Emergency Plan & Procedures

Crime in Progress or Civil Disturbance

1. DO NOT attempt to apprehend or interfere with the criminal except in the case of self protection.
2. If safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the criminal. “Be a Good Witness.” Note height, weight, sex, race, approximate age, clothing, method and direction of travel, and his/her name, if known. All of this only takes a few seconds, and is of the utmost help to the responding officers. If you are witnessing a criminal entering a vehicle, please note: i.e. the license plate number, make, model, color, and any outstanding characteristics.
3. Call the College Sheriff’s Department on ext. 2911 (from your mobile phone dial (323) 953-2911. Give your name, location and department. Advise the dispatcher of the situation and stay on the line until told to do otherwise. If you are safe in your place, remain where you are until contacted by the College Sheriff’s personnel.

Civil Disturbance or Demonstration

1. DO NOT interfere with those persons creating the disturbance or with authorities on the scene.
2. If a civil disturbance and/or demonstration becomes unlawful, Discreetly call the college Sheriff’s Department ext. 2911 (from your mobile phone dial (323) 953-2911. To avoid escalating the situation, use a private office to place this call whenever possible. The Sheriff’s Office will determine if the disturbance/demonstration is lawful or not and handle accordingly.
3. Calmly alert all employees in the area to the situation.
4. Continue with the normal routine as much as possible. If the disturbance is outside, stay away from doors and windows.
5. If a threat to a person or property is evident, the Sheriff’s Department personnel will advise to cease operation and plan to evacuate the area. Lock all doors; secure all files, documents, and equipment.

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Earthquake

During the Earthquake:

• Stay calm and try to calm and reassure others.
• If indoors, stay indoors. Seek shelter under a sturdy desk or table. Cover your head and torso to protect yourself from objects that could fall during an earthquake. Make every attempt to hold on to the piece of furniture in order to remain protected (large earthquakes will cause the furniture to move if not held on to).
• If outdoors, get into an open area away from trees, buildings, walls, and power lines.
• Stay away from windows, shelves, heavy objects, or anything that can fall.
• Do not rush for exit. You may be struck by falling debris, stairways may be broken, and walkways may be jammed with people.
• DO NOT use elevators, as the power may be off.

After an earthquake, an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is established in the President’s Office, AD 214, (323) 953-4000 ext. 2242 (or another area as directed by the president or designee) should damage occur, all or part of the college may be closed. Employees are not to leave the campus until authorized to do so by the College President or authorized administrator.

After the Earthquake:

• Evacuate buildings if the earthquake seemed serious enough to cause structural damage by moving quickly to the evacuation point shown on the Emergency Exit Plan posted in each room.
• Expect aftershocks. Move carefully and use extreme caution when moving around damaged buildings because aftershocks can cause further damage.
• Check for injuries, trapped persons, and disabled persons in your vicinity.
• Check for fires. If you can, extinguish with a fire extinguisher. If not, leave the area and call the College Sheriff’s Office at ext. 2911 (from your mobile phone dial (323) 953-2911.
• If safe to do so, clean up spilled chemicals or other potentially harmful materials, or contact Safety Officer at ext. 2083.
• Do not use electric equipment. Turn electrical switches off and do not light matches.
• Do not touch downed power lines, other exposed wires, or objects touched by downed lines.
• Do not use campus telephones unless an emergency requires it. Many Cell towers will be down and your cellphone may not work. Keep the lines in the Sheriff’s Department opened for emergencies ONLY.
• Check closets and storage shelf areas. Open doors carefully and watch for falling objects.
• Listen for damage reports and evacuation information. Do not spread rumors.
• Do not return to an evacuated building until instructed to do so by emergency personnel.

After all major or minor earthquakes, the Sheriff’s Department along with Physical Plant personnel will conduct a check of all buildings to determine any structural damage.

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Chemical Spills & Fires

If a chemical spill occurs:

1. If toxic chemicals come in contact with your skin, immediately flush the affected area with clear water. Use chemical showers, if available.
2. Call the Sheriff’s Department at #3 or ext. 2911 or (323) 953-2911 using your cellphone. Give your name and location of the spill. Do not hang up until dispatcher tells you to do so.
3. Notify your supervisor/instructor of the extent and location of the spill, if possible.
4. If there is any possible danger, evacuate the area immediately.

If a chemical fire occurs:

1. Upon discovering a chemical fire, close windows and doors where the fire is located and immediately sound the building alarm.
2. Call the Sheriff’s Department on #3 or ext. 2911 or (323) 953-2911 using your cellphone.
3. If the fire is large, very smoky, or rapidly spreading, evacuate the building immediately. While evacuation, warn others that “This Is Not A Drill” and advise them to immediately evacuate the building. The alarm may not sound continuously. If the alarm stops, continue to evacuate. Warn others who may enter the buildings after the alarm stops.
4. Walk; do not run, to the nearest exit.
5. When fire alarms sound, do not use elevators. An elevator may become inoperative and a trap. Give assistance (if necessary) to disabled persons using the stairs. Use the Evac-U-Trac (Emergency Evacuation Chair) for those individuals who can not use the stairs for safe exiting of the building.
6. Evacuate to a distance of at least 500 feet and always attempt to remain Upwind of the hazard. Always stay out of the way of emergency personnel. Do not return to the building until instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
7. Notify emergency personnel and/or Building Marshal on the scene if you suspect someone may be trapped inside the building.

Being Prepared

• Identify the location of the nearest fire alarm.
• Identify the location of the nearest fire extinguisher.
• Identify the location of the nearest Evac-U-Trac.

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Bomb Threat & Bomb Threat Checklist

Bomb Threats:

1. Bomb threats are usually received by telephone. However, if you see or read about a bomb threat or any threat directed toward LACC, immediately notify the Campus Sheriff’s Office at (323) 953-2911.
2. The person receiving the telephoned bomb threat should remain calm and attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the caller by using the “Telephone Threat” listed below.
3. Call the Sheriff’s Department ext. 2911 (from your mobile phone dial (323) 953-2911). Give your name, location and telephone number. Inform the dispatched of the situation including any information you may have as to the location of the bomb, time it is set to explode, and time when you received the call.
4. Inform your supervisor and/or department head.

Suspicious Object or Package:

In the event of a suspicious object/package is observed on campus, do not handle the object, immediately clear the area and call the Sheriff’s Department at #3 or (323) 953-2911. The Sheriff’s Department and the Campus President will advise if an evacuation is necessary.

Evacuation of the Area:

1. If instructed to evacuate, go to the area designated for evacuations or the location instructed by the Sheriff’s Department.
2. If inclement weather conditions exist, move to another building a safe distance away.
3. Do not return to an evacuated building unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel.

Evacuation of Persons with Disabilities

It is suggested that the wheelchair occupant or person with mobility impairment prepare for emergencies ahead of time by instructing a classmate or instructor of how to assist him/her in the case of an emergency.

In the event of an emergency, persons in wheelchairs and other disabled individuals should observe the following evacuation procedures:

1. Flash lights intermittently to alert deaf or hard of hearing persons.
2. All persons should move toward the nearest marked exit.

Evacuating Safely

• As a first choice, the wheelchair occupant or person with mobility impairment may use building elevators, but never in the case of fire or earthquake.
• As a second choice, when a wheelchair occupant or other person with mobility impairment reaches an obstruction such as a staircase, he/she should request assistance from others in the area.
• If assistance is not immediately available, the wheelchair occupant or person with mobility impairment should stay in the exit corridor, or the stairway or landing. He/she should continue to call for help until rescued. A person who cannot speak loudly should carry a whistle or have other means of attracting the attention of others.

Your Sheriff’s Department Personnel/Building Captains/Floor Wardens will be responsible for checking the evacuated area for all persons with disabilities.

Evac-U-Trac

An Emergency Evacuation Chair (Evac-U-Trac) is placed in buildings that are two-stories or higher to accommodate safe evacuation of individuals who can not be escorted safely down the stairwell. These Evac-U-Trac chairs are normally placed next to the elevator and stairwell at the highest floor of the building. Rescue, fire and/or police personnel, and Building Marshal will first check all exits, corridors and exit stairwells for trapped persons.

Faculty, staff and students with a disability are encouraged to file an Emergency Work Station/Class Schedule with the OSS (Office of Special Services) located in the Student Services Building, 1st Floor.

Being Prepared

• Identify the location of the nearest Evac-U-Trac

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Verbal or Written Threats

Verbal Threats

1. If you witness or overhear a verbal threat advocating violence towards another person, treat this incident as a Crime in Process.
2. Do not attempt to apprehend or interfere with the criminal except in the case of self-protection.
3. If safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the criminal. “Be a Good Witness.” Note height, weight, sex, race, approximate age, clothing, method and direction of travel, and his/her name if known. All this takes only a few seconds and is of the utmost help to the investigating officers. If the criminal is entering a vehicle, note the license plate number, make, model, color, and any outstanding characteristics of the vehicle.
4. Call the Sheriff’s Department at #3 or (323) 953-2911. Give your name, location, and department. Advise the dispatcher of the situation and stay on the line until told to do otherwise. Remain where you are until contacted by an officer.

Written Threats

1. A written threat can be anything from a note passed in class, a statement written on a chalkboard, or an email or text message.
2. If a written threat is received, call the Sheriff’s Department at #3 or (323) 953-2911. Give your name, location, and department. Advise the dispatcher of the situation and the nature of the threat. Provide details such as if the person who passed/uttered the threat is known or present and if the intended target is known or present.

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