Emergency Preparedness

Call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911 and provide the following information:

• location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
• nature of the illness or injury (if known)
• number of victims
• your name

If you discover fire/smoke: 

• Move away from fire and smoke. Close doors and windows if time permits.
• Pull the nearest fire alarm, close the door, and leave the area.
• Do not:
  • attempt to extinguish the fire, unless you are trained and have a safe exit from the fire area
  • use elevators. Use stairs only.
  • delay your exit by retrieving personal items; only gather personal items within arm’s reach as you exit
• From a safe location, call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911.

If you hear or see a fire alarm: 

• Evacuate the building as soon as the alarm sounds.
• Do not use elevators. Use stairs only.
• Touch closed doors with the back of hand before opening. Do not open doors if they are hot.
• Move away from the building and go to the Rally Point.
• Do not re-enter the building or work area unless you have been instructed to do so by Central Piedmont Security Services or emergency response personnel.

If a gas odor is detected, stop all operations immediately and follow these procedures:

• Do not:
  • switch lights on/off or use electrical equipment. Failure to follow these instructions could  cause an explosion.
  • use cell phones or radios until outside of the affected area
  • activate fire alarms or any device that transmits a signal, or may produce a spark
• Evacuate the affected area and go to a safe location away from the building.
• Once you are in a safe location, call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911 and report the leak.
• Do not re-enter the building unless cleared to do so by Central Piedmont Security Services or fire department personnel. 

Central Piedmont Security Services will respond to the scene to assist with the evacuation of the building and contact on-duty Facilities Services to assist in investigating the leak.

• Do not attempt to clean up the spill.
• If hazardous material comes in contact with skin, flush immediately with water for at least 15 minutes and then seek medical attention.
• Evacuate the area.
• Call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911.
• If possible, make yourself available to responding emergency personnel to provide information that may aid in containment and cleanup. 

• All students, faculty, staff, and visitors should move into or stay inside the closest permanent building.
• Move to the lowest level of the building; basements are safest.
• Move to the interior most area of the building (e.g., interior hallways and rooms).
• Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.
• Stay away from exterior walls, windows, skylights and other areas containing glass.
• Stay out of areas with wide-span roofs (e.g., auditoriums, gymnasiums).
• Remain in place until notified by Central Piedmont Security Services or emergency response personnel that it is safe to leave.

Do not:

• use cellular phones, two-way radios, or other electronic devices in or near the building
• handle the suspicious package or other items. Call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911.
• attempt to locate the ‘bomb.' Evacuate the area and call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911 from a desk phone from another building.

Evacuate the area as instructed by Central Piedmont Security Services or other emergency responders.

• Immediately report emergencies and suspicious activity by calling Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911.
• ‘See Something. Say Something.’
• For non-emergency service requests, call 704-330-6632.

If you experience sexual discrimination, harassment, or violence, you have rights and options. For guidance and to file a complaint, please visit the Title IX Compliance and Nondiscrimination webpage. In an emergency, call 704-330-6911.

Any employee or student of Central Piedmont who has a restraining/protective order should provide a copy to the executive director of College Security. Should the order be violated, Central Piedmont Security Services will address the incident in cooperation with local law enforcement. 

An employee who becomes aware of a restraining order is encouraged to notify Central Piedmont Security Services or the Central Piedmont Care Team immediately. If you have a concern of an immediate threat, call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911.

All campus buildings have emergency exit lights to allow for a safe evacuation. In the event of a significant power outage, please take the following actions: 

• Contact Central Piedmont Security Services immediately at 704-330-6911 and give your name, location, and description of the problem.
• Follow the directions of Central Piedmont Security Services staff.
• Central Piedmont Security Services will contact the on-duty Facility Services staff.
• Facility Services will evaluate building status and determine if evacuation is necessary. 

All buildings with power outages will be evacuated if an evacuation is determined to be necessary for safety reasons. Risk, Safety, and Security working with Facilities Services might decide to close a campus. If evacuation is needed,  Building Captains will assist others in evacuating to a safe location. Central Piedmont Security Services will lock exterior doors, or place a guard to prevent reentry. During inclement weather, the Building Captain may direct evacuees to a different location on campus. 

Do not attempt to turn on or off any system that may have failed; utility shutdown procedures are the responsibility of Facility Services. 

Facilities Services coordinates planned utility shutdowns. Shutdowns are scheduled to minimize disruption to school activities. 

Unplanned utility shutdowns will be handled based on the necessity of the shutdown and the impact it will have on school activities. The executive director of Facilities Services will notify all affected parties and maintenance personnel. 

If you identify a utility loss, call Central Piedmont Security Services at 704-330-6911. Provide the location, nature of the incident, and a description of the problem. Central Piedmont Security Services will contact on-duty Facilities Services staff for any repair or restoration actions.

Active Shooter Emergency Procedures

The following general guidelines are provided to help evacuate individuals with disabilities. However, these guidelines may not apply in every circumstance due to specific individual needs. It is important to remember that evacuation is difficult and uncomfortable for both the rescuers and the people being assisted. Some people have conditions that can be aggravated or triggered if they are moved incorrectly. It is also important to know that environmental conditions (e.g., smoke, debris, loss of electricity) will complicate evacuation efforts. Before attempting to evacuate a person with a disability consider your options and the risk of injury to yourself and others. Do not make an emergency situation worse.

• Occupants should be invited to volunteer ahead of time to assist persons with disabilities in an emergency. If a volunteer is not available, identify someone to assist who is willing to accept the responsibility.  
• Two or more trained volunteers, if available, should conduct the evacuation.
• Do not evacuate persons in their wheelchairs. This is standard practice to ensure the safety of persons with disabilities and volunteers. Wheelchairs will be evacuated later if possible.
• Always ask someone with a disability how you can help before attempting any rescue technique or giving assistance. Ask how they can best be assisted or moved, and whether there are any special considerations or items that need to come with them.
• Before attempting an evacuation, volunteers and the people being assisted should discuss how any lifting will be done and where they are going.
• Proper lifting techniques should be used to avoid injury to rescuers' backs (i.e., bending the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting and using leg muscles to lift.) Ask permission of the evacuee if an evacuation chair or similar device is being considered as an aid in an evacuation. When using such devices, make sure the person is secured properly. Be careful on stairs and rest at landings if necessary. Certain lifts may need to be modified depending on the person's disabilities. 
• Do not use elevators, unless authorized to do so by police or fire personnel. Elevators could fail during a fire.
• If the situation is life threatening, call College Security at 704-330-6911.
• Check on people with disabilities during an evacuation. A "buddy system" — where people with disabilities pre-identify volunteers (co-workers/roommates) to alert them and assist them in an emergency — is a good method.
• It is important to plan and practice emergency evacuation routes to ensure a safe evacuation.

Mobility impaired: wheelchair

Persons using wheelchairs should Shelter in Place, or move to an area of rescue with their evacuation assistant when the alarm sounds. The evacuation assistant should then proceed to the evacuation rally point outside the building and tell the responders the location of the person with a disability. If the person with a disability is alone, they should call emergency services at 704-330-6911 or 911 with their current location and where they are headed.

Stairway evacuation of wheelchair users should be conducted by trained professionals. Only in situations of extreme danger should untrained people attempt to evacuate wheelchair users. Moving a wheelchair down stairs is never safe.

Mobility impaired: non-wheelchair

Persons with mobility impairments, who are able to walk independently, may be able to navigate stairs in an emergency with minor assistance. If danger is fast-approaching, the individual should wait until the heavy traffic has cleared before attempting the stairs. If there is no immediate danger (detectable smoke, fire, or unusual odor), the person with a disability may choose to stay in the building, in the area of rescue, until the emergency personnel arrive and determine if evacuation is necessary.

Hearing impaired

Some buildings on campus have fire alarm strobe lights; however, many do not. Persons with hearing impairments may not hear audio emergency alarms and will need to be alerted of emergency situations. Emergency instructions can be given by writing a short explicit note to evacuate.

Visually impaired

Most people with a visual impairment will be familiar with their immediate surroundings and frequently traveled routes. Since the emergency evacuation route is likely different from the commonly traveled route, persons who are visually impaired may need assistance in evacuating. The assistant should offer their elbow to the individual with a visual impairment and guide them through the evacuation route. During the evacuation the assistant should communicate as necessary to assure safe evacuation.