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Communication During Emergencies and Disasters

Calling 9-1-1

• Is a person hurt or in danger? Do you need the police, fire or ambulance? If yes, call 9-1-1
• If you are unsure, call 9-1-1 anyway. The dispatcher can determine the type of assistance you need.
• Do not hang up. You need to stay on the phone (unless you are in danger) to answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
• Stay calm and answer all questions.
• Know the location of the emergency.
• Teach your children how to call 9-1-1. If capable, teach them their name, parent’s name, telephone number and most importantly, their address. Also when to call 9-1-1.
• Post your address clearly and prominently at your entrance and on your home. Know the address of your workplace.
• Know the phones you own. Others may need to use someone else’s phone and will need to know how to use them.
• Further information at NENA: The 9-1-1 Association

LEAD created tips on When to Call for Help for non-emergency situations.

Emergency Red Phones: Remember that on each library stairwell landing there is an emergency red phone. There is also one located at the Circulation desk.

As soon as you pick it up you are connected to public safety dispatch. If you cannot speak on the phone, leave it off the hook and public safety will send someone to the library to check on the situation.

Communicating With Others During an Emergency or Disaster

To ensure that your telephone call gets through to family, friends and loved-ones during an emergency or disaster, here are things to consider:

• Limit non-emergency phone calls. Helps free up network congestion and conserves battery power on wireless phones.
• Keep all phone calls brief. Call only to convey vital information to emergency personnel and/or family.
• Try text messaging. In many cases text messages will go through when your call may not. Also frees up network congestion.
• Try a variety of communication services if you are unsuccessful with one. Wireless phone, text messaging, landline phone, social media or email.
• Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. If you redial too quickly, the data from your cell phone to the cell sites do not have enough time to clear and contributes to a clogged network.
• Know what type of landline telephone service you have. Some newer forms of telephone service will not work without electric power.
• Charge your phone and/or laptop/tablet computer before a storm or predicted event. Have charged batteries or car-charger adapters available for backup power for your wireless phone.
• Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers in your phone. Have a paper copy available in your wallet or purse.
• If in your vehicle, place or receive calls when stationary.
• Have a family communication plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact, and make certain all family members know who to contact if they become separated. Create a family/friend contact sheet.
• Program “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone.  Let your ICE contacts know that they are programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have.
• If you have Call Forwarding on your home number, forward your home number to your wireless phone in the event of an evacuation.
• If you do not have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card to use if needed during or after a disaster.
• Be sure that you have at least one corded phone that is not dependent on electricity in case of an electrical power outage.
• Subscribe to text alert services from local or state governments to receive alerts in the event of a disaster.  Parents should sign up for their school district emergency alert system. Be sure you are subscribed to and have updated your information on the OSU Alert Portal.
• Broadcasters are an important source of news during emergencies, so consider keeping a battery-operated, solar-powered, or hand-crank-operated radio or digital portable television for use during power outages. Make sure you have charged or fresh batteries if needed. Some hand-cranked radios can also be used to charge cell phones, but check the instruction manual before assuming this is the case.

• More information can be found at FCC and FEMA: How to Communicate Before, During and After a Major Disaster and FCC/FEMA Tips for Communicating During an Emergency.

It is important for consumers to keep in mind that during an emergency, many more people are trying to use their wireless and wireline telephones at the same time when compared to normal calling activity. When more people try to call at the same time, the increased calling volume may create network congestion.

Quiz

If you respond with your answers you will be entered into a raffle for safety-related prizes (including a Grand Prize) being conducted on Monday, Sept. 18.

1. You cannot not get your call through, so you should redial as fast as possible. True or False?
2. All landline phones are not dependent on electricity to function. True or False?
3. You have checked your information with the OSU Alert Portal within the last 6 months. True or False?
4. You should have several methods of communication available in case one does not work. True or False?

The OSULP Safety Council

Fire is Everyone's Fight. 

Keep yourself and fellow Beavers safe by being familiar with the Library Safety Essentials and Evacuation Assembly Areas (Attached pdf). Here's a few tips:

Fire

1. Activate the fire alarm

2. Call 911 (cell phones will work)

3. Evacuate - Notify occupants as you leave

Don't use elevators

Close doors to contain fire as you leave

Feel closed doors - don't open hot doors

Only attempt to extinguish a fire if preventing evacuation

Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are located near each exit and at the west and east ends of the avenue on each floor (safety maps). Only use if you discover a fire in the building, call 911, and leave the building. Report any problems to emergency personnel. Do not block access to fire alarms.

Fire Doors

The fire doors between each floor and the stairwells will automatically close when the fire alarms are activated. They are meant to keep fire from spreading and keep smoke out of the stairwell evacuation routes. If they are closed you can still exit to the stairwell by pushing on the hand bar. Circulation staff will re-open after a fire alarm event.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are located near exits throughout the building and are indicated by a wall sign above the extinguisher (safety maps). They are to be used only to egress the building if fire is blocking your path or small trash can size fires. An online fire extinguisher training video is available at The ABC's of Portable Fire Extinguishers. More information can be found at Fire Extinguisher Policy.

Do not block access to fire extinguishers.

Quiz Time

Reply with your responses to enter the daily and grand prize raffle!

1. How many Emergency Exits are available on each floor of the Valley Library?
2. What classification of Fire Extinguishers is the Valley Library equipped with?
3. What should you do if you catch on fire?