Emergencies requiring you to remain or barricade indoors
Remaining indoors
In some situations, building occupants may be asked to remain indoors due to different types of situations outside of a building(s) such as demonstrations, severe weather, police operations or a fire in a neighboring building. Unlike an evacuation, this directive is done to protect members of our community from a nearby danger.
If Campus Safety and Prevention Services issues a “remain indoors” alert, building occupants are free to move within the building, though the alert may include specific instructions, such as staying away from exterior windows. If you receive an order to remain indoors, try to get indoors as quickly as possible and follow instructions provided by the emergency alerts.
Barricading indoors
In some emergencies, individuals may need to take extra precautions beyond staying indoors. On campus, this is typically issued as the “Hide” directive in the Armed Intruder Procedure: Evaluate, Respond (Run, Hide, Fight); Support. During these situations, emergency alerts are sent as quickly as possible, though initial details may be limited.
When to Hide
The decision to hide depends on your assessment of the situation and your proximity to potential danger. The emergency could be in your building, a neighbouring building, or elsewhere on campus. Stop what you’re doing, assess the situation, and take appropriate action. If running to safety isn’t safe, your next best option is to:
- Barricade yourself in a room
- Block the door using available furniture or objects
Barricading is a critical step that can slow or prevent an intruder from entering your location.
For more detailed guidance, see the Armed Intruder webpage.
Follow-Up Alerts
Emergencies are often chaotic, so it can take time to confirm details. Once reliable information is available, follow-up alerts will provide more specific guidance, including the nature and location of the threat, helping you determine your next steps. An alert instructing you to hide is initiated for emergencies that present a serious threat to the life and safety of people on campus. These alerts are generally associated with active shooter incidents or for a suspected armed and dangerous individual on campus.
