Emergency Closing of Residence Halls
Extreme emergencies such as major fire, tornado, extended power outage, epidemic, etc. may require the closing of a building(s), the interruption or suspension of classes, and the relocation of hundreds or thousands of students, whether for a relatively short period (e.g., hours, next day) or for an extended period (e.g., days or weeks).
In a short-duration emergency closing following a fire, storm damage, etc.:
- Evacuate your building safely upon hearing the fire alarm
- Assemble with others at your building's adjacent outdoor assembly area (or designated indoor assembly area in the event of inclement weather)
- Remain calm
- Try to locate your roommates, friends and neighbors
- Await instructions from emergency responders
- Seek additional instructions from campus sources such as 1040 AM radio, 88.1 FM radio, Comcast on-campus cable channel 76 (Terp TV), and x5-SNOW (or 301-405-7669)
- Return to your building only when told it is safe to do so
If overnight or other short-term accommodations are needed before you can return to your building:
- You are welcome to make arrangements to stay with friends, but please report such information to a Resident Life staff member
- Do not assume it will be possible to return to your room for clothing or other personal items
- Volunteers will be identified who can take students into their rooms for a night or two
- You may be relocated to vacant spaces in other residence halls, depending on availability
- If temporary shelter is needed for larger numbers of evacuated students, you may be directed to safety in locations such as the Cambridge Community Center, LaPlata Hall, Stamp Student Union Grand Ballroom, Campus Recreation Center, The Diner, Leonardtown Community Center, Ritchie Coliseum, Reckord Armory, Annapolis Hall and South Campus Dining Hall
- Police, Resident Life and other campus authorities will advise evacuated students of a timetable and procedures, if possible, for gaining brief access to their rooms to retrieve belongings, check on the status of their rooms, get changes of clothing and toiletries, etc.
