As part of Bates’ commitment to emergency preparedness, we will be conducting a campuswide Shelter in Place Exercise on Wednesday November 12, from 9:10 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. This exercise is intended to familiarize our community with the communications used in such a situation and to consider procedures for immediately seeking shelter to avoid a threat or hazard occurring outdoors.
What Does “Shelter in Place” Mean?
A Shelter in Place order is used for a range of emergency scenarios where keeping our community members behind closed doors is the safest option. We know this from the events of October 25, 2023, but situations including a weather-related emergency, or hazardous material release could also prompt a Shelter in Place order. When a threat is deemed credible, Bates will issue this order via our emergency notification system.
The Shelter in Place Exercise: What to Expect
The exercise will begin with a Bates emergency text message that reads, “Bates EXERCISE; Shelter in Place. See Emergency.Bates.edu for instructions and information.”
No live simulation will be included in this exercise. There will be no other alerts issued beyond what is outlined in this email. The goal is simply to practice sheltering in place and to encourage discussions on emergency preparedness and response throughout our community.
During the exercise, we ask you to consider where you are and who you are with, and what you would need to do in the case of an actual emergency. For a threat involving a hazardous material, such as a chemical release, do not wait until you see or smell the hazard to seek shelter. Once you are indoors, close all exterior windows and doors and stay away from them to the extent possible. If possible, turn off the heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
If there was an active threat, such as an armed intruder, close and lock all exterior doors and windows. Barricade doors, especially if the door cannot be locked. Turn off all lights and silence your cell phones. Do not turn off your phone as that will be the primary way in which the College will communicate with you.
You need not actually perform these actions during the exercise, simply review where you are and your ability to secure the space. If you are not in a secure space, consider where you would find one.
Once the exercise is complete, a second emergency message will be sent: “ALL CLEAR: THE EXERCISE HAS ENDED”. In an actual emergency:
-Do not leave until an “all clear” message is received.
-If you are off campus, follow the directions of local authorities. Do not return to campus, or to the area under a shelter in place order, until an “all clear” message has been received.
-As with all emergencies, go to emergency.bates.edu for updated information.
What Happens if I Don’t Receive the Text Alert?
If you do not receive a message during the drill, please immediately review and update your emergency contact information in the Garnet Gateway. If others around you receive the text and discuss their possible response to a threat requiring a shelter-in-place, please join their conversation.
Related Opportunities to Discuss Active Threat Response
Earlier this semester, Paul Menice encouraged the community to review the Campus Safety Website and the Bates Run-Hide-Fight video. On Monday, Nov. 10 (prior to the exercise above) and on Friday, Nov. 21 we will offer a viewing of the video with a question and answer session with Bates Campus Safety, and the Lewiston Police Department. These sessions will be:
Monday Nov. 10, 11 a.m., in Pettingill 227 (lunch tickets will be provided to attendees)
Monday Nov. 10, 12 p.m., in Pettingill 227 (lunch tickets will be provided to attendees)
Friday Nov. 21, 12 p.m., in Commons 221-222 (lunch-and-learn format)
Friday Nov. 21, 1 p.m., in Commons 221-222 (lunch-and-learn format)
For more information about our emergency response procedures: go to the Campus Safety Website. If you have any questions or feedback on the exercise, please contact serg@bates.edu; all comments will be reviewed and discussed by the SERG Core team.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation