Cornell University

Law School Emergency/Evacuation Procedures

Emergencies can occur at any time without warning. Everyone in a Cornell facility – students, staff, faculty, and visitors – must take appropriate and deliberate action as an emergency strikes a building, a portion of campus, or the entire Cornell community. In addition to on-duty emergency personnel (Cornell Police and Environmental Health and Safety), Cornell has an Emergency Management Team that ascertains the scope of an incident/situation and advises emergency policy executives.

The Emergency Management Team’s response actions are guided by Cornell’s desire to protect the following in priority order:

  1. People
  2. Research animals and plants, and intellectual property.
  3. Equipment and facilities

If an emergency occurs, students should first remove themselves and others from the immediate danger, then alert appropriate administrative or emergency response personnel of the situation. Remember, a building evacuation is mandatory whenever a fire alarm sounds, and all building occupant’s inspection before re-entry.

In an actual evacuation, please follow these procedures:

Actual Evacuation Procedures

  1. Turn equipment off, if possible.
  2. Notify others in the area of the alarm if they did not hear it.
  3. Exit the room.
    1. Take jackets or other clothing needed for protection from the weather.
    2. Close windows and close, but do not lock doors.
    3. Leave room lights on.
  4. Exit the building via the nearest safest exit route. Walk, do not run. Do not use elevators to exit.
  5. Move away from the building. In an actual emergency, students will be directed by a Law School emergency response team member to assemble on the lawn area above the courtyard between Myron Taylor Hall and Anabel Taylor Hall on Central Avenue. (If this area is not safe or unavailable, students will be directed to another assembly area).
  6. Wait at the evacuation point for directions. Do not re-enter the building until emergency staff gives the “all clear” signal. The silencing of the building alarm system is not normally used as the “all clear” signal. In some cases, the fire alarm will be silenced, and staff members placed at building entrances to keep people out until the incident has been resolved.

Health and Emergency Procedure

  1. Protect the victim from further injury by removing any persistent threat to the victim. Do not move the victim unnecessarily. Do not delay in obtaining trained medical assistance.
  2. Notify staff or faculty members if available, or Cornell Police of the location, nature, and extent of the injury by calling 911 or using a Blue Light or Emergency Telephone. Always call from a safe location.
  3. Individuals with appropriate training should provide first aid until help arrives and if it is safe to do so.
  4. Send someone outside to escort emergency responders to the appropriate location, if possible.

Fire or Explosion Emergency Procedure

  1. Alert people in the immediate area of the fire and evacuate the room.
  2. Confine the fire by closing doors.
  3. Notify staff or faculty members if available or activate the building fire alarm system by pulling the handle on a local fire alarm box.
  4. Notify Cornell Police of the location, nature, and size of the fire.

If an individual has been trained, and it is safe to do so, they may attempt to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher. If an individual has not been trained to use a fire extinguisher, they must evacuate the area.

Criminal Activity or Violence Emergency Procedure

  1. Attempt to remove oneself from any danger.
  2. Notify available staff or faculty members or Cornell Police by calling 911 or using a Blue Light or Emergency Telephone. Try to call from a safe location if possible.
  3. If possible, provide the police with the following information:
    1. Location of crime.
    2. Nature of crime and specifics (number of people involved, any weapons, etc.).
    3. Any injuries.
    4. Direction of travel of suspects.
    5. Description of any vehicles involved in the crime.
  4. DO NOT pursue or attempt to detain suspects.

Remember, in all emergency situations one’s safety and the safety of others is of primary importance. Remove oneself and others from immediate danger and let trained professionals respond to the situation.