Individuals with Disabilities

Horizontal Evacuation

using building exits to the outside ground level. Some buildings may be connected to other buildings via ramps, tunnels, or bridges. If this is the case moving to an unaffected adjacent building may be another safe option.

Stairway Evacuation

using steps to move people from top or bottom floors to a floor that allows an individual to exit the building.

Individuals that are unable to use the two above options have the following options:

Stay in Place

unless danger is imminent, remaining in a room with an exterior window, a telephone, and a solid or fire-resistant door. With this approach, the person may keep in contact with emergency services by dialing 911 and reporting their location. The 911-communications will immediately relay this location to on-site emergency personnel. If in a room with an exterior window, the individual can signal from the window by waving or using another visible object.

The Stay in Place approach may be more appropriate for sprinkler protected buildings or buildings where an “area of refuge” is not nearby or available. It may also be more appropriate for an occupant who is alone when the alarm sounds.

Area of Refuge

If the building has designated “Area of Refuge,” go to an area of refuge away from obvious danger with an evacuation assistant. The evacuation assistant will then go to the building evacuation assembly point and notify the on-site emergency personnel of the person’s location. Usually, the safest areas of refuge are pressurized stair enclosures common to high-rise buildings, and open-air exit balconies. Once in the Area of Refuge, follow the Stay in Place guideline by calling 911 from a cell phone and provide them with your name and location. Know the buildings you frequent and create a plan for you.

Under normal use conditions, campus elevators can fail and cause disruptions to building occupants—especially those who rely on elevators due to disabilities. UNC-Chapel Hill has several licensed elevator technicians on campus during working hours and 24/7 services to cover off-hour elevator outages. The University prioritizes elevator technician response and repair for buildings with a single elevator to sustain an accessible campus. Despite every best effort to maintain accessibility options, outages unfortunately occur and cause disruption for individuals with disabilities relying on this access.

The following procedures outline general guidelines and instructions for individuals with disabilities who are impacted by an inability to exit a building. Always urge on the side of caution and call 911 if there is ever concern for an individual’s safety.

Elevator Outage / Non-Emergency Situation

• Call the University dispatch non-emergency number at 919-962-8100 and report that you are unable to exit the building.
• University dispatch will contact Facilities Services to report your status and will also send an officer to your location.
• The elevator technician will assess the outage situation.
  • If the elevator can be manually overridden to safely control the elevator, then you will receive support to exit on the elevator.
  • If the elevator can be repaired within a reasonable time (i.e. less than two hours), then it will be available once the repair is completed.
  • If the manual override cannot be conducted or the technician cannot repair the elevator within a reasonable time (i.e. less than two hours), then University dispatch will contact local fire/EMS first responders to assist in evacuating you from the building.

Emergency Involving Immediate Threat to Life Safety

During an emergency that involves an immediate threat to life safety (i.e. medical emergency, building fire, etc.), individuals with disabilities who cannot exit the building should:

• Evacuate your space horizontally or stay-in-place. Find a location in a room with an exterior window, a telephone, sprinkler availability and a solid or fire-resistant door if possible.
• Call 911 and inform them of your location and situation. Dispatchers will relay this information to on-scene first responders.
• If someone is with you, have them locate a first responder and inform them of your location.
• Wait until first responders arrive. Remain in contact with 911 if the situation changes.

Wheelchair User

Persons using wheelchairs should stay in place or move to an area of refuge with a self-identified evacuation assistant when the alarm sounds. The self-identified evacuation assistant should then proceed to the evacuation assembly point outside the building and tell the arriving emergency personnel of their location of the person location. If alone, he/she should call 911 with their location and the area of refuge to which they are headed.

If the stair landing is chosen as the area of refuge, please note that many campus buildings have relatively small stair landings and wheelchair users are advised to wait until the heavy traffic has passed before entering the stairway.

Trained emergency personnel should conduct stairway evacuation of wheelchair users. Only in situations of extreme danger should untrained people attempt to evacuate wheelchair users.  Moving a wheelchair downstairs is never safe.

Non-Wheelchair User – Other Physical Need

Persons with mobility impairments who can walk independently may be able to negotiate stairs in an emergency with minor assistance. If danger is imminent, the individual should wait until the heavy traffic has cleared before attempting the stairs. If there is no immediate danger (detectable smoke, fire, or unusual odor), the person with a mobility impairment may choose to stay in the building, using the other options, until the emergency personnel arrive and determine if evacuation is necessary. In this case, the person with a mobility impairment should call 911 to alert them to their location and request further information to ascertain the necessity of evacuation.

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Some buildings on campus have fire alarms with strobe lights; however, many older buildings have only an audible alarm. Identify a method (such as short explicit written notes) that will alert you to evacuate and then share this method with your instructors, coworkers, and/or interpreters.

Vision Loss

Most people with low vision will be familiar with their immediate surroundings and frequently traveled routes. Since the emergency evacuation route is likely different from the commonly traveled route, persons who are blind or have low vision may need assistance in evacuating. The assistant should offer their elbow to the individual with low vision and guide him or her through the evacuation route. During the evacuation, the assistant should communicate as necessary to ensure safe evacuation.

Functional Needs

Those with functional needs under usual circumstances can function on their own or with support systems. However, during an emergency, their level of independence may be challenged. All standard building egress systems require the ability to process and understand information to safely evacuate. Plan to ask for assistance if you may need help from a friend or coworker in the buildings you frequent. Review and practice emergency evacuation procedures and understand how notifications will occur.

• Ask how you can help before giving assistance.
• Respect that the person with the disability has authority on how to be evacuated.
• Offer help but let the person explain what help is needed.
• Carrying a person is not advisable except in the most extreme of circumstances.
• Once outside, direct the person to the Assembly Area designated for that building.

Wheelchair User

ASK the person in a wheelchair before providing help. Assist the individual in moving to safe Stay In Place or Area of Refuge location, and then inform emergency responders of their location. Stairway evacuation of wheelchair users should be conducted by trained professionals. Only in situations of extreme danger should anyone attempt to evacuate wheelchair users. Moving a wheelchair downstairs is never safe.

Non-Wheelchair User – Other Physical Need

A person using crutches, a cane, or walker can go downstairs, but may ask for your help. Encourage them to use the stair rail and walk behind the person to act as a buffer from others who may push forward from behind.

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• Get the attention of a person with a hearing impairment by touch and eye contact. Clearly state the problem. Gestures and pointing are helpful but be prepared to write a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand.
• Offer visual instructions to advise of safest route or direction by pointing toward exits or evacuation maps.

Vision Loss

People with a visual limitation are most familiar with their immediate surroundings and routes they use often. Give verbal instructions to advise about the safest route or direction using compass directions, estimated distances, and directional terms.

• Do not grasp a visually impaired person’s arm. Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd.
• Give other verbal instructions or information (i.e. elevators cannot be used).

Functional Needs

Offer your elbow if physical assistance is needed to guide someone through an evacuation route. Listen and try to understand what the individual is saying and expressing. Speak in a calm and simple manner. During the evacuation, continue communicating as necessary to ensure safe evacuation. If someone is unable to evacuate, proceed to the evacuation assembly point outside the building and tell the arriving emergency personnel of the individual’s location and situation.