In an emergency, if you are instructed to Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown, the following table explains the difference in how to proceed.
SHELTER IN PLACE | LOCKDOWN |
You may be advised to "shelter in place" rather than evacuate your building during emergency situations such as large hazardous material releases, severe weather emergencies, or incidents involving police activity where fewer people outside would provide a tactical advantage for the police and safety for the campus community. The recommendation to shelter in place will be conveyed through official Buff State Alert notifications (text / email / desktop). | A lockdown may be instructed during situations such as the presence of a hostile or armed intruder inside a building. A lockdown requires locking doors, windows, and barricading oneself to block entry to a campus facility, a classroom, or to an office suite. |
Stay inside the buildings or go inside as quickly as possible if you are working outside. | Lock or barricade class and office doors. |
Close windows to provide tighter seal against chemicals vapors, smoke and/or fumes. | Close windows and window treatments. |
Locate supplies you may need such as food, water, radio, or flashlights if you have them. | Turn off the lights. |
In the event of a hazardous material release, turn off fans, air conditioning or ventilation systems, if you have control of these systems. | Instruct everyone to remain silent and not to go into hallways. |
Keep an eye out for Buff State Alerts for further instructions. | Crouch down in areas out of sight from doors and windows to conceal yourself as much as possible. |
If you are in hallways during the emergency, seek shelter immediately in the nearest classroom or office suite. | |
If you are in outdoor areas, you should immediately take cover. | |
Monitor Buff State Alerts for further instructions, or an “all clear” notification. |
These are general guidelines that will help you to remember what to do in the event of a Shelter in Place or Lockdown event on campus, but each situation may present unique challenges. The most important aspect in both a Shelter in Place and Lockdown event is to put effective barriers between you and the threat.
The actions taken in the initial minutes of an emergency are critical. Plan ahead, and know your options. If you become aware of an emergency before receiving an official alert, take action to make sure you are safe, and contact the Buffalo State University Police department at 716-878-6333.
Some content on this page is saved in PDF format. To view these files, download Adobe Acrobat Reader free. If you are having trouble reading a document, request an accessible copy of the PDF or Word Document.