City Hall Evacuation

Employee Responsibilities

Employee cooperation is vital if an emergency evacuation is required. To assist the City of Rockville in evacuating City Hall safely and efficiently, we ask that employees take responsibility for the following:

1. In case of a fire or other emergency, activate the building alarm by pulling the handle at an alarm pull station.
    
2. Evacuate the Building. Immediately leave the building through the closest exit.
    
3. Call 911, and give the location of the emergency. (i.e. building, floor, room number, any other pertinent details) 
    
4. Do not use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a fire. Do not endanger yourself by taking an unnecessary risk. Only trained Emergency Personnel are permitted to use a fire extinguisher.
    
5. Know the location of the nearest emergency exit from all areas you will be working in.
    
6. Know the Evacuation Meeting Point for your work area.
    
7. When gathered at the Evacuation Meeting Point, employees should avoid: Wandering into, standing in or blocking driving lanes.
    
8. You are not to re-enter the building prior to the verbal "All Clear" being given by a supervisor or emergency or rescue personnel official.
    
   NOTE: The fire code requires all personnel to evacuate the building when an alarm is sounded. Personnel may not reenter the building until the "All Clear" is given. Civil Citations of up to $500.00 can be given for non-compliance with this regulation.
    
   Under no circumstances, should you attempt a rescue. Only trained Emergency Rescue Personnel are permitted to make a rescue.
    
9. If you get trapped inside City Hall during a fire emergency:

• Close the door of the room you are trapped in.
  Place an article of clothing (shirt, coat, etc.) around door's bottom edge to minimize smoke entering the room.
• If a window is available, place some type of marker against it to alert rescue crews.
• If there is no window, call 911 and shout at regular intervals to alert rescue crews to your location.
• Stay near the floor where the air will be less toxic.
• DO NOT PANIC!

Directors

1. Department Directors are responsible for ensuring that all department employees assigned to City Hall understand the importance of their actions in an emergency situation. Department Directors shall ensure that all employees are trained in their responsibilities as outlined in the section titled "Employee Responsibilities."
    
2. Department Directors shall assign departmental Fire Wardens to ensure that each area of their department is evacuated.
    
3. Performing the role of a Fire Warden in this plan as appropriate.

 Fire Wardens

1. When the fire alarm system is activated, Fire Wardens are to ensure all employees and visitors evacuate the facility. With several departments located within City Hall, and personnel working or traveling between them and to remote work areas, a direct "Headcount" is not always feasible. A quick and systematic walkthrough to perform a visual and audible sweep of the department's area must be performed during an evacuation, unless imminent danger is present that prevents such a walkthrough.
    
2. Once the area is determined to be clear, exit the facility with a copy of an up-to-date employee list to assist in a headcount at the Evacuation Meeting Point. While exiting the building, Fire Wardens shall check restrooms for employees or visitors that may not have evacuated.
    
3. If a person is trapped within the facility or cannot exit the building, Fire Wardens should not under any circumstances, attempt a rescue. Only trained Emergency Rescue Personnel are permitted to make a rescue attempt. Fire Wardens are to exit the facility and provide the detailed location and details of the situation to the Evacuation Control Area or an emergency or rescue personnel official.
    
4. Fire Wardens are to report to their department's Evacuation Meeting Point, assemble their department's employees, and perform a headcount using the employee list as best as possible.
    
5. Make sure employees stay in a group at the Evacuation Meeting Point.
    
6. If an employee cannot be accounted for at the Evacuation Meeting Point, no one shall re-enter the building to conduct a search. Only trained Emergency Rescue Personnel are permitted to enter the building to conduct a search.

 Department Directors and Supervisors should consider the following:

1. Maintain an up-to-date list of all employees to assist in a headcount at the Evacuation Meeting Point. This list can be attached to this document to exit with an area supervisor.
    
2. If your department or area has handicapped/disabled/injured personnel, supervisors are responsible to ensure their safety in the event of an emergency. It is a supervisor's responsibility to ensure that the Evacuation Control Area or an emergency or rescue personnel official is notified of someone unable to evacuate the building.