TechTown Emergency Procedures

TechTown Emergency Procedures

What are the emergency procedures for TechTown? How does TechTown handle severe weather? What are my responsibilities for emergencies?

Tornado or Severe Weather Procedures

The U.S. Weather Service monitors and reports severe weather that may become a threat to the Detroit area. Tenants have the choice of remaining in the building or evacuating, given a severe weather alert. If the weather service issues a tornado warning, the City of Detroit may sound the tornado siren or management will notify the building via the audio system. If an early alert is given by the U.S. Weather Service, steps can be taken to prepare for the severe weather if the decision to remain is made. Keep abreast of weather conditions via radio or television.

Tenant Responsibilities

Maintain the following inventory of emergency equipment to be used during severe weather:
  1. Flashlights and fresh batteries
  2. First aid kits to treat minor injuries
  3. Portable radios - to keeping abreast of severe weather conditions
If informed by the U.S. Weather Service that severe weather is imminent, you may follow the steps below:
  1. Remain calm, focused, and collected. Your safety is dependent on clearheaded action.
  2. Clear desks, tables and windowsills of books, papers, or other items and secure them in boxes or drawers.
  3. Move easily moveable furniture away from windows.
  4. Store all easily moveable office equipment within the inner offices.
  5. Exit the elevators at the next stop.
  6. Move all personnel away from the exterior window lines to public corridors, stairwells, washrooms, etc. Immediately move to your designated shelter area.
In the event you cannot reach one of these areas, get on the floor on your hands and knees in a fetal position and cover your head and chest. If possible, crawl under a heavy desk.

Once the weather emergency is over, the building will announce "All Clear" either by the annunciator system or emergency response personnel.

Tenant Floor Leaders

  1. Move all occupants to the core areas of the building corridors and elevator lobbies.
  2. All tenants on the FIFTH FLOOR must proceed down the stairs to the Fourth Floor.
  3. SHELTER AREA for severe weather conditions is the North/South corridor on Floors 1 up through 4; this area also includes the restrooms on those floors
  4. DO NOT proceed downstairs into the basement level, this area is a confined space and not safe during emergency situations.
  5. If your company decides to evacuate the building, notify the Building Management of your intention to do so. The stairways are the only means of evacuation to be used during severe weather.
  6. Report to the Building Management and Front Desk Coordinator that your company has totally evacuated its space and the building
  7. Notify the Building Management of all severe leaks, fires, and structural or other damage during or after the storm.
  8. When the "all clear" is announced the evacuation team signals the Floor Team Leaders to direct employees in an orderly fashion back to their workplaces.

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