Evacuation of People with Mobility Impairments - "Areas of Refuge" and "Areas of Rescue Assistance"

  1. "Areas of Refuge" and "Areas of Rescue Assistance" applies to other than ground level floors of all buildings more than one story above and/or below grade.
  2. When a fire alarm is initiated, employees (faculty and staff) are to help insure the safe evacuation of mobility impaired individuals in their area of authority (classrooms, offices, etc.) The mobility-impaired individuals are to be accompanied by the employee to a designated "Area of Refuge" or "Area of Rescue Assistance" and asked to stay with that individual until a Security Officer, and/or fire department personnel arrive at the scene.
  3. Campus Security Officers are immediately dispatched to "Areas of Refuge" and "Areas of Rescue Assistance" during all emergencies. They will monitor the situation (smoke, flames, etc.) which could necessitate the immediate evacuation of people with mobility impairments. In the event of an evacuation, Security, Facilities & Operations and/or Fire Department personnel will conduct the actual evacuation.
  4. "Areas of Refuge" and "Areas of Rescue Assistance" are designated with signs indicating their location. The locations of these areas are listed below:

    5. Utica Campus "Area of Rescue Assistance

    • Academic Building - Second floor landing immediately adjacent to the elevator.
    • Alumni College Center - Second floor area adjacent to the student mailboxes.
    • Gym- Second floor area adjacent to the elevator.
    • Payne Hall- Second and third floors, landing areas of stairwells on the Sherman Drive side and main quad/Gym side. Basement - area adjacent to the elevator.
    • Information Technology Building - First floor - In the stairwell closest to the Gym and baseball field. Second floor - In the stairwell closest to the Alumni College Center and Penfield Dorm; Second floor - In the stairwell behind the elevator on the baseball field side.

    Rome Campus "Areas of Rescue Assistance

    • Academic Building - Areas adjacent to the elevator on the second and third floors. Area adjacent to the wheel chair lift on the basement level.
    • Plumley Complex - Those areas adjacent to the elevator on the basement, library (first floor), and second floor. An "Area of Refuge" is in the basement and is located between the double doors at the Floyd Avenue entrance.
  5. Local fire officials are informed of the locations of "Areas of Refuge" and "Areas of Rescue Assistance" and this procedure.