Emergency Preparedness

The CARES Department has developed emergency protocols to provide members of the Barnard College community with important information on how to respond to a broad range of emergencies that may impact campus.  Individual preparedness is also important, we encourage members of the community to think about personal preparedness as well as being familiar with campus information and resources.

Fire Safety personnel attend to preventative efforts and regular inspection of safety measures to reduce risks and avoid hazards related to fire and life safety practices across campus. While there is no way to fully anticipate the exact nature of the emergencies and challenges that we as a community may face, at Barnard we have focused our efforts on improving basic emergency management procedures in the event of an unforeseen event as well as emergency response protocols for various emergencies. We are also indeed very fortunate that New York City has one of the most advanced and responsive public safety systems in the world.

In the event of a large-scale emergency, residents and occupants of buildings may be instructed, by alarms or announcements, to evacuate buildings. Should this occur, please follow these instructions.

• Upon an alarm activation or by announcement, check your surrounding area for any hazards.
• Immediately and calmly leave the building as signaled/instructed. Close the door to the room or office you are leaving, but do not lock them when exiting.
• If confronted with heavy smoke or heat, stay low or crawl towards the nearest safe exit.
• Proceed carefully and quickly to the nearest exit and proceed to lower floors using the stairs. Do not use elevators.
• Proceed to assembly points and await further instructions from staff, who will direct you to additional spaces should the need arise.
• If you need assistance with evacuation, immediately contact CARES Response Line at 212-854-3362 to advise of your location and share current conditions. If you do not feel or see fire or smoke where you are, shelter in place and await further instructions.
• If you recognize that a friend or colleague has not evacuated and you cannot reach them, contact the CARES Response Line at 212-854-3362 to share information.
• Community Safety personnel will be there to respond to the emergency and to provide direction and assistance.

In the event that it is necessary to leave a building or buildings for an extended period, the College has designated the following locations for assembly:
Hewitt Student Dining Room and Lower Level of the Diana Center

Should any of these locations be inaccessible, proceed to one of the other available areas designated for assembly. Once assembled, College officials and others, depending on the nature of the emergency, will advise members of the community of the options and resources available to them, including alternate sleeping arrangements, meals, medical treatment, communications options, and other services.

Experience has shown that certain members of the College population will voluntarily leave campus under emergency conditions. Some will go to relatives or friends, while others will attempt to get home. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you let your family know ahead of time where you may relocate in the event of an emergency and provide as much contact information as possible.

Certain emergency conditions may arise under which it is advisable that people remain inside. This is often referred to as shelter in place. In such instances, you will be advised by College or community safety officials to remain indoors with doors and windows closed. It is important to follow the directions of campus officials and other community safety workers. 

There are a number of helpful resources available online to assist in any personal preparations you may wish to make. The following websites are a good starting point for basic emergency preparations:

• NYC Emergency Preparedness Office
• American Red Cross

Emergency Numbers

Barnard's Emergency Number: 212-854-6666

If off-campus in the event of an emergency, including residents of Cathedral Gardens (W 110th St) and College Residence (610 W 110th St):  Dial 911

We encourage you to check out the fire safety information provided by FDNY:

• Cooking Safety Tips (pdf)
• Electrical Safety Tips (pdf)

Emergency preparedness training includes information about response to Active Shooter circumstances.  The College utilizes guidance provided by the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and New York City and State Emergency Management.  Download a helpful summary of instructions to Avoid-Barricade-Confront (ABC) extreme violence, such as an active shooter situation. 

Barnard has taken the following steps to increase our emergency preparedness:

• Emergency Response Procedures Guide provides tips and information as a quick reference guide to various types of emergencies that could occur on campus.
• Barnard’s Emergency Management Plan provides for a clear communications protocol and the formation of an Emergency Management Team to respond to large-scale campus and citywide emergencies. Senior members of the staff remain in regular contact with local, state, and federal agencies and receive the most up-to-date information and advice on the nature of the risks and the precautions to be taken. Our AVP for CARES attends meetings and receives briefings offered by the NYC Police concerning the City’s emergency preparedness.
• Senior staff members participate in Columbia University’s Emergency Management Operations Team, and we have agreed to share resources, information, and support services as needed. Read Columbia’s latest statement on emergency preparedness.
• Primary and backup emergency centers have been designated on campus, and a third backup center may be coordinated on the Columbia University campus. These areas will be used to direct the College’s activities in the event of a major disruption. These areas have backup utilities and equipment, communications capabilities, copies of critical college documents, rosters, building plans, and other essential contact information.
• Barnard Hall, the Hewitt dining room and the lower level of the Diana Center will be used as staging areas in the event that other campus buildings are evacuated and cannot be reoccupied.