Yellow Securing

Situation: A yellow level securing would be used when unforeseen events occur on campus or in the city of Columbia. For example, if several thefts were occurring on campus in quick succession or if a protest or demonstration suddenly assembled nearby, a yellow securing might occur in order to increase the safety of students and/or their belongings.

What Happens: In a yellow level securing, Residential Life locks the exterior doors to the building and allows access to only hall residents with their student IDs.

How You'll Know: To notify students about the yellow level securing, staff will post signs on the exterior doors and by the elevators on every floor. Depending on the situation, an e-mail might also go out to students.

What to Do: During a yellow level securing, students will need to be sure to carry their student ID with them so they can access the hall. While students should always be cautious about allowing non-residents to enter the hall unescorted, they should take special care during a yellow securing to ensure that non-residents do not enter the building. If students encounter problems with non-residents entering the building (during any time, not just during a yellow securing), they should immediately inform the front desk, student staff, and/or MUPD. When the hall is no longer under the yellow securing, staff will post signs indicating "all clear".

Orange Securing

Situation: An orange level securing would be used when serious facilities issues (such as a large spills or dangerous structural repairs) or severe student accident, injury, or illness occur.

What Happens: Residential Life will use an orange level securing to prevent entry to a particular area of the building.

How You'll Know: To notify students about the orange level securing, staff will post signs indicating the location of the securing and instructing students to avoid the area of concern. Signs will be posted at the exterior doors and by the elevators on each floor. If appropriate, staff might also inform selected students personally, depending on their proximity to the quarantined area, likelihood of encountering the area of concern, and reasonable need to be informed. Depending on the situation, all students might be informed via e-mail or public address (PA) system and the exterior doors might be locked to provide only Mark Twain residents access via student ID.

What to Do: During an orange level securing, students must avoid the area of concern until staff posts signs indicating "all clear".

Red Securing

Situation: A red securing would be implemented if a violent intruder is discovered on campus or in the city of Columbia. Residential Life will use a red level securing in the event of a campus emergency that poses a serious threat to students' safety.

What Happens: In a red level securing, Residential Life will lock the front doors so only residents can enter with their student IDs.

How You'll Know: To notify students about the securing, staff will attempt to use the PA system. They might also attempt to bang on doors (much like they do during a fire alarm), make an announcement in the hallways with a bullhorn, and post signs throughout the hall (at the exterior doors and by the elevators on each floor). However, staff will only notify students if there is enough time and it is safe for them to do so. Again, timing and comprehensiveness of notification is dependent on the situation. If staff are able to inform residents that the hall is going into a red securing, they may not have enough time to explain why.

What to Do: During a red level securing, enter the nearest room and lock the door. Immediately close and lock the window, draw the blinds down, and turn the slats closed. Make sure all lights and audible appliances are turned off and that your cell phone is turned to vibrate. Do not turn on water faucets or flush toilets. Take cover near the floor, ensuring you are as invisible as possible (not in line with the door or window), and remain silent. Do not open your door for anyone. When the securing is over, Residential Life staff and/or MUPD officers will key into your room and give you the "all clear". The University will also attempt to notify participants of the Emergency Mass Notification System (EMNS) by their preferred communication choice (text message, e-mail, or voicemail). To become a participant of the EMNS, visit http://doit.missouri.edu/accounts/mass-notification.html.

Fire and Severe Weather Drills

Fire and severe weather drills were completed by Sept. 15.

Emergency Notification -

When the Emergency Notification System was tested in October, 2008, the most effective form of notification was text message. 76% of residents received their notification via text message.

Fire Factor

What:A controlled burn of a mock-up of a residence hall room presented by the Columbia Fire Department. Learn important information about the nature of indoor fires and witness how an innocuous spark in a paper-filled waste basket can rapidly transform into a deadly inferno.

Where: Speaker's Circle

When: September 23, 2009, 11:50AM

Sprinklers

As part of the Residential Life Master Plan, renovations and new construction will be completed and the percentage of rooms with sprinklers will increase. Below is a breakdown of the percentage of the residence halls that will be sprinkled in the years to come.

Student rooms equipped with sprinkler system:

	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Sprinkled	1474	1762	2330	2561	2792	3001
Total rooms	3462	3563	3642	3623	3645	3681
% Sprinkled	43%	49%	64%	71%	77%	82%

Mattresses

The mattresses that are purchased by Residential Life are fire retardant and have been tested with the Columbia Fire Department along with samples of other mattresses.

Fire Equipment

Fire equipment is available in every hall. Items include fire extinguishers, illuminated exit signs, fire pull stations and smoke detectors. In renovated and new residence halls, sprinklers are installed and doors have automatic closures so that they can help to contain a fire, should one ensue.

Preparation

Safety drills are completed each semester. In the fall, they must be completed by Sept. 15. In the Spring semester, they are completed by mid-February and during the summer semester, they are completed within the first two weeks. In addition, student staff participate in Health and Safety checks, where they enter rooms to check to see if the room has any items that could be hazardous - including spider plugs or lamps that have been banned as a fire hazard.

Your Part

It is important for students to take safety seriously. It is the students' responsibility to follow the policies outlined in the Tiger Guide, follow directions given by student and professional staff, know who to notify in case or an emergency and pay attention to basic safety skills. Information about safety is posted on the back of every residence hall room door.