Fire/Earthquake/Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. Many products containing hazardous chemicals are used and stored in homes routinely, and in the college research setting, these materials are handled daily. Hazardous materials in various forms can cause death, serious injury, long-lasting health effects and damage to buildings, homes and other property.

ASU-Beebe lies within the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). Due to the nature of the bedrock in the earth’s crust in the central United States, earthquakes in this region can shake an area approximately 20 times larger than earthquakes in California. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in the NMSZ is expected to cause major damage near the fault system in the Missouri bootheel, northeast Arkansas, western Kentucky and Tennessee.

If an Earthquake occurs:

• DROP down onto your hands and knees before the earthquake knocks you down. This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.
• COVER your head and neck and your entire body if possible underneath a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• HOLD ON to your shelter or to your head and neck until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

If you are inside, stay inside.

Do not run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. You are less likely to be injured if you stay where you are.

To reduce your chances of being hurt, take the following actions:

• If possible, within the few seconds before shaking intensifies, quickly move away from glass, hanging objects, bookcases, china cabinets or other large furniture that could fall. Watch for falling objects, such as bricks from fireplaces and chimneys, light fixtures, wall hangings, high shelves and cabinets with doors that could swing open.
• If available nearby, grab something to shield your head and face from falling debris and broken glass.
• Do not use the elevators. The electricity may go out, and the sprinkler systems may activate.
• If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor can cause injuries if you walk or roll onto the floor.
• If you are trapped, stay calm. Try to get someone’s attention by tapping on hard or metal parts of the structure. Doing so may increase your chances of being rescued.

If you are in a crowded place, drop, cover, and hold on.

• Do not rush for the doorways. Others will have the same idea.
  
• Move away from display shelves containing objects that may fall.
  
• If you can, take cover and grab something to shield your head and face from falling debris and glass.
  

DO NOT stand in a doorway. You are safer under a table. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house. Doorways do not protect you from the most likely source of injury − falling or flying objects. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by falling or flying objects such as TVs, lamps, glass or bookcases, or by being knocked to the ground.

If you are outside, stay outside

• Move away from buildings, utility wires, sinkholes, and fuel and gas lines. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls of buildings.
• Go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles and buildings. Once in the open, get down low and stay there until the shaking stops.
• The area near the outside walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to collapse. Stay away from this danger zone.

If you cannot drop to the ground, try to sit or remain seated so you are not knocked down.

• If you are in a wheelchair, lock your wheels. Remove any items that are not securely attached to the wheelchair.
• Protect your head and neck with a large book, a pillow, or your arms. The goal is to prevent injuries from falling down or from objects that might fall or be thrown at you.
• If you are able, seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk. Stay away from outer walls, windows, fireplaces and hanging objects.
• If you are unable to move from a bed or chair, protect yourself from falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows.
• If you are outside, go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles and buildings, and stay there.

After an Earthquake

• Check for injuries and provide first aid.
• Check for safety. Check for gas, water and sewage breaks. Check for downed power lines and shorts, and turn off appropriate utilities.
• Check for building damage and potential problems during aftershocks.
• Clean up dangerous spills.
• Wear shoes.
• Turn on the radio and listen for instructions from public safety agencies.
• Use telephone for emergencies only.

Support Links

• American Red Cross: Earthquake Safety
• Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills
• Ready.Gov: Earthquakes
• USGS: Earthquakes

In some emergency situations, such as flooding or release of hazardous materials, emergency responders may order protective actions for persons who live or work on campus. Typically, these protective actions are to evacuate to a safer area or to shelter-in-place. It is possible that some emergency scenarios could result in one of these protective actions being ordered for one part of campus and the other protective action for a different area of campus. When such actions are warranted, you will be appropriately advised by police, fire, safety or college officials via radio and television stations and the Vanguard Emergency Alert System, public address systems, loudspeakers, door-to-door notifications or other appropriate means.

Fire emergencies exist when there is the presence of smoke or the odor of burning, when there is an uncontrolled or imminent fire hazard in the building or surrounding area, where there is a spontaneous or abnormal heating of any material, or when the fire alarm is sounding. Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is no larger than the size of a waste can and you know how to operate the extinguisher safely. Always call 911 before attempting to put out the fire, so help is on the way if the fire becomes uncontrollable. Total and immediate evacuation is safest!

A gas leak refers to a leak of natural gas, from a pipe or other containment, into any area where gas should not be. Although natural gas is by nature colorless and odorless, scents in the form of traces of mercaptans are usually added to assist in identifying leaks. As natural gas can explode when exposed to flame or sparks, it is important to report any suspected gas leaks immediately.