Stay Calm & Follow the Instructions

Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures and Evacuation Plans

In the unlikely event of a major emergency which affects the health and/or safety of our students, the university has put into place the following Emergency Response general procedures:

The Emergency Response team will reach out to all students via email and/or phone to ensure they are safe and to share important information and instructions regarding the situation.
The Emergency Response team will contact all relevant Embassies and Consulates and local authorities. Information regarding the event, including range of influence, level of emergency, and the practicality of continuing classes will be gathered from various appropriate sources and communicated as necessary with students and staff.
If deemed necessary, the Emergency Response team may decide to convene students and/or relocate them to another location.
A written log of all emergency events and the actions taken by the Emergency Response team will be maintained and updated as necessary.
Below you will find specific Evacuation and Emergency Procedures for various types of emergency situations. Please read the following information carefully and familiarize yourself with the steps you will need to take to ensure your safety.

Facility/School Evacuation Plans

Meeting Points: are indicated in the emergency evacuation plans visible in all classrooms and campus buildings.

Procedure in Case of Earthquake

Remain calm
Do not rush/go outside
Remain in a classroom and sheltered under a desk, under a door frame or close to the main walls, away from windows, glass doors and cabinets as these could fall and cause injuries.
If you are in the hallway or in the stairwell go back to your/the nearest classroom
After the earthquake, upon order of evacuation, leave the building without using the elevator and go to the assigned meeting point.

If you are outside:

Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights or electric lines as they could fall and cause injuries
Find a place where there is nothing above you, if possible, otherwise seek shelter under something safe like a bench. Do not approach scared animals.

Procedure in Case of Fire

Keep calm and try to avoid any actions that may cause panic.
Call for outside help only on request of a university staff member.
Do not put yourself at risk in any way.
Do not hesitate to leave the area if the fire threatens to block the passage toward the exit.
Promptly inform staff of the fire, including the size and location. If the fire is not large enough to set off the alarm, do not manually set off the alarm unless requested by a staff member to do so. If possible, remove any flammable materials that may fuel the fire. If it is not possible for the staff to extinguish the flames, leave the area without blocking the passage of others.
If evacuation is required, follow all instructions given by staff.
Do not collect any personal belongings that may create obstacles for yourself or others and calmly proceed toward the exit without running or pushing. Help anyone who is in need of assistance to leave the building.
Follow the green exit signs to the door. Do not change direction so as to not block the exit of others.
Before opening any doors, first touch the upper part of the door to check that it is cool. If necessary, open with caution to avoid finding a wall of flames in front of you. To open sliding doors or doors that open toward you, crouch down on the floor, move as far away along the wall as possible and slowly open the door. To open doors that open away from you, crouch down on the floor and slowly open, using the door as a shield.
If you are immersed in smoke, cover your nose and mouth with a rag, wet if possible, and crawl on the floor, where the air is not as hot or smoky, and head towards the exit.
If your clothes catch fire, try to smother the flames with non-synthetic cloth and keep the flames away from your head.
Leave the premises and proceed to the meeting point indicated by a university staff member.
Once at the designated meeting point, wait calmly for staff to call roll and provide you with further instructions.

Procedure in Case of Contamination

Seal off doors and windows to the outside as much as possible.
Leave any equipment or belongings (do not worry about books or other items).
Take a piece of clothing to protect yourself from the cold and rain.
Line up with your classmates, holding hands with the persons in front of and behind you.
Remember to NOT push, yell or run.
Move to the more internal classrooms or locations.
Do not open, for any reason, doors, windows or external ventilation systems.
Turn off ventilation (if applicable).
The teacher with the class list will call roll.

Procedure in Case of Flood

Cease all activity.
Leave any equipment or belongings (do not worry about books or other items).
Take a piece of clothing to protect yourself from the cold and rain.
Remember to NOT push, yell or run.
Calmly head to upper floors of the building that are indicated as safe.
Wait for instructions from the emergency personnel in charge.
Upon arrival at a secure area, the teacher with the class list will call roll.

Procedure in Case of Electrical Emergency

In case of power failure, the administrator gives a pre-alarm. This entails:
Checking the status of the EE generators, and if they are overloaded, shut them down
Operating subsidiary generator, if present
Calling the electric company
Notifying the person responsible for relations with the teachers present in the classes
Turning off all machines that may have been running before the power outage.
Checking if there are people trapped inside the elevators (if present) and if necessary call the Fire Dept.

Procedure in Case of Electrical Emergency

In case of power failure, the administrator gives a pre-alarm. This entails:
Checking the status of the EE generators, and if they are overloaded, shut them down
Operating subsidiary generator, if present
Calling the electric company
Notifying the person responsible for relations with the teachers present in the classes
Turning off all machines that may have been running before the power outage.
Checking if there are people trapped inside the elevators (if present) and if necessary call the Fire Dept.

Procedure in Case of Reporting the Presence of a Suspected Bomb

Anyone who notices a suspicious object or receives a call reporting one:

Must not approach the object but attempt to identify it without risking the safety of themselves or others, and absolutely must NOT attempt to touch or remove it under any circumstances;
Alert staff who will activate the state of alarm. This consists of:
Evacuating the students and the surrounding suspected area
Immediately calling the police
Calling fire dept.
Freeing the phone lines
Informing teachers in charge of the plan so that they are ready to organize the evacuation
Calling emergency medical services (ambulance)
Activating the alarm for the evacuation
Coordinating all related operations.
In the event of armed threat and/or the presence of deranged individuals

In these and in other similar cases where the event directly affects areas outside the facilities, the emergency plan provides for a “non-evacuation.” Follow the following behavior guidelines:

Do not leave the classroom or area you are in.
Do not look out the windows to observe.
Remain in place and with your head down if the threat is direct.
Do not expose yourself to actions of physical injury.
Do not contradict or oppose the behavior and actions of the aggressor(s)/deranged individual(s).
Stay calm and in control of your actions in response to any offense received and do not insult or ridicule the irrational behavior of the individual(s).
Any action and/or movement must be executed calmly and with ease. Do not act in a way that may seem furtive, or make any movement that may seem like an escape attempt or a defensive reaction.
If the threat is not direct and you are certain that law enforcement has taken action, sit or lay on the ground and wait for further instructions.

In the event of a terrorist acts (Non- Evacuation)
In these cases and in others where the event directly affects areas outside the facilities, the emergency plan provides for a “non-evacuation”. Follow the following behavior guidelines:

Do not leave the classroom or area you are in.
Do not look out the windows to observe.
Move from the areas of the building with exterior windows with doors or hanging objects (chandeliers, paintings, speakers, etc.) and go to safer areas (for example walls between windows or on the walls of the room opposite the external ones).
Stay calm and do not influence the behavior of others with hysteria and screaming.
Soothe and assist individuals in a state of greater agitation.
Wait for further instructions which will be provided by staff.

Emergency Procedures & Academic Actions in Case of Terrorism Alert

The following information summarizes the terrorism alert levels from secure sources and the procedural measures to be taken by the school as a consequence of each level.

In particular, the international levels also used in Italy are established by the Ministry of the Interior and issued on a local level by the Prefecture and communicated to the mass media.

University staff levels and consequential actions will be determined semesterly by the Academic Senate.

Level	Description	Corresponding level
Alpha	Describes a situation where there is a small and general terrorist threat that is not predictable. However, agencies will inform personnel that there is a possible threat and standard security procedure review is conducted and revised where needed.	LOW
Emergency Response	The Emergency Response Team meets to assess the ALPHA level of emergency and instruct students accordingly.
Security measures	The Academic Senate meets to assess the ALPHA level of emergency, and confirms that academic activities are held regularly. No special procedures are in place, exceptions are not allowed.
Bravo	describes a situation with a somewhat predictable terrorist threat. Security measures may affect the activities of local law enforcement and the general public.	GUARDED
Emergency Response	The Emergency Response Team meets to assess the BRAVO level of emergency and instruct students accordingly.
Security measures	The Academic Senate meets to assess the BRAVO level of emergency, and confirms that academic activities are held regularly. Students’ requests for special academic arrangements will be collected by the Academic Senate but no exceptions will be made. It is the students’ individual choice to withdraw from their program. The university will not allow any special procedures to complete courses and students incur the regular cancellation policy. Students are granted an incomplete grade (I). The Academic Senate meets after the end of the semester and reviews special requests.
Charlie	Describes a situation where a global terrorist attack has occurred or when intelligence reports that there is local terrorist activity imminent.	ELEVATED: HIGH, according to whether Florence is involved.
Emergency Response	The Emergency Response Team meets to assess the CHARLIE level of emergency and instructs students accordingly.
Security measures	The Academic Senate meets to assess the CHARLIE level of emergency and follows the Ministry of the Interior and Prefecture instructions for daily activities. Regular activities are held if not otherwise instructed by local authorities. In case of Charlie high level the Academic Senate may allow special academic arrangements including proctoring exams in consideration of the academic calendar. Students incur the regular cancellation policy
Delta	Describes a situation where a terrorist attack is taking place or has just occurred in the immediate area.	SEVERE
Emergency Response	The Emergency Response Team meets to assess the DELTA level of emergency and instructs students accordingly.
Security measures	The Academic Senate meets to assess the DELTA level of emergency and follows the Ministry of the Interior and Prefecture instructions for daily activities. In compliance with local authorities’ prescriptions, the Academic Senate may decide to interrupt academic activities. The Academic Senate will allow special academic arrangements including proctoring exams in consideration of the academic calendar. Students incur the regular cancellation policy.

City Evacuation Plan

In case of level DELTA=SEVERE emergency, if deemed necessary and only if authorized by the local authorities, the decision to terminate a program or evacuate the students will be made by the university governance and ER staff in accordance with local authorities.

The emergency evacuation in place held by the university will provide for the support of all covered students, regardless of citizenship. Students enrolled in the university through a provider will be handled by the provider.

The emergency evacuation plan includes alternative sites that will accommodate housing for the group.

Students are made aware of a meeting point during on-site orientation, so that they know immediately where to go during an emergency. The Emergency Response Team decides the best course of action and makes a decision about evacuation. The university cannot be responsible for the safety of any student or staff member who does not sign the plan of action or who refuses to comply with institution evacuation procedures. The university cannot be held responsible for the safety of any student whose whereabouts cannot be ascertained.

Students housed through the university or independently are informed of the respective Emergency meeting point during housing check-in. The meeting point is indicated on the apartment information sheet.

The three meeting points are:

At each meeting point, one or multiple staff members will be present and will hold a university sign and students’ list to call roll.

Students will be instructed step by step by the university staff who will coordinate their transfer to the selected alternative locations outside Florence.

In order to protect the safety of our students, the university does not disclose the address of the above mentioned locations outside Florence. Partner Universities and Families will be informed by university staff at that time. The specific address and other information regarding the off-site emergency evacuation location is found in the Emergency Response team manual only.

First Aid

Keep calm and try to avoid any actions that may cause panic. Inform university staff of the situation. Unless the injured person is in immediate danger do not move the victim or offer water.
Try to keep the victim calm, supporting him/her while s/he tries to get into a comfortable position. Call for outside help only if requested to do so by a staff member.
If necessary, first aid will be administered by a staff member, using the first aid kit.

Steps to Help You Stay Calm

And follow University Instructions More Effectively in an Emergency

Remain calm. Take a deep breath. You will need a clear head in order to focus on your next move.
Check for information from the university (e-mails, Facebook, phone)
Take action. Follow institution instructions to help remove you from the emergency and get you to a safer location where you can get help. Remember the alternate transportation options you have available.
Get in touch. Make sure to check in with staff at designated locations.
Take care of yourself. While you are waiting for your contacts to assist you, or in case you cannot reach anyone to assist you, use your emergency kit, if necessary.
Keep Trying. If you cannot get a hold of anyone to help you (because phone lines are down, you are trapped, etc.) don’t give up. Try alternate methods of communication until you are able to reach someone. If you need to move to another location, let others know and leave a written description of where you are going.
Move to a more permanent location. After you have removed yourself and your group from any immediate threat, regroup at a safer location, and communicate with your emergency contacts. Consider your transportation options and get yourself to the appropriate location (hospital, police station, embassy/consulate, contact’s home, counseling center, etc.)
Stay in touch. Maintain contact and update the university.