Some disabled persons may require assistance during an emergency evacuation of the buildings.  What follows is a description of a Personal Evacuation Plan and how physically challenged persons should respond during an evacuation drill or emergency evacuation.

1.  Do you need assistance?

The first step is determining whether you would need assistance during an evacuation of the buildings.  The elevators will not be available, so only the stairs may be used as a means of egress.  If you answer Yes to one of the following questions, you should consider contacting staff in the respective office in the table below to request evacuation assistance:

    1)  Do you have a physical condition which would prevent you from walking down stairs?

    2)  Are you a person who is visually impaired?

    3)  Are you a person with a speech or hearing impairment?

Students
Office of Student Life  (57 Worth Street, 5th floor, 212-431-2851)

Faculty and Staff
Office of Human Resources  (41 Worth Street, First Floor, 212-431-2131)

Should your need for evacuation assistance change, please notify the same staff.

2.  Personal Evacuation Plan

The next step is seeking volunteers who would provide assistance during an evacuation.  A minimum of two (2) persons should be identified.  The Director of Security & Safety (Office: Lower Level, 57 Worth Street, Room L2, 212-431-2837) will then schedule a time to discuss the features of the personal evacuation plan with the disabled person and their volunteers.  In addition to this plan, the security staff will be provided class information (students) or office location (faculty and staff) so that they are aware of your possible whereabouts each day.  This information will be contained in an Evacuation Assistance Chart and will be held at the 47 Worth Street security desk.

3.  Visitors

Disabled persons who are visitors to the law school will also require evacuation assistance.  When you are planning a special event in which outside visitors will be in attendance, you should ask whether anyone would require assistance during an emergency evacuation of the buildings.  If they answer Yes, ask what type of assistance they would require.  After you have this information, contact the Director of Security & Safety.  The Director will incorporate their needs into a Personal Evacuation Plan, and review the Plan with the said individual, the host of the event, and all security staff on duty.  Please notify the Director with this information in advance of the event, and remember to include the following details: (i.) the date and time the event will be held, (ii.) the room(s) reserved, and (iii.) any other pertinent information.

4.  Response during an evacuation drill

During an evacuation drill, disabled persons should not evacuate the floor. Instead, they should respond in the following manner.  One of the assigned volunteers must notify the Fire Safety Director by use of the floor warden station.  The station is the red box located near the main elevators (in B building it is located near the exit stair).  To operate the station: Open the cover, lift the handset, and speak after the Fire Safety Director answers. She or he must note the building, floor, and stair alphabet location where the disabled person would be relocated if it were an actual emergency.  

The volunteer should then show the disabled person the door which leads to this location.  There is no need to enter the stair or attempt to evacuate the person during a drill. Entering the stair to go to the safe rescue area or to evacuate the floor should only be undertaken when the Fire Safety Director tells you to evacuate the building during a non-drill situation.  Finally, the volunteer(s) and the disabled person should use the remainder of the drill time to review the Personal Evacuation Plan.

5.  Response during an emergency evacuation

There are two options which are available to disabled persons upon being notified of an emergency evacuation: (i.) relocate to a Safe Rescue Area until the arrival of fire department personnel to assist with their evacuation, or if danger is near (and with assistance from others), (ii.) evacuate a disabled person to the sidewalk level.

i.  Relocation to a Safe Rescue Area

When instructed by the Fire Safety Director to begin an evacuation of the buildings, a volunteer must notify the Fire Safety Director (by use of the floor warden station) of the safe rescue area where the disabled person will be relocated.  The station is the red box located near the main elevators (in B building it is located near the exit stair).  To operate the station: Open the cover, lift the handset, and speak after the Fire Safety Director answers. Remember to note the building, floor, and stair alphabet location.  You must notify the Fire Safety Director because during an actual emergency she or he would notify the fire department personnel upon their arrival to the building.  Upon being provided this information, fire department personnel would respond to your location to assist with the evacuation.

ii.     Immediate Danger: Evacuation with assistance from others

If the danger is near, the evacuation volunteers should request help from other floor occupants to assist with evacuating a disabled person to the sidewalk level.  To prevent injury to others, allow those who do not require assistance to exit before evacuating the disabled person.

Although volunteers have been identified in advance to provide assistance to a disabled person, they may also need additional assistance with this effort.  If you are asked to assist, please respond as requested.

6.  Evacuation of visual or hearing challenged persons

Visual and hearing challenged persons also have special needs which must be considered during an emergency evacuation.

i.  Visual

The following special considerations apply to persons who have visual impairments:

    1)  Do not grasp a person`s arm without first asking if they would like assistance.  This act will disorient a visually impaired person.  If they welcome your assistance, extend your arm to them (they will grasp it).  Providing direction is very important if there is a crowd or obstruction in the area.

    2)  When you are walking, give a verbal description about the evacuation route, using estimated distances and directional terms.  For example, note an upcoming change in direction (there is a right turn about ten feet ahead) or other important information (move to the left, the wall juts out about five feet ahead).

ii.     Hearing

The following special considerations apply to persons who have a hearing impairments:

    1)  Face the person when you speak to them.  Speak clearly and tersely while you describe the situation.

    2)  To attract their attention, touch them or use eye contact.

    3)  Gestures are helpful, but be prepared to write down your comments if the person does not seem to understand what you are saying.

    4)  Offer visual instructions (e.g., by pointing toward exits or a lobby evacuation map) in guiding the person to the safest exit.