Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

Need Help?

For Life-Threatening Emergency, Call 9-1-1 immediately.
For Non-Life-Threatening Emergency: Call 704-216-3900 (Campus Emergency).
Emergency Phones located in all buildings and outdoor areas connect directly to 9-1-1 or 704-216-3900.

Rowan-Cabarrus has several procedures addressing emergency, health, safety, and accident procedures. These procedures provide information, depending on the nature of the emergency, on whom in the campus community to notify and how to notify them in the case of an emergency. These case specific procedures address: Emergency, Health, Safety, and Accidents; Emergency Evacuation; Bomb Threats; Lockdowns; and Crisis Communication Plan.

Rowan-Cabarrus is committed to ensuring the safety of all students, employees, and campus guests. The Crisis Communication Plan provides for the accurate, prompt, and consistent dissemination of information to help the college assess the safety and well being of individuals and facilities and to protect the positive reputation of the college during and after a crisis situation. The Crisis Communication Plan provides for a Crisis Management Team composed of the college president, the senior leadership team, security and facility managers, and the public information officer. The Crisis Action Team will follow a prescribed four step process of ensuring that a significant emergency exists, the nature of any communications about the emergency (who to notify and how), and ensuring overall effective communications about an emergency.

The four steps in Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s crisis communication process are:

1. Determine the Facts and Their Impact – The Crisis Management Team members assess the situation, identify injuries, loss and damage that have occurred, and identify ongoing threats that may result in additional injuries and damage
2. Take Action to Prevent Additional Damage – The Crisis Management Team takes appropriate steps to secure damaged areas before granting access to visitors. In some situations the use of law enforcement and emergency response officials will be used to control access and ensure a safe environment.
3. Share Information with Appropriate Audiences – When a situation is news-worthy reporters will want to report on the story to the public. Rowan-Cabarrus will share factual information appropriately, quickly, and completely through college spokespersons that will be accessible to news media.
4. Repair the Damage – The college’s president, public information officer and other authorized spokespersons will share information appropriately to ensure internal and external audiences that college operations are returning to normal.

Accessibility-Related Emergency Procedures

Individuals who have Mobility Limitations

If a person in a wheelchair or with a mobility issue is in your area when the fire alarm sounds, help the individual to the designated Area of Rescue. The designated Area of Rescue is typically the nearest stairwell. However, emergency personnel may designate another Area of Rescue (i.e., alternate stairwell or room) depending on the location of the emergency situation or hazard, so it is important to always be alert.

During a drill: Evacuation will proceed from top floor to bottom floor. Members of the Emergency Operations Campus First Response Team will immediately go floor to floor to determine the location of individuals who have mobility limitations.

During an actual emergency evacuation: Emergency responders will go floor to floor, upon arrival, to determine location of individuals with disabilities and evacuate safely.

It is the responsibility of emergency personnel to evacuate the individual. DO NOT attempt to evacuate an individual in a wheelchair unless there is imminent danger. In this case, ask the individual for input regarding the best way to transfer him/her from the wheelchair to make the exit. Remember: Always wait on emergency personnel to evacuate, if possible.

Individuals who have Visual Limitations

If a person who is blind or has low vision is in your area when the fire alarm sounds, help the individual to safely evacuate the area by walking with them to the stairwell and down the stairs. Remove obstacles in the way and act as a buffer for the individual in congested areas. Give verbal cues such as “we are walking through a door” or “take two steps down” to help the individual. If the individual is not able to safely navigate the stairs, have him/her wait in the designated Area of Rescue (see above instructions for those who have mobility limitations).

Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

If a person who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing is in your area when the fire alarm sounds and he/she does not see the flashing light, get the individuals attention and point to the flashing fire alarm and motion to leave the space. Remember, the individual will not hear verbal commands given by emergency personnel.

College Emergency Management Handbook

Rowan-Cabarrus has an emergency management handbook for students & visitors to help the community be prepared for emergencies while on one of our campuses.