Indiana University Building Emergency Action Plan
Wendell W. Wright 91福利社Building / School of Education
201 N Rose Ave
Bloomington, IN, 47405-1005
03/05/2026
201 N Rose Ave
Bloomington, IN, 47405-1005
03/05/2026
For all emergencies, call 911
IU Police Department (non-emergency) - 812-855-4111
IU Emergency Management & Continuity - 812-855-2004
IU Environmental Health & Safety - 812-855-2004
Insurance, Loss Control & Claims - 812-855-9758
Facility Operations - 812-855-8728
The Building Emergency Action Plan is a document that consists of emergency procedure guidance, activities for preparing for emergencies, and roles and responsibilities of building occupants.
The Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP) is a requirement of both OSHA, 1910.38: Emergency Action Plans, and the Indiana Fire Code, Chapter 4: Emergency Planning and Preparedness. This requirement applies to all facilities where IU employees are assigned; however, each BEAP is designed specifically for building occupants, including faculty, staff, and students. IU Emergency Management and Continuity shall make plans available to the IU community to review and plan for emergencies.
Walker, Wesley Allen
(812) 855-1792
wesawalk@iu.edu
Anderson, Thalia M
(812) 856-8068
tander@iu.edu
NOAA All-Hazards Radio(s), located at:
AED(s), located at:
First Aid Kit(s), located at:
In an emergency evacuation, building occupants shall leave the building out the nearest emergency exit, which may not be the main entrance. Once out of the building, occupants shall meet at the following locations:
Primary Location (outside):
Secondary Location (outside):
Tertiary location (inside a nearby building in case of inclement weather or another hazard):
Please note: Building occupants may return to the building once they receive an all clear from on-site emergency personnel.
During a severe weather incident (such as a tornado warning), occupants can take shelter in a safe location, such as an interior room, with no windows, ideally in the lower level of the building.
Severe weather shelters in this building include, but are not limited to:
Please note: Building occupants should return to their regular work areas once the expiration time on the weather warning has passed.
The procedures for accounting for building occupants during an emergency include: Wendell W. Wright 91福利社Building / Education, School Of 5
It is the responsibility of all supervisors to review the BEAP with their employees, for all buildings in which the employee is assigned. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring expectations and responsibilities are clearly defined; they shall also be prepared to ensure all questions and concerns are addressed appropriately.
It is the responsibility of all employees to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Employees shall review the BEAP and work with their supervisors to address questions and concerns. All employees are responsible for their personal safety; the Building Safety Committee is intended to provide support and communication; however they are not responsible for others’ safety.
It is the responsibility of all faculty/instructors (tenured, full-time, and part-time) to review the BEAP for all buildings in which they teach. Faculty/instructors shall be familiar with emergency procedures and are expected to take all alarms and alerts seriously and be prepared to pause class to ensure everyone is able to get to a safe location.
It is the responsibility of all members of the IU community to ensure it is a healthy and safe environment. Whereas the Building Emergency Action Plan is regulated by OSHA and the Indiana Fire Code, all elements within the plan apply to all members of the IU community. Students should be familiar with emergency procedures and are expected to take all alarms and alerts seriously.
Each building is responsible for delegating a Building Safety Chair; this is often a building manager or coordinator who may also serve as a point of contact for other departments on campus. The Building Safety Chair is responsible for completing an annual review of the Building Emergency Action Plan, a program managed through IU Emergency Management & Continuity (IUEMC). IUEMC will provide training and assistance in the development and maintenance of the BEAP.
Trainings and exercises are opportunities for individuals to learn and practice emergency procedures. Trainings are available to the community via the websites below, however all trainings and exercises are available at the request of faculty, staff, and student organizations, departments, and buildings.
Trainings can be found at the following websites (most are free for IU community):
Operation Stormy Weather is the statewide tornado drill IU conducts every spring, in coordination with the National Weather Service and Severe Weather Preparedness Week.
Evacuation drills are conducted for buildings at IU campuses/centers throughout the year – frequency of occurrence depends on the occupancy rating of the building.
All IU staff, faculty, and students are expected to participate fully in these exercises, as they are an opportunity to review, practice, and improve emergency procedures. Building occupants should give feedback to the Building Safety Committee for considerations to improve the BEAP.
IU Notify is Indiana University’s mass communication tool for alerting students and IU employees to immediate dangers, such as severe weather, active aggressor, and ongoing threats that could cause harm, such as unsolved robberies and sexual assaults. The messages can be sent to cell phones (voice and text message options) and landline phones, email, digital signs and some desktop computers. Keep IU-Notify contact information current using the IU Emergency Notification Settings tool at .
Alarms inside individual buildings (fire alarms, door alarms, etc) will not be distributed over IU Notify.
NOAA All-Hazards Radio: Broadcasts warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (tornados, earthquakes), environmental (chemical release, oil spill) and public safety (AMBER alerts, 911 phone outages).
All Hazards Outdoor Warning Sirens: These are managed by the Counties in which they are located; more information about locations and the systems may be found on the county websites, located at .
National Weather Service:
The upcoming sections include general guidance for a variety of incidents and emergencies; you may be in a situation in which you need assistance during an emergency. It is highly recommended that everyone develops their own personal safety plan; if you need assistance during an emergency (regardless of if short-term or long-term), the Building Safety Chair and IU Emergency Management & Continuity (IUEMC) are available to assist in developing alternatives that apply specifically to you. IUEMC can be reached at iuemc@iu.edu– be sure to include your building(s) in your email.
Tips for individuals needing assistance:
Guidance for evacuating and sheltering-in-place are included in the Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place section of the Building Emergency Action Plan.
Tips for people who offer to help those needing assistance:
A building evacuation is activated either by the fire alarm or at the directive of authorized emergency personnel, and leaving the building is required by law – no one is permitted to remain in the building. Proceed with caution, considering the following guidelines:
If you are unable to evacuate the building, shelter-in-place in a safe location in the building, such as:
Emergency Evacuation Maps may have examples of such locations throughout the building. Regardless if you find shelter in a pre-identified area, or an alternative safe location, it is imperative to contact on-site emergency personnel or call 911 or IUPD immediately. Even though this information may be on the maps, do not assume emergency personnel know to check those locations.
Visit for more information about evacuations at .
Shelter-in-place is a term that indicates there is a dangerous hazard outside and you should find a safe location inside to find shelter from the threat. Examples of such hazards include severe weather (such as a tornado warning), a hazardous material release, an active aggressor, or other dangerous situation. It is important to select a shelter location that will provide protection from the specific hazard or threat – is used to distribute such information; use this information to guide your actions. Remember, there is not one location that is ideal for all circumstances; here are some general considerations:
It is safe to resume normal operations once emergency personnel has issued an all clear. The exception to this is during a weather warning (such as a tornado warning) – these are issued with an expiration time; once the expiration time has passed, it is safe to resume business.
Visit for more information about sheltering-in-place at .
Any of these hazards may require a building evacuation or sheltering-in-place. Always proceed with caution to find a safe location.
An active aggressor is a person who appears to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area -- typically using firearms but possibly using other weapons, such as knives, or vehicles. There may be no pattern or method to their selection of victims. These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, so it is important that you act quickly and that you remember Run, Hide, Fight (in no particular order).
Visit Protect.IU.edu for more information on Active Aggressor incidents at .
Earthquakes can happen around the country, including the Midwest (both New Madrid and Wabash Valley faults run through Indiana). Shaking can happen without warning, and aftershocks can continue to impact the area, even after the initial shock has concluded. During an earthquake, try to drop, cover, and hold on as best as possible:
Visit Protect.IU.edu for more information about earthquakes at .
If you see smoke, fire, explosion or smell a burning odor, pull the nearest fire alarm and proceed with evacuation procedures, leaving the building out the nearest, safest emergency exit.
For specific fire safety questions, at inlocc@iu.edu. The following are common hazards found in offices and all employees are responsible for ensuring their workspaces are free from:
Good housekeeping practices can reduce risks; some common practices include:
Visit Protect.IU.edu for more information on fire incidents visit at .
Questions/problems/concerns regarding the fire suppression systems, life safety and alarm systems, and fire extinguishers, contact INLOCC.
Alerts: Watches & Warnings
The National Weather Service will issue alerts for weather conditions. There are two alerts to be familiar with:
Watch: indicates conditions are favorable for severe weather in and around the area
Warning: indicates severe weather is imminent and may already be occurring in the area
Floods are the #1 cause of death associated with natural disasters in the United States - just 6” of water can overpower a car. Always use caution in flooded areas and when in doubt about the depth of water, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”, a National Weather Service and NOAA slogan used as a reminder to use caution and consider alternative routes.
Lightning is dangerous up to about 10 miles away. “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” is a National Weather Service and NOAA slogan developed to remember when it is appropriate to seek shelter. If thunder is present, it indicates lightning is close enough to be damaging. It is safe to return outside once 30 minutes has gone by without thunder.
Winter weather includes snow, sleet, freezing rain, and extreme cold. All of these can quickly affect vehicular and pedestrian travel. Use caution and allow more time to stop and react to situations. The University will attempt to pre-treat ground surfaces and remove snow and ice as needed.
Read about Indiana University’s Adverse Weather Policy at .
Visit Protect.IU.edu for more information on severe weather at .
It is the responsibility of members of the IU community to be on the lookout for suspicious activities or behaviors. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call IUPD or local law enforcement. If you see something, say something! When reporting suspicious activity, be sure to include the following information:
If it is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or IUPD immediately.
Utility controls are to be shut off by maintenance personnel only.
Critical operations are to be managed, and shut off, by authorized personnel only.
Loss of utilities may initiate an emergency evacuation of the building; this decision shall be made at the discretion of IUPD and other emergency personnel. Proceed with caution until the building has been deemed safe to return.
If you notice an unusual or abnormal odor (i.e. natural gas, rotten eggs, sewer smells, etc), call 911 or IUPD to report the concern.
Visit Protect.IU.edu to read more about utility failures at .
Buildings may choose to have a Building Safety Committee, led by the Building Safety Chair(s). IUEMC recommends the Building Safety Committee consist of at least one representative from each functional area housed in the building. These individuals may serve the building by distributing the BEAP to their departments, discussing building safety concerns, and reviewing and updating the Building Emergency Action Plan.
When an evacuation is required, the Building Safety Committee can assist by advising building occupants to move towards the primary meeting location and check in with everyone to ensure all people are accounted for and no longer in the building. The Committee shall report any missing, trapped, or individuals still in the building to on-site emergency personnel.
The Building Safety Chair is also responsible for coordinating information with the Building Safety Committee and ensuring the distribution of the BEAP to all building occupants. The Building Safety Chair can serve as a conduit between the Building Safety Committee/building occupants, and public safety agencies on campus.
NOTE: Building Safety Committee members are not expected to place themselves at risk by attempting to extinguish a fire or by moving into areas of a building that may be potentially dangerous. The safety of all IU staff, faculty, and students is a priority for Indiana University.
Scott Witzke
812-856-8067
scwitzke@iu.edu
Janet Fox
812-856-8583
foxja@iu.edu
Chanel Stickles
812-856-8284
chsturge@iu.edu
Patricia Scribner
812-856-8548
pgscribn@iu.edu
Sara Sturgeon
812-856-8129
slsturge@iu.edu
Bridget Ross
812-856-8302
brilross@iu.edu
Brianna Zia-Borhan
812-856-8733
bborhan@iu.edu
Tracy Sheets
812-856-8370
tmj@iu.edu
Katherine Cashman
812-856-8372
kcashman@iu.edu