Des Plaines Campus Evacuation and Emergency Plan

Announcements

If evacuation is necessary, Oakton's Police Department will assign runners to go to each room and announce the evacuation. The department also will call the Municipal Education Center at 847.296.9200 and initiate a callback verification procedure. In a bomb threat situation, avoid making an announcement over the PA system or sounding the fire alarm. Electronic fields generated by these devices could detonate certain types of explosive devices. Radios, pagers, and cell phones also should not be used.

Oakton police and facilities personnel will direct the evacuation. The Police Department will assist evacuation facilitators to keep the flow orderly and to instruct people to use the nearest exit doors.

Evacuation facilitators will leave the building at the nearest exit when areas are clear of personnel. They will remain with the door supervisors until the “ALL CLEAR” is given. Facilities personnel with radios will be assigned locations to assist and provide communications between door supervisors and the crisis team.

Additional Information

The Police Department will notify Vice President of Business and Finance, ext. 1876. If that VP is not available, the Vice President of Student Affairs ext. 1660, Vice President of Academic Affairs, ext. 2604, Vice President for Continuing Education, Training & Workforce Development, and Vice President for Information Technology must be notified. 

The Police Department will monitor the Illinois State Police LEADS network, public radio or television bulletins, and other emergency weather channels for changes in the storm watch classifications. A tornado watch is declared when professional meteorologists determine conditions are such that there is a strong possibility of a tornado occurring in a specific geographical area. A tornado warning is declared when a tornado is sighted.

Police Department and facilities personnel will instruct everyone to move to shelters within the building. If possible, seek shelter in the lowest level of the building. Designated shelter areas are identified with labels on the exterior doors. Maps to shelter areas are clearly marked on the room doors. 

If a watch is upgraded to a warning, people will be instructed to take cover inside the building and to stay in the shelters until the “ALL CLEAR” is given by the Police Department. Department personnel will conduct a sweep of the building to assure that everyone is in a safe location. Officers and cadets will unlock the shelter areas during a watch or warning.

Anyone who receives a bomb threat should call the Oakton Police department immediately.

The following steps will then be taken:
The Police Department will notify the Vice President of Business and Finance, who notifies the Crisis Team. (The Crisis Team consists of the President, Vice presidents, Director of College Relations and Marketing, Director of Facilities, and Chief of Oakton Police. 

The Police Department will notify Facilities and begin a search of the building. The person reporting the bomb threat will fill out the Bomb Threat information form per the instructions on the cover sheet.

Level A: 
A bomb threat, transmitted by phone, fax, or mail.
If nothing is found, the Police Department will wait for the Crisis Team to advise about evacuation.

Level B: 
An actual device or suspected device is found.
The Police Department will notify the Des Plaines Fire and Police Departments and request assistance as determined by the Crisis Team. The Crisis Team members will inform their respective offices, and plans for evacuation will be made.

Final Search
When the evacuation is completed, the Police Department will conduct another sweep of the building to determine if everyone has been evacuated and to make a final search for a bomb. Employees will remain on campus, and faculty also will instruct their students to remain and to return to class when an “ALL CLEAR” is sounded.

After waiting the predetermined time set by the Crisis Team, the Department will make another sweep of the building. They will report to the Crisis Team, who will then instruct the Police Department to coordinate the re-occupancy of the building.

Fire When there is a fire, or when the fire alarm sounds, evacuation of the premises begins immediately.
  • Everyone must leave the building by way of the nearest exit and gather in Parking Lots A, C, or D. Do not remain in Lot B, due to that location being a designated Command Center. 
  • Stand away from the building and wait for further instructions. 
  • Employees should not leave the property, and faculty should instruct their students to remain on campus grounds.

In the event of a fire, or if the fire alarm sounds, evacuation of the premises beings immediately.
  • Everyone must leave the building by way of the nearest exit and gather in Parking Lots A, C, or D. Do not remain in Lot B, due to that location being a designated Command Center. 
  • Stand away from the building and wait for further instructions. 
  • Employees should not leave the property, and faculty should instruct their students to remain on campus grounds. 
  • The Police Department desk person will contact the Dean on Duty; the Vice president of Business and Finance; the Director of Facilities; and the Chief of Oakton Police. 
  • The Dean on Duty will report to the main lobby to meet with Oakton's Police Department personnel, the second shift housekeeping supervisor, and the Des Plaines Fire Department. 
  • Instructors will close room doors and move their students to the exits and out to the parking lots. 
  • Police Department desk personnel will broadcast the location of the trouble. An officer will report to the source of the trouble and determine further action.

The Des Plaines Police Department will be contacted for assistance with traffic at the Golf and Central entrances or as the emergency dictates. Department personnel will direct traffic at College and Circle. If available, personnel designated by the crisis team will be stationed at Parking Lots C and D to prevent vehicles from driving toward the Golf Road exit.