EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Palm Beach Atlantic University Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures

The safety and well-being of the Palm Beach Atlantic University community are our highest priorities.

During an emergency, clear and accessible instructions are essential. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors should become familiar with the emergency alerts PBA may issue in response to a threat on or near campus and understand how to respond appropriately.

These procedures are intended to help members of the University community respond to unexpected situations with greater awareness and confidence. Always follow directions provided by the Department of Public Safety, law enforcement officers, firefighters, or other identified emergency responders.

For an immediate or life-threatening emergency, call 911. When it is safe to do so, notify the Department of Public Safety at 561-803-2500.

Shelter-In-Place Remain indoors when conditions outside present a danger.

What a Shelter-In-Place Alert Means

A Shelter-In-Place emergency alert will be issued when building occupants should remain indoors because of a threat or dangerous incident outside a building or group of buildings. This alert is used when it may not be safe to evacuate your current location.

Situations may include smoke or fire immediately outside your room, a violent person reported on or near campus, live electrical wires blocking an exit, hazardous outdoor conditions, or nearby police activity. When a Shelter-In-Place alert is issued, enter or remain inside a building or other confined area until an all-clear message is provided.

How to Shelter-In-Place

The basic sheltering procedure is generally the same regardless of location, although the specific emergency may require additional precautions. Follow these steps unless instructed otherwise by DPS, another qualified University representative, law enforcement, or emergency responders:

If you are inside, remain where you are unless your location presents an immediate danger.
If you are outdoors, quickly enter the closest available building. Emergency protocols may affect the operation of PBACard access-control devices.
Ask others inside the building to remain there rather than leave.
Unless there is an imminent threat, individuals may contact their emergency contacts to report where they are and that they are safe.
Select an appropriate room or interior area in which to shelter. When possible, the location should:
- Have no windows or exterior doors.
- Provide adequate space for everyone present. Use multiple rooms if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
Close and lock all windows and exterior doors when appropriate.
Make a list of the people sheltering with you.
Remain as calm as possible and allow emergency personnel to focus on resolving the incident.
Remain in place until the danger has passed, an evacuation becomes immediately necessary, or an all-clear message is issued through Rave Guardian or PBA Alert .

Lockdown Place a locked or barricaded door between yourself and a serious threat.

What a Lockdown Alert Means

A Lockdown Alert means placing a locked door, barricade, or other substantial barrier between yourself and a dangerous threat. A lockdown will generally be initiated only for an emergency presenting a serious threat to the life and safety of people on campus, such as an active shooter or a suspected armed and dangerous individual.

The emergency may be occurring in your building, in a nearby building, or elsewhere on campus. Stop what you are doing, assess your surroundings, and take the actions necessary to protect yourself.

How to Lock Down

When a Lockdown Alert is issued:

Stop what you are doing and immediately assess your environment.
Enter an office, residence hall room, classroom, meeting room, or other securable space with few or no windows.
Lock all doors and use the Nightlock or another available door-securing device when applicable.
If a door cannot be locked, barricade it with heavy furniture or other large objects.
Close blinds and turn off lights, projectors, computer screens, and other light-emitting devices.
If you cannot get indoors, move behind substantial cover or an obstruction and remain as low as possible.
Remain quiet and silence cell phones and other noise-producing devices.
Stay low and move away from windows, doors, and direct lines of sight.
Take cover behind or beneath furniture and place as many substantial objects as possible between yourself and the threat.
Do not look through windows or open doors to observe what is occurring.
Do not answer knocks on the door.
Do not evacuate solely because a fire alarm activates during a known lockdown unless you observe evidence of fire, your location becomes unsafe, or emergency responders direct you to leave.
Call or text 911 if a life-threatening emergency is occurring in your immediate area and it is safe to communicate.
Assist others when you can do so without placing yourself in additional danger.
Remain in your secured location until police provide instructions or circumstances require an immediate evacuation.
When police officers arrive:
- Obey all commands given by officers.
- Do not run toward officers or make sudden movements.
- Keep your hands visible and do not hold anything that could be mistaken for a weapon.

Active Threat & Armed Intruder

Review Run, Hide, Fight guidance and location-specific response procedures.

Run, Hide, Fight active-threat response

If you become aware of an active threat or hostile intruder on campus, your response will depend upon the location and nature of the incident. Follow instructions provided by the Department of Public Safety, the West Palm Beach Police Department, or another positively identified emergency-response agency.

Following official instructions and remaining aware of your surroundings will improve your ability to make informed safety decisions.

Additional active-shooter preparedness information is available through Ready.gov .

Select a campus location below for more specific hostile-intruder guidance.

Residence Halls

Hostile Intruder Response

When a hostile person is actively causing or threatening death or serious bodily injury, residence hall occupants should consider the following procedures:

Remain in your room, immediately lock the door to the hallway, and call 911 for police assistance.
If possible, notify Public Safety at 561-803-2500.
If you are away from your assigned room, enter another room that can be locked.
Do not remain in the hallway.
Barricade the door with desks, beds, or other heavy objects.
Lock windows and close blinds or curtains.
Stay away from windows and doors.
Turn off lights and audio equipment.
Remain calm, quiet, and out of open areas.
Do not activate a fire alarm unless there is an actual fire. An unnecessary evacuation could expose occupants to danger.

If You Are Caught in an Open Area

If you are in a hallway, lounge, or another exposed area, assess the situation and determine the safest available response.

Hiding: Select a location that is secure and not obvious.
Running: If a safe escape route is available, leave the building and move away from the danger. Use walls, furniture, trees, vehicles, and other substantial objects as cover. Once you are safely away, call for help and warn others not to enter the area.
Playing dead: If you cannot run or hide and other victims are around you, you may determine that remaining motionless is your safest available option.
Fighting: Fighting back may be considered as a last resort when you face an immediate threat of serious bodily injury or death and no safer option remains.

When police arrive, obey all commands. Officers may initially direct you to keep your hands raised or may temporarily restrain individuals while identifying the threat. These actions are taken for safety while the incident is evaluated.

Academic and Administrative Buildings

Hostile Intruder Response

When a hostile person is actively causing or threatening death or serious bodily injury, occupants of academic and administrative buildings should consider the following procedures.

Note: These procedures may also apply to other classrooms, meeting spaces, libraries, dining locations, and common-use buildings on campus.

Remain in the classroom or office and immediately lock doors leading to the hallway.
Cover windows or openings that provide a direct line of sight into the room when possible.
Call 911 if it is safe to communicate.
Do not activate a fire alarm unless there is an actual fire.
Lock windows and close blinds or curtains.
Stay away from windows and doors.
Turn off lights, projectors, computer screens, and audio equipment.
Remain calm and quiet.
Keep the group together when it is safe and practical to do so.
Keep the room secured until police or emergency responders provide instructions.
If you are not inside a classroom or office, attempt to enter a securable room.
Avoid hallways, atriums, courtyards, and other open areas.

If You Are Caught in an Open Area

Hiding: Select a location that is secure and not obvious.
Running: If you can safely leave the building, move away from the threat. Use desks, cabinets, walls, trees, vehicles, and other substantial objects as cover. Once safely away, call for assistance and warn others.
Playing dead: If you cannot run or hide and other victims are nearby, you may determine that remaining motionless is your safest available option.
Fighting: Fighting back may be considered as a last resort when you face an immediate threat of serious bodily injury or death and no safer option remains.

When police arrive, obey all commands, keep your hands visible, and avoid sudden movements. Officers may temporarily restrain individuals while the threat is identified and the scene is secured.

University Grounds

Hostile Intruder Response

When a hostile person is actively causing or threatening death or serious bodily injury on University grounds, individuals in exposed locations should consider the following procedures:

Keep your cell phone available to receive instructions through PBA Alert and Rave Guardian. If you do not have a phone, remain near someone who does when it is safe to do so.
Silence your phone but continue monitoring it for emergency instructions.
If you know the location, description, or actions of the intruder, call 911 and answer the dispatcher's questions.
If speaking could reveal your location, remain quiet and leave the emergency line open when possible.
Do not respond to commands unless you are reasonably certain they are coming from a police officer, Public Safety officer, firefighter, or other identified emergency responder.
If instructed to remain in place, do so unless your current location is unsafe. If you are exposed in a hallway or another open space, attempt to enter a securable room.
If the threat is inside your building and a safe exit route is available, leave immediately and move away from the area.
If leaving is not possible, enter the nearest office, classroom, or other securable room and lock or barricade the door.
If the threat is outside your building, enter a room that can be locked and secure all doors and windows.
Remain away from doors and windows.
Turn off lights and contact 911 if you have current information regarding the location or actions of the intruder.

If You Are in an Exposed Location

Running: If you can safely escape, move away from the threat. Use buildings, walls, trees, vehicles, and other substantial objects as cover. Once safely away, call for help and warn others.
Hiding: Select a hiding location that is secure, provides substantial cover, and is not obvious.
Playing dead: If you cannot run or hide and other victims are nearby, you may determine that remaining motionless is your safest available option.
Fighting: Fighting back may be considered as a last resort when you face an immediate threat of serious bodily injury or death and no safer option remains.

Once police arrive, obey all commands, keep your hands visible, and avoid sudden movements. Officers may temporarily restrain individuals while the situation is evaluated and the threat is identified.

For emergencies, call 911. For on-campus assistance, call the Department of Public Safety Dispatch Center at 561-803-2500.