Emergency Procedures

Sheltering in Place is a protective action taken inside a building to protect the building occupants from external hazards, minimize the chance of injury, and/or provide the time necessary to allow for a safe evacuation.  Circumstances that may warrant a shelter-in-place action could include:

• Severe Weather
• Civil Unrest
• Active Threat (see Active Threat)
• Heavy Smoke
• Toxic Gases or Particulates

Practice general safety precautions at all times.  Familiarize yourself with the Emergency Preparedness information provided on this website.  If you observe any suspicious activity on campus, immediately contact University Police at 9-1-1 or use campus Emergency Phones.  Call (415) 338-7200 for a non-emergency and if you are using a cellular telephone.

The notice to Shelter-In-Place will be issued by emergency personnel from University Police or the Emergency Operations Center and can be received in many ways.  Building emergency personnel may receive notice to Shelter-In-Place or a notice may be sent using our campus-wide Emergency Notification System via text messaging, email, cell, and other phones numbers you have listed.

For severe weather and civil unrest that pose a physical threat:

• Stay inside and move away from windows to the inner corridors
• For extreme weather, relocate to lower levels in the building

For external chemical, biological, or radiological incident:

• Stay inside and move to an inner corridor or office
• Close windows and turn off air conditioners and fans
• Move to higher levels of the building if possible. Many chemical agents are heavier than air and tend to hug the ground. Do not try to move within the building, however, if doing so puts you at increased risk of particulate exposure (e.g. external staircases, open exterior doors etc.)
• Make a list of who is in the room and report any injuries/symptoms immediately
• Check your SFSU email and text messages regularly for information or updates
• Stay where you are until authorities have notified you that it is safe to leave

Shelter-In-Place At Home:

• Select a small interior room with no or few windows
• Close and lock all windows and exterior doors
• Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems, and close the fireplace damper
• Bring your family disaster supply kit (link is external) and make sure the radio is working
• Bring your pets into your shelter area
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select (cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency)
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room (during biological, radiological, or chemical exposure)
• Listen to your radio or television for further instructions and updates
• If you are in your car, close windows and turn off vents and air conditioning.

Note: San Francisco State University uses the term Active Threat instead of Active Shooter since these situations can involve various types of weapons (or other destructive means) or could be an unknown threat.

An Active Threat situation can be an individual (or individuals) who appears to be actively engaged in hurting or attempting to hurt people in a populated area. In most cases, active threats can result in the use of firearms and there is no real pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active Threat situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly and require immediate protective actions from individuals to minimize harm. Law enforcement will arrive on scene as soon as they are able, but lives can be lost in the short minutes before they arrive, which is why it is important that everyone takes immediate action to protect themselves and others. Try to be aware of your environment and know your exit plan wherever you are.

If you think there is an active threat situation on campus, first make sure you are safe (see Run/Hide/Fight below) and then immediately call (415) 338-2222 or dial 911. ​​​

How one responds to an active threat will be dictated by the specific circumstances, and you will have to use your best judgment in applying the following best practices: RUN! HIDE! FIGHT!

RUN.

• Don’t second-guess the situation. Get out immediately if at all possible.
• Put something between you and the assailant.
• If you cannot safely get away, or the location of the threat is unknown, your safest option may be to

HIDE.

• Get into a room that can be locked.
• Lock it and use furniture to block/barricade the door(s) if you can do so quickly. Wedge something between the door and the door frame or floor to prevent the door from opening, if possible. If you must physically hold the door shut, do so low to the ground.
• Take cover behind something that will stop a bullet.
• Turn off lights, pull down shades/blinds, curtains: make the room look unoccupied.
• Keep your phone on silent (vibrate still makes noise) so you to not alert the suspect to your location.
• Dial 911 from a campus phone or 415-338-2222 from a cell phone and report to the police (Quietly!)
• Advise dispatcher of the situation and inform them of your location and if others are with you.

LIFTING A LOCKDOWN:

• Remain in place until police, or campus administrator known to you, gives the All Clear.
• Do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
• If you cannot hide and are confronted by the threat,

FIGHT.

• Fight for your life as the last resort.
• Improvise weapons to blind, disorient and bludgeon the intruder.
• Use surprise and sheer numbers to overwhelm the intruder.

To request department trainings on Active Threat, reach out to University Police at upd@sfsu.edu.

Recommended Active Threat Videos:

CSU Active Shooter Safety Training Video 

FBI Active Shooter Education Video (TW: contains sounds of gunfire and blood)

Ready Houston: Run Hide Fight Video (TW: contains on-screen reenactment of close-range gunshots)

In some emergencies, it may be necessary to evacuate the building.  When evacuating, do so effectively, quickly, quietly, and calmly.

• If the building alarm sounds follow all evacuation procedures posted in your building and following all instructions by your Building Emergency Response Coordinator, instructor, or other campus authority
• When asked to evacuate a building do so quickly and calmly to the nearest emergency exit
• Use stairs. DO NOT use elevators
• Assist all persons with accessibility needs when evacuating. If you are unable to safely evacuate someone who is disabled, immediately notify Police and/or Fire personnel and the Building Emergency Response Coordinator of their location. If possible, help individual move to an area of refuge in stairwell and close fire door from hallway. See Building Evacuation Chairs for information about the evacuation chairs in campus buildings.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from affected buildings or structures
• Do not return to the building until instructed to do so by Building Emergency Response Coordinator or Emergency Personnel

EVERYONE MUST EVACUATE THE BUILDING. NO EXCEPTIONS!

When you feel an earthquake, receive an earthquake alert, or during an earthquake drill, do the following:

• DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees
• COVER your head and neck. Crawl underneath a table or desk for additional shelter
• HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand. Keep covering your head/neck with your other hand until the shaking stops. Most injuries caused by earthquakes are from falling objects or due to people trying to move while the ground is still shaking.

If you are in a hallway, drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.

If you are outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines. Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops.

DO NOT enter or exit the building during the shaking.

Evacuation is not automatic: Check your surroundings to see if you have leave safely. Evacuate if directed by emergency personnel, if fire alarm is sounding, or if interior damage indicates high potential for secondary hazards (gas/electrical damage, fire/chemical risk, collapse hazards, etc.) Check for hazards before exiting the building.

DO NOT USE ELEVATORS

BE PREPARED FOR AFTERSHOCKS. These can happen at any time (or not at all) and should be responded to exactly the same as the initial earthquake.

Earthquakes can happen at anytime and almost anywhere. It is important to practice how to be safe during an earthquake; visit shakeout.org for more resources on how to stay safe during an earthquake at work, school, or home. 

At the first sign of fire: 

• Notify campus police at (415) 338-2222
• Evacuate the building or area
• Activate the fire alarm as you leave
• DO NOT use elevators, use the stairs
• Feel closed doors with the back of your hand. If hot, do not open doors; find another escape route
• If trapped in the building, hang an article of clothing, towel, sheet, etc. from a window to signal Emergency Responders. Stay near a window and close to the floor. Close (do not lock) as many doors as possible between you and the fire if you can do so safely. Shout at regular intervals to alert Emergency Personnel

For small fires such as in a waste basket, locate the fire extinguisher and use if you can do so safely.

Review Fire Extinguisher Training and Use for more information.

For information about fire extinguisher training, visit EHS website: ehs.sfsu.edu 

Hazardous Materials are anything flammable, toxic, corrosive, reactive, oxygenic, cryogenic, or radioactive. If you suspect a Hazardous Materials release, exposure, or danger - immediately notify UPD at (415) 338-2222.

Personal Exposure to Chemical Spills. If a chemical spill comes in contact with the body or clothing, get yourself or the exposed individual to the nearest deluge shower / eyewash station, activate the shower / eyewash and flush the affected area for 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing. If there is no shower / eyewash available, use lukewarm tap water instead.

Note: Do not use water for water-reactive substance or if unknown. Consult with EHS and/or First Responders.

NOTE: Lab instructors or supervisors - isolate contaminated persons, obtain names and notify emergency personnel

For small liquid or solid spills not involving immediate danger to lives or property (e.g. classroom, hallway, or contained area outdoors):

• Evacuate and limit access to the affected area.
  • Evacuations should be upwind and uphill from the release location
• Eliminate open flames and spark-creating operations.
• Provide a description of the material (solid, liquid, odor, color, etc.) and time of release to UPD. Be as specific as possible about the type, amount and location of material released.
• Provide time of release and information regarding the area of contamination, any hazards inside or outside the room or buildings, and information as to the materials involved or stored in the affected area

For gas leaks or gas odor:

• Evacuate and limit access to the affected area
  • Evacuations should be upwind and uphill from the release location
• Eliminate open flames and spark-creating operations
• Continue to move away from the source while trying to find a place to shelter-in-place (indoors)
• Await further instructions. Do not return to the area of release until campus authorities have given the All Clear

Report ALL bomb threat calls and suspicious items to University Police at 911 from a campus phone, dialing 415-338-2222 from a cell phone, or going to the nearest Blue Light Emergency Phones located across campus.

Suspicious Items

If you observe a suspicious package/item:

• DO NOT TOUCH suspicious items.
• REPORT ALL THREATS TO UPD AT (415) 338-2222 or by calling 911 from a campus phone
• Report the location of the suspicious item
• Clear the area immediately 

Bomb Threat

If you receive a phone threat, try to keep the caller talking and ask the following information:

• WHEN is the bomb/threat going to explode or occur?
• WHERE is the bomb/threat?
• WHAT does the bomb look like? WHAT kind of bomb it is? WHAT will make it explode?
• WHY did you place the bomb?

Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible. Note anything that may aid in identifying the caller, such as background sounds, accents, voice register, emotional state etc.

SF State University Police will coordinate with SFPD to conduct a detailed bomb search.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING!

Local wildfires that impact nearby areas will be monitored by campus officials to include close monitoring of air quality for SF State campuses. In the event of poor air quality due to smoke in the air, campus officials will communicate updates in the event that classes or activities will be impacted.

SF State Emergency Operations Center uses the official federal air quality monitoring site AirNow.gov to determine current and predicted AQI levels impacted the San Francisco Bay Area.

SF State's Wildfire Smoke Safety Plan can be accessed here.

Please visit our other resources to get more info about wildfires in California.

In the event of a power outage, contact Facilities Work Desk at 415-338-1568 to report the extent and type of the outage.

If someone is trapped in an elevator when power is lost, contact UPD via 911 on a campus phone or 415-338-2222 from your cell phone.

Chemical Hazards

• Without electricity, critical heating, cooling, pumping, pressure and vacuum systems may not operate. Assess lab experiments in progress for hazards.
• Check chemical storage areas for problems. Pay particular attention to water-reactive and energetic (explosive) materials.
• Check to see if fume hoods are operating properly and no hood alarms are sounding. If safe to do so, close the sash on any hood that is not operating properly and evacuate the lab. Do not re-enter without approval from campus authorities.
• For any confirmed or suspected chemical exposures, follow procedures in HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Building Fire and Life Safety Systems

• If an entire building loses power, determine if there is emergency lighting in the building. It will be evident by illuminated exit signs, lights on fire and smoke alarms, and may include dim lighting in specific areas such as stairwells and restrooms
• If there is no emergency lighting, it may be unsafe for you to be in the building. Gather your belongings and evacuate carefully, bringing other building occupants with you as you leave the building.
• If emergency lighting and fire systems area operational – and you have not been instructed to evacuate – you may remain where you are as long as there is sufficient natural (or other) lighting that you are not at risk from: chemical hazards, trip hazards, or security concerns. As always: if in doubt, get out!

Communications Systems

• Contact the IT Help Desk at service@sfsu.edu or (415) 338-1420 for problems with cell phone service or Wi-Fi access on campus.