Recommended by Emergency Preparedness Committee: November 26, 2009
Recommended by President’s Council: February 5, 2010
Approved by Executive Committee: March 10, 2010
NAIT Procedures
CS1.2.12
Severe Weather and Natural Disasters
Implementation Date: March 11, 2010
Replaces: New
Table of Contents
Section
Description
Page
1.0
Description
1
2.0
Initial Response
3
3.0
Emergency Notifications
6
4.0
Incident Management
7
5.0
Communications
11
1.0
Description
1.1
Winter Storms
Severe winter storms can cause widespread damage and disruption. Heavy
snow often results in paralyzed transportation systems, automobile accidents due
to slippery roads, and stranded vehicles. When accompanied by intense winds
and extreme cold, snow can isolate entire communities. Bitter cold and severe
winter storms kill more than 100 people in Canada every year. That is more than
the number of Canadians killed by tornadoes, lightning, hail, floods, hurricanes
and heat waves combined.
Blizzards are a relatively common occurrence in Canada, involving strong winds
and blinding snow, which makes travel very difficult, due to “whiteouts” and
slippery conditions. The snow loads from a major snowfall or blizzard can also
cause the collapse of structures.
-2-
1.2
Lightening and Hail
Lightning and hail can occur in any thunderstorm. Although death resulting from
lightening strikes and hail is rare, injuries are common.
1.3
Tornadoes
a) Severe tornadoes are the most violent storms on earth. They have the
highest wind speeds of any weather phenomenon, resulting in a significant
number of deaths annually, and major devastation to property.
b) Canada ranks second in the world in terms of the frequency of tornadoes,
with an average of 80 tornadoes each year. In the United States, a thousand
tornadoes are reported each year. Any tornado can cause injury, death or
property damage, however two percent of tornadoes cause more than 90
percent of the fatalities.
c) Canada’s “tornado alleys” are found in a band through Alberta, southern
Saskatchewan and Manitoba, through to Thunder Bay, southern Ontario, and
southeastern Quebec.
d) Tornado watches are issued when weather conditions could lead to the
formation of tornadoes.
e) Tornado warnings are issued when Doppler radar or a visual sighting has
identified a tornado.
f) Tornados are classified into the following categories:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
F0 – Winds of 65-115 km/h Light Damage
F1 – Winds of 116-180 km/h Moderate Damage
F2 – Winds of 181-250 km/h Considerable Damage
F3 – Winds of 251-330 km/h Severe Damage
F4 – Winds of 331-420 km/h Devastating Damage
-32.0
Initial Response
2.1
Every employee should understand the layout of their building and work unit, and
familiarize themselves with safe locations, namely whether the building has an
underground parkade, and where are the internal corridors, staircases, and
bathrooms of the building located, Employees should visualize how they would
perform a shelter-in-place within the specific building areas that they typically
occupy, so that if severe weather or a natural disaster actually occurs, they can
act quickly to move to their “shelter-in-place”. Employees are in charge of a
shelter-in-place response, and must take responsibility for an efficient and
effective implementation when directed to do so.
2.2
Weather conditions shall be continuously monitored by Campus Security and
Parking Services, with the objective of receiving an early warning of the potential
for severe weather or natural disasters affecting NAIT campuses.
2.3
A forecast of the potential for severe weather or natural disasters shall be
communicated to the extent possible, in accordance with the Communications
Guideline CS1.6, asking students and staff to take appropriate precautionary
measures, to ensure that their life safety and personal and institute property is
protected.
2.4
The Campus Security and Parking Services department, the Capital Projects and
Facilities Operations department and the Materials Management department
shall be on alert, in the event of severe weather warnings, to be in a position to
respond as quickly as possible to reported damage arising from severe weather
or natural disasters.
2.5
Severe Weather or Natural Disasters During Off Hours
a) If the severe weather or natural disaster occurs during off hours, on
weekends, or statutory holidays, and more generally, prior to the resumption
of classes, a determination will be made by the NAIT Emergency Operations
Centre, as to whether NAIT is in a position to resume its business operations
as regularly scheduled, and will communicate this through its website, and
possibly through the local media.
b) Staff and students are advised to check NAIT’s website prior to coming to
campus, to obtain an update in regards to the status of NAIT’s operations.
2.6
Severe Weather or Natural Disasters During Regular Business Hours
a) If it is determined through the monitoring of weather reports during regular
business hours, that weather conditions are approaching severe levels, which
have a high probability of affecting the operation of the Institute, or the ability
of staff and students to travel to their place of residence at the end of the
business day, a decision will be made by the NAIT Emergency Operations
Centre as to the appropriate course of action.
-4b) Potential courses of action include:
i. Continue operations as usual, and allow staff and students to make their
own decisions regarding whether to leave for their place of residence
prior to the completion of the normal business day.
ii. Announce that the Institute will be suspending its operation for the
remainder of the day, and advise staff and students to immediately leave
for their place of residence.
iii. Advise staff and students that it is recommended that they not leave the
campus until further notice, and make arrangements for “shelter-in-place”
if staff and students will be on campus for an extended period of time.
2.7
In the event of a severe winter storm:
a) Stay in your present location if it is safe to do so.
b) Listen for radio and television broadcasts regarding the storm and any
emergency information. Have a battery operated radio available in case the
electricity is interrupted.
c) Do no travel unless it is necessary. Be prepared to stay on campus, as it
may be unsafe to travel in the storm.
d) The electricity may be interrupted, in which case only emergency lighting will
be available throughout the buildings, powered by NAIT’s emergency back-up
generators. Telephones and radios will still be in operation.
e) To help prevent water pipes from freezing, keep doors closed.
f)
If you must go outdoors, prepare yourself for the cold weather, and do not
stay outside for long periods.
g) Several light weight layers give more warmth than a single heavy coat. Try
thermal underwear, a turtleneck, a medium sweater and a jacket.
h) Wear a hat to prevent heat loss. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs.
Wear gloves and snow boots.
i)
Always ensure that you tell someone where you are going. If you are alone
and beginning your travel to your place of residence, use a cell phone or land
line (if in operation), to let someone know that you are travelling.
-52.8
In the event of a lightning or hail storm:
a) Stay indoors when a thunderstorm strikes.
b) Do not travel unless it is necessary.
c) Large hailstones can shatter windows, so stay away from windows, skylights
and doors. Ensure that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors stay clear of
these areas. Locate accessible basements, underground parkades, internal
corridors, classrooms, offices, and washrooms
d) Do not use the phone during the storm, and do not contact metal objects
such as radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks or other potential conductors of
electricity.
e) If the storm is a safe distance away, close any blinds to prevent the wind from
blowing broken glass inside.
f)
Surge arrestors and suppressors can protect electronic equipment, should
lightning strike power lines.
g) Watch out for large trees, as they may fall during a severe storm.
h) If you are outdoors, move immediately to shelter inside of the buildings. Large
enclosed structures tend to be much safer than smaller, open structures.
i)
Avoid water, high ground, isolated trees, and shelter in open spaces.
j)
If lightning is about to strike you, you will feel the static, with your hair
standing up on end. The best thing to do if you are in this situation, is to
immediately crouch down, and put your feet together.
k) Minimize your contact with the ground, and do not lie down. Cover your ears,
to reduce the threat of hearing damage from thunder.
2.9
In the event of a tornado:
a) Go immediately the lowest level of a building or a closet, a bathroom or under
a staircase. The basement areas of buildings are the best areas for shelter.
Ensure that you assist with the evacuation of other faculty, staff, students,
and visitors into these areas.
b) Stay away from all windows and doors. Move out of areas such as main
entrances and lobbies and avoid the glass Pedway areas.
c) All access into the buildings must be restricted. All entry doors must be
closed and / or secured. Glass building and flying debris can cause severe
damage, injury, and possibly death.
-6d) Proceed to the basement of any building that has a basement, interior
corridor, classroom or washroom away from glass. Get under a sturdy piece
of furniture, such as a workbench or a heavy table. Be prepared to kneel
facing a wall hold onto the furniture with one hand and use the other arm to
protect your head and neck from falling or flying objects.
e) Avoid being in the corners of the room because they attract debris.
f)
Have a portable battery operated radio with you and listen for instructions, if
possible,
g) If you are outside, get inside the building.
h) Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
3.0
Emergency Notifications
3.1
In the event of severe weather or a natural disaster that is a serious threat to
the life safety of individuals, or significant potential damage to property at
NAIT’s campus(es), the following calls need to be made as soon as possible, in
the following order:
Personal Responsibility
a)
Campus Security Services
Call 780-471-7477
Campus Security Services will follow up
with 911, to provide additional instructions
as needed for emergency personnel
arriving at the Campus.
Campus Security Responsibility
c)
Call the Fire department
Campus Security Services will call the fire
department (911), identify themselves as
NAIT Security, and give NAIT’s address,
building location and floor where the
natural disaster was reported, to ensure
that the fire trucks and emergency
personnel arrive at the correct location.
d)
Emergency Preparedness
Committee members and NAIT
Emergency Operations Centre
members
Campus Security Services shall send preprogrammed e-mail messages to
member’s personal data assistants
(PDA’s), using pre-established address
lists. In addition, members of the NAIT
Emergency Operations Centre shall
receive a voice message or text message.
e)
Emergency Notification System
Campus Security Services shall send preprogrammed specific instructions to
occupants of buildings as to the severe
weather condition or natural disaster, and
what actions they are to take.
-7f)
NAIT Maintenance
Regular business hours: 780-471-7445
Off hours: Operator on standby as per the
call list supplied to Campus Security for
after hour emergencies.
f)
NAIT Website and Digital Screens
Post messages to NAIT’s digital network,
providing the most current information
available. See Communications Plan in
Guideline CS1.6
g)
Facilities Operations Service
Provider(s)
Campus Security Services shall notify the
applicable facilities operations service
provider(s), and what actions they are to
take.
3.2
Members of the NAIT Emergency Operations Centre will immediately assemble
in the President’s Conference Room (O102F), or another room on Campus or
alternative Campus, as appropriate, and commence the implementation of
Section 6.0 of the Emergency Preparedness Guideline CS1.1.
4.0
Incident Management
4.1
The sequence of events in managing a severe weather condition or natural
disaster that is a serious threat to the life safety of individuals, or
significant potential damage to property, is generally as follows:
a) Shelter in Place
Upon notification through the public address system or other means, NAIT’s
fire wardens within each zone (or peace officers if after regular business
hours, on weekends, or on statutory holidays) shall immediately undertake
their responsibilities, as follows:
i)
Identifying themselves as a fire warden (or peace officer) by either
wearing their fire warden identification badge or vest.
ii) Ensure that occupants are informed of specific actions that they are to
take in moving to a safer location within the building or an adjacent
building, where it is safe to do so.
iii) Ask staff and students to remain calm, to gather their personal
belongings, and proceed to the nearest stairwell to move to the
designated location. Elevators are NOT to be used.
-8iv) For disabled persons, the following procedures are to occur:
A specific stairwell will be designated for use by disabled persons
(see Appendix A of Procedure CS1.5.3 Shelter in Place). This is
not to preclude the use of the stairwell by other building occupants.
Persons unable to shelter in place due to mobility issues must be
brought to the attention of emergency personnel and Campus
Security Services. Emergency personnel will then determine the
safest method for assisting disabled person(s) to relocate to the
appropriate shelter in place.
One aide and one backup should be assigned to each disabled
person.
The aide should accompany the disabled person to the nearest
designated area, elevator lobby or fire stairwell.
The aide will inform emergency personnel of the disabled person, and
will stay with this person throughout the relocation to an appropriate
shelter in place.
People with hearing and visual impairments must rely on the buddy
system, and therefore others must be aware of the responsibility, in
case the buddy is absent.
Evacuation assistants should know all of the evacuation routes,
procedures and shelter in place locations within their building area.
v) Ensure that any openings such as doors, windows and blinds are closed.
vi) Evaluate the unit's work areas for hazards created by the severe weather
or natural disaster. If it is safe to do so, secure hazardous materials and
shut down hazardous processes. Take appropriate action to preserve
human and animal health and safety, and take action to preserve applied
research.
vii) Check any fume hoods in the area, and if it is safe to do so, close the
door of the fume hood if power is lost.
viii) Turn off or unplug non-essential electrical equipment, computer
equipment and appliances. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed, to
help keep them cold.
ix) Ensure that there are no candles or other types of flame that have been
ignited for lighting.
-9x) After completing the duties, join the occupants in the location that they
were instructed to go, and report to the assigned peace officer. This may
include disclosing locations of individuals that refuse to leave, locations of
individuals who are mobility impaired, or areas that could not be checked
due to imminent danger.
xi) Ensure that individuals do not re-enter the cleared area.
b) Secure the scene.
The fire department vehicles and other emergency personnel will arrive on
Campus at the designated area and take control of the scene. The officer in
command may establish a Unified Command Post. In such case, emergency
services could include the fire department, ambulance, police, hazardous
materials tactical unit, and other emergency and investigation services as
appropriate. NAIT’s point of contact at the Unified Command Post is the
Manager, Security and Parking Services.
A Peace Officer will meet the fire department at the designated entrance.
Campus Security Services will call all available Peace Officers to help in
relocating staff and students to a safer location within the building or adjacent
building (see Appendix B of Procedure CS1.5.3 Shelter in Place, for a
sample sign of a Shelter in Place Emergency Meeting Point, and the
locations by building where these Emergency Meeting Points are
located). The focus of activity will be:
i. Ensure no one is entering the affected area, and ensure all people within
the area have been relocated.
ii. Determine whether there have been any injuries or casualties, and if so,
provide this information to arriving emergency personnel.
iii. Determine an action plan as quickly as possible, to address an
appropriate response to property damage.
-10c) Attend to the injured and casualties.
In the case of severe weather and natural disasters, the availability of
emergency personnel to attend to injured students and staff at NAIT may be
limited, due to the widespread need of emergency resources within the region
in such a situation. As a result, NAIT personnel who are appropriately trained
are encouraged to provide first aid to the injured to the extent possible in the
circumstances, until emergency personnel arrive.
When emergency
personnel arrive, they will attend to the most critically injured on a priority
basis, and so there may be a need for NAIT personnel to continue to provide
first aid until such time as all of the injured have been assessed and
transported to a hospital or health centre.
d) Conduct appropriate service(s).
In the case where severe weather or a natural disaster has resulted in
significant injuries or casualties, the appropriate service(s) will be planned
and conducted, to ensure that NAIT and the community has an opportunity to
come together in an effort to support one another.
e) Repair the damages to the building and property.
The Capital Projects and Facilities Operations department in cooperation with
affected program areas shall determine as soon as possible, the extent of
possible damages to the building and property, and recommend the
appropriate course of action to the Executive Committee, and to the Board of
Governors Campus Development Committee.
f)
Resume normal activities.
i. Temporary Location
The Capital Projects and Facilities Operations department, working
together with the leadership of the affected programs and services, shall
determine the requirements for resuming their activities in a temporary
location as soon as possible, to minimize the impact on students and
staff.
The plan to resume classes or services in a temporary location shall be
communicated to students and staff, as appropriate.
The costs incurred to prepare and operate the programs or services in the
temporary location shall be documented, in order to pursue cost recovery,
as appropriate.
-11ii. Permanent Location
A Steering Committee to guide the restoration of the damaged facilities
shall be established as soon as possible, with the appropriate
membership from the Executive Committee, Capital Projects and
Facilities Operations department, and leadership of the affected programs
and services.
A capital plan shall be developed, including the scope of the project,
estimated capital infrastructure and equipment costs, and a schedule to
complete the project, for approval and funding/insurance recovery, as
appropriate. Following approval of the plan, the project shall be
completed in accordance with the schedule.
The capital and operating costs incurred for the permanent location of the
affected programs and services shall be documented, in order to pursue
cost recovery, as appropriate.
The plan shall be communicated to students and staff, as appropriate.
4.2
The Manager, Occupational Health & Safety will ensure that the environment and
atmosphere within the area has been examined and/or sampled to determine
appropriate measures for safe re-entry, select and ensure that the appropriate
personal protective clothing and safety equipment are used by workers entering
the area; provide appropriate communications and briefings to NAIT Executive
and appropriate senior managers, and contact Alberta Labour – Occupational
Health & Safety as soon as possible, when the potential for a serious injury or
fatality exists, and when a serious injury or fatality occurs.
5.0
Communications
5.1
The Communications Plan as presented in Guideline CS1.6 shall be activated.