Wednesday September 26, 2001

Terrorist attacks prompt officials to reconsider safer evacuation policies

UA officials are reviewing the campus' emergency evacuation plans as a result of the terrorist attacks that occurred on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

"Now we are looking at everything," said of the University of Arizona Police Department Cmdr. Brian Seastone.

Seastone said there is now heightened security and more officers patrolling the campus since the terrorist attacks. However, he refused to comment on any specific changes or go into detail about the current evacuation plan.

Seastone said each UA building has its own evacuation plan.

"Each event, each building, each occasion is different," he said. "In the event of an emergency, it is important to always follow the commands of the police officers or emergency personnel."

Seastone also stressed the importance of evacuating buildings in a calm and orderly manner.

"You need to know where the exits and stairwells are," Seastone said.

Herbert Wagner, the associate director for the Department of Risk Management and Safety, agrees that preparation is key during any emergency evacuation.

"We encourage everyone on campus to set up an evacuation plan. Each department is supposed to have their own plan," Wagner said.

He said he believes a plan should include fire drills, a command post and a selected spot away from the building where employees can meet.

All 240 UA buildings have fire alarms, but only the 21 residence halls and the campus health building actually conduct fire drills.

"The average building, say the size of Coronado (Residence Hall), can be evacuated in less than five minutes. It doesn't take long if people are orderly and do what they are supposed to," Wagner said.

Wagner said a fire alarm goes off on the UA campus about once every day. The affected building is not necessarily evacuated. Sometimes the alarm is just a precautionary measure that tells us there might be a problem in the future if the device is not fixed.

In the event of a catastrophe, the university will comply with the general evacuation plans for Pima County. All university staff, faculty and students should follow the orders of the Tucson Fire Department and all law enforcement officials, he said.

The UA policy for fire alarm evacuation has specific instructions for handicapped persons. The policy states that all handicapped persons who are not able to exit the buildings should proceed to the nearest enclosed stairwell.

Building supervisors should inform the Tucson Fire Department of any handicapped people in the building.

"University personnel should never attempt to carry anyone down the stairs," the policy states.

The UA, along with Pima County, have formed a mutual aid agreement in the event of a catastrophe. Pima County will use any resources available to aid the university and the UA will help the community in any available way.

"As far as major disasters go, it has never happened on the university campus. If it ever occurred, we would have to defer to UAPD and the Pima County evacuation plans," Wagner said.