Shelter-in-Place

Large rooms within buildings may serve as shelter-in-place locations. The guests and occupants are to follow the direction of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and contract security personnel. Throughout Prince George's Community College, the interior stairwells are fire-rated as shelter-in-place locations on each floor.

Once shelter-in-place instructions have been communicated, students, faculty, staff, and visitors should either stay in the building they are in when they get the message or if outside, go to the nearest building and await further instructions which that will be communicated via Owl Alert.

DPS and the DPS Emergency Communications Operator will be responsible for keeping the college community informed of the situation.

Shelter-In-Place Protocol

1. Remain calm. Use common sense. Do not jeopardize your safety or the safety of others.
2. Close doors, turn off machinery, and limit telephone use. In laboratories, pull down sashes on chemical fume hoods and discontinue laboratory processes that may create hazards if chemical fume hoods or building ventilation systems are turned off.
3. Stay alert for emergency communications or additional instructions.
4. If moving to safety or shelter areas, elevators should not be used.
5. DPS personnel, contract security, faculty, and staff will assist in moving individuals to safety and shelter areas.
6. Facilities, if needed, initiate procedures and controls for building ventilation system shut down or changes to the ventilation system.
7. When the threat has ended, and emergency personnel determine if the building is safe for return, DPS will initiate the ALL-CLEAR via Owl Alert. DPS, contract security, faculty, and staff will assist in alerting individuals.
8. Communications and Marketing will update and provide current public information releases to both internal and external media audiences.
9. DPS in collaboration with other departments will conduct an incident debrief for the Emergency Leadership Team.