wind conditions.  The flooding conditions on Randolph Boulevard probably also contribute to such outages since the power supply lines enter the campus property from that road.

The campus employs uninterrupted power supply systems on the computer servers and a few other key electronic components, however when there is a power outage there are still items that must be reset manually.

The fire alarm box in the main hall must be reset and the trouble acknowledged as well as the actual call alarm box located in the building Demarc outside.

Action

If there is a power failure during the normal work day, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time of the power failure will decide whether or not to evacuate the building, send the staff home, and cancel classes.

Since it cannot be known for certain what has caused the outage, the front office, bookstore, and financial services offices will immediately close the door in each area leading to the main hallway.  Any students in the administrative side of the building will be asked to leave immediately and escorted to the main hallway, and no one is to be permitted into the administrative area as long as the power remains out.

If there is a power failure after normal work hours, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time of the power failure or the Security Guard will decide whether or not to evacuate the building and cancel classes for safety.  In the absence of the Security Guard any instructor on site can make that determination.  Reasonableness would dictate that a sufficient time should pass before making such a decision and that the decision should be based on reasonable expectations that the power will not be restored prior to the normal dismissal of classes.

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