Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place

Adelphi’s lockdown or shelter-in-place plan protects students, faculty, and staff in the event of imminent or immediate exposure to a dangerous situation. 

Lockdown

The purpose is to lock down campus and have community members in a secure place while law enforcement clears the threat.

Shelter-in-Place

The purpose is to keep the community safe and avoid the hazard while keeping campus paths clear for emergency use.

Lockdown

An immediate physical threat on campus. For instance, the presence of a hostile or armed intruder on campus.

Shelter-in-Place

Used in certain situations such as:

• Weather emergencies
  
• Environmental hazards
  
• Local emergencies (such as nearby police activity)

Lockdown

• Move away from danger
• If outside, seek cover in the nearest building
• Lock doors and barricade entry to classroom, office, or interior room. Stay away from windows.

Shelter-in-Place

• Use a structure to separate you from the hazard
• Take immediate shelter in the nearest building
• Close exterior doors

If an incident occurs and the building you are in is not damaged, stay inside in an interior room until you are told it is safe to come out.

• If your building is damaged, take your personal belongings (purse, wallet, etc.)
• Follow the evacuation procedures for your building (close and lock your door, proceed to the nearest exit, and use the stairs instead of the elevators).
• Once you have evacuated, seek shelter at the nearest university building quickly.
• If police or fire department personnel are on the scene, follow their directions.

How to Shelter-in-Place

If an incident occurs where sheltering-in-place is the best option, remember to Get Inside, Lock Outside Doors, remain calm, and follow these steps, unless instructed otherwise by emergency personnel:

• When you are notified of an emergency, seek or remain in a location that is safe from the affected area.
• If you are teaching a class, pause your lecture, make sure the halls are clear, and stay in your classroom or area.
• When in a safe area, attempt to secure the space in a reasonable manner.
• Stay in the safe area and remain quiet, unless making noise would be beneficial to your safety (for instance, to increase the likelihood of rescue or recovery).
• Stay away from objects that may lead to a higher risk of injury (such as windows during a storm).
• Do not leave the area of safety until you are notified that the emergency is no longer a threat to personal safety.

Lockdown

If an incident occurs where lockdown is the best option, remember the saying “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.” During a lockdown, it is important to remain calm, quiet, mute all cell phones, and follow the HIDE in the Hostile Intruder Poster. Follow the Hostile Intruder action steps for your location below.

By viewing the following video you will be equipped with the knowledge to make a lifesaving decision by running, hiding, or fighting. The content of this video will not only provide lifesaving information at Adelphi but the same techniques can be utilized in a mall, theater, restaurant or any other public environment.

1. Lock yourself in your room and call the police by dialing 911.
2. Call a personal contact and give your location.
3. If away from your room, join others in a room that can be locked. Do not stay in the open hall.
4. Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal the occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm as they attempt to exit.
5. Barricade yourself in your room with furniture, beds, or anything you can push against the door.
6. Turn all lights or music off.
7. Turn off cell phones or place on vibrate.
8. Stay out of open areas and try to stay calm and be as quiet as possible.

1. Faculty and staff should immediately lock the students, staff and themselves in the classroom or office and call the police by dialing 911. If in-house telephones are available for communication to notify public safety, dial 5 or extension 3511 or call 516.877.3511.
2. Call a personal contact and give your location.
3. Do not stay in the open hall.
4. Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal the occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm as they attempt to exit.
5. Barricade the room with desks, furniture, or anything you can push against the door.
6. If possible cover any windows or openings that have a direct line of sight into the hallway.
7. Keep classrooms or offices secure until police arrive and give you directions.
8. When and where available lock your window(s) and close open blinds or curtains. Then try to stay away from the window.
9. Turn all lights and audio equipment off.
10. Turn off cell phones or place on vibrate.

1. If you are not in a classroom, try to get to a classroom or an office if you cannot safely escape from the building. Do not stay in the open hall.
2. Lock yourself in a room and call the police by dialing 911. If in-house telephones are available for communication to notify public safety, dial 5 or extension 3511 or call 516.877.3511.
3. Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal the occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm as they attempt to exit.
4. If possible cover any windows or openings that have a direct line of sight into the hallway.
5. When and where available lock your window(s) and close open blinds or curtains. Then try to stay away from the window.
6. Turn all lights and audio equipment off.
7. Turn off cell phones or place on vibrate.

You must decide what you are going to do. This is a very crucial time and can possibly mean life or death depending on what actions you take. You can try to hide, but make sure it is a well-hidden space or you may be found as the intruder moves through the residence hall looking for more victims.

• If you think you can safely make it out of the building by running, then do so.
• If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. Keep any objects you can between you and the hostile person(s) while in the building.
• Once outside, do not run in a straight line. Use trees, vehicles or any type of object to block your view from the residence hall as you run. When away from the immediate area of danger, summon help any way you can and warn others.
• If the person(s) is causing death or serious physical injury to others and you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to feign being dead if other victims are around you.
• The last option you have if caught in an open area in the residence hall may be to fight back. This is dangerous, but depending on your situation, this could be your last option.
• If you are caught by the intruder and are not going to fight back, obey all commands and don’t look the intruder in the eyes.