Be Prepared

If a bomb threat is received by phone:

• Remain Calm. Contact or ask someone to contact University Police, 703-993-2810.
• Record the time and phone number if you have a caller ID.
• Record details of the call or keep the note/email.
• Take no further action until advised to do so by the University Police. Responding officers will assess the threat and advise the building occupants if it is necessary to evacuate the building and/or area.

Download the Bomb Threat guide to learn more.

Limit the spread of communicable disease before it has the potential to cause serious illness/disease by taking the following steps:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces.
• Practice a healthy lifestyle; exercise, eat a balanced diet, and get sufficient sleep.
• Avoid public places, work, or school when sick to prevent the spread of a communicable disease.
• Maintain appropriate immunizations and vaccinations based upon the region in which you live and work, and your exposure risk.

Download the Communicable Disease guide to learn more.

Follow the below recommendations for how to respond to an earthquake:

If you are indoors: Remain indoors and seek protection until the earthquake subsides. Stay calm and take precautions to protect yourself from potential debris by:

• Drop to the floor and get under or adjacent to a sturdy table, desk, or permanent fixture.
• Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• Hold On to the table or desk you are under as objects may shift during the earthquake.
• If you are not near a sturdy table or desk, drop to the floor against an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• Stay away from windows, overhead fixtures, objects on walls, tall furniture, large appliances and cabinets filled with objects that may be displaced and fall during an earthquake.
• If you are in an elevator you are afforded a reasonable amount of protection and should remain in place. Entrapment may occur; notify emergency response personnel by using the elevator phone, help button, or cell phone.
• If you are in bed, remain in bed and cover your head with a pillow.

If You Are Outdoors: Move away from buildings, overhangs, trees, and power lines to a clear area such as a large open public area or field. If you’re driving, pull over and stop in an area that does not have any overhead hazards.

If getting safely to the floor to take cover won’t be possible: Identify an inside corner of the room away from windows and objects that could fall on you. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available.

Download the Earthquake guide to learn more.

If you discover smoke or a fire, do the following:

• Activate the fire alarm using a manual pull station located near the exit doors.
• Notify others and evacuate the building.
• Do not use elevators during a fire or evacuation
• Assemble at a designated assembly area and await further instruction from emergency response personnel.

Download the Emergency Evacuation guide to learn more.

In the event of a release of hazardous materials, take the following steps:

• Report all hazardous waste materials spills and releases to University Police.
• Evacuate the area or building if safety permits.
• Assemble at the designated assembly area and remain upwind of the chemical spill.
• Notify emergency response personnel if you are exposed to a chemical.

Download the Oil and Chemical Spill Response guide to learn more.

In the event of a medical emergency on campus, follow the below instructions:

• Contact Police & Public Safety, provide information about the injury and the location of the victim(s).
• Provide first aid or medical assistance if trained and necessary.
• Remain with the victim until emergency response personnel arrive.
• If a victim is unconscious and not breathing, start CPR (if trained), locate an AED, turn it on, and follow the instructions provided by the unit.

Download the Medical Emergency guide to learn more.

If you suspect someone is missing, notify the Department of Police and Public Safety immediately by calling: (703) 993-2810, and provide a detailed description of the missing person.

Download the Missing Person guide to learn more.

In the event of a power outage:

• Contact Facilities Management at 703-993-2525 to report a power outage.
• Remain calm, turn off sensitive equipment. Exit the area, and provide assistance to others if necessary.
• Buildings without power, water, heating, ventilation, or air conditioning should not be occupied until utilities are restored.

Download the Power Outage and Utility Failure guide to learn more.

In the event of a regional emergency:

• Check local news media for updates regarding evacuation, evacuation routes, and emergency shelters.
• Monitor www.gmu.edu for closing or operational modifications.
• Make an emergency plan and keep an emergency supply kit at home, at work, and in your car.
• For instructions on how to build an emergency kit and suggestions for what items to include, visit ready.gov/kit.
• For a list of additional items to keep in your car, as well as, a mechanic check list to prepare your vehicle for emergencies, visit ready.gov/car.

Download the Regional Emergency guide to learn more.

During severe weather, a hazardous materials spill, or an on-campus violence emergency, do the following:

• Warn others in the area to move to a shelter.
• Move to an interior room without windows, close the door, and lock the door if appropriate.
• Do not exit the area until the emergency has passed or you are instructed to do so by emergency response personnel.

Download the following guides to learn more:

• Tornado & Severe Weather
• Workplace & On Campus Violence
• Oil and Chemical Spill Guide

If you come across a suspicious package:

• Do not handle a suspicious package.
• Contact University Police and provide as much information as possible about the situation.
• Notify your supervisor or professor.
• Leave the area or await further instruction from University Police.

Download the Suspicious Package guide to learn more.

Follow the below recommendations for how to respond to severe weather:

• Monitor television, radio, or weather radio for information about approaching storms.
• If severe weather is expected to impact your area, seek shelter in a hardened structure and follow shelter-in-place procedures (above).
• Stay away from large objects that may fall during a storm, e.g., book cases and shelves.
• If you are unable to find shelter, lie down flat and cover your head with your hands.

Download the Tornado & Severe Weather guide to learn more.

In the event of violence on campus:

• RUN: away from danger to a secure location.
• HIDE: in a secure location if danger is near.
• FIGHT: by whatever means necessary to defend yourself and others as a last resort

Download the Workplace and On Campus Violence guide to learn more.

The Community Assistance Plan (CAP) is an institutional collaborative effort to document the manner in which George Mason University will recover from critical incidents affecting the university community which exceed the capacity of routine operational services. University Life (UL) and Human Resources serve as the lead units responsible for the development and execution of this plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide the structure and direction necessary to provide community assistance to individuals who have been affected by a critical incident. This plan establishes assumptions, roles and responsibilities of units/individuals, and the operational guidance needed to direct and control resources.

COOP provides a framework to minimize potential impact and allow for rapid recovery from an incident that disrupts operations. This plan encompasses the magnitude of operations and services performed by the university, and is tailored to the university’s unique operations, primary business functions, and mission essential functions. This plan identifies key personnel that perform or manage primary business functions (PBF).This plan was prepared by George Mason University to develop, implement and maintain a viable continuity capability.

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a collaborative effort between Risk, Safety, & Resilience (RSR), Police & Public Safety, and the various units that constitute the university’s Emergency Operations Group. This plan outlines the organization, procedures, and responsibilities for university personnel responding to all emergencies that occur on Mason’s property or region that impact the operation of the university.

The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is to substantially and permanently reduce the university’s vulnerability to natural, man-made, and technological hazards. The plan is intended to promote sound practices and policies designed to protect human life, critical facilities, infrastructure, and business operations at the university. The overall goals of the Hazard Mitigation Plan can be achieved by increasing awareness, documenting resources for risk reduction and loss-prevention, and identifying activities to guide the university towards the development of a safer, more sustainable campus.

The Integrated Contingency Plan (ICP) is designed to assist George Mason University personnel, including those designated as Spill Response Coordinators, to respond to a petroleum product, hazardous material, biological, or radiological spill or release. It is the responsibility of all persons who are trained and familiar with this plan to implement the actions outlined in this ICP in the event of a spill or release.

Mason Alert is the university’s official emergency notification system. Mason Alert is used to issue emergency notifications and other important announcements that may affect your safety.

Visit alert.gmu.edu to register your cell phone to receive text messages from Mason Alert.

Rave Guardian is a campus safety mobile application that enhances preparedness and safety on-campus using interactive features and allowing students to create a virtual network of friends, family and campus safety personnel. The application also includes anonymous, two-way crime reporting through text and picture messaging.

The application also includes anonymous, two-way crime reporting through text and picture messaging. The application is available to all students with a university email address for free through the iTunes store and Google Play store.

Learn more or download Rave Guardian today from the iTunes (iOS devices) or Google Play Store (Android devices)

Emergency Management & Fire Safety provides Emergency Procedures flipbooks for students, faculty, and staff. This pocket-sized resource contains information on how to prepare for and respond to various emergencies that may occur on campus.

Faculty & Staff: To request a flipbook for yourself or others, Please contact rsr@gmu.edu.

Students: Flipbooks are available for pick up from University Information kiosks at Student Centers and information desks on the Fairfax and regional campuses.

Emergency Procedures posters  reflect current best practices and additional information about emergencies that may occur on or near Mason’s campuses. The poster is available digitally, and in two printed sizes; 8.5 x 13 or 15.5 x 24 inches. If would like to obtain posters for your work area please send a request to rsr@gmu.edu with the number and size of posters desired.

EMEC is responsible for setting policy, as well as providing broad oversight of emergency management activities. This approach will foster a cohesive approach to the management and coordination of emergency management efforts for all hazards that can be reasonably expected to impact George Mason University operations.

Each regional campus EOT is comprised of key units that have resources and/or knowledge necessary to help the campus prepare, mitigate, respond to, and recover from an emergency. In an emergency, the EOT may convene at the request of the EOT Manager or the university Emergency Operations Group to support emergency response operations across the university with specific emphasis on supporting response operations at regional campuses.