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SLA Training -- Heterick Memorial Library

Tornado

Basic Information

Sirens

  • sirens will sound when a tornado is sighted or when ONU is mentioned as being in the path of an approaching tornado
  • one of the campus sirens is on top of the library, which makes it actually somewhat difficult to hear from inside the building

National Weather Service Watches and Warnings*

  • A Tornado Watch means that a tornado is possible. Watches are generally issued for large areas (e.g. multiple counties) for long periods of time (e.g. several hours or most of a day).
  • A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Warnings are generally issued for small areas (e.g. a few square miles) for shorter periods of time (less than an hour).
  • You can see active watches and warnings on the NWS website at weather.gov

Location

  • Ada is located in northwestern Hardin County. Check the map below to familiarize yourself with the area, including the names of roads and other towns, as Watches and Warnings usually mention towns and cities.

 

Procedure

  • The sirens will sound. You may also get an alert on your phone.
  • Instruct patrons to go to the basement using the northwest staircase--the staircase by the elevator. However, they should not use the elevator.
  • If you don't have time to get to the basement, especially from the third floor, the bathrooms can also be shelters.
  • Make sure patrons go all the way into the basement main room--this is Room 003; the door is across from the elevator.
  • If there are more people than will fit in the main room, use the basement hallway and stairwell.
  • Have patrons crouch down and protect their necks and heads.



*Information from: https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww

map from: http://hardincountyoh.org/pdfs/area_maps.pdf

Fire

Steps to take in the event of a fire:

  • Activate the building fire alarm, if it is not already activated.
    • The closest alarm to the front desk is by the interior front doors on the same side as the automatic opener button.
  • Call 911. Make sure to mention that:
    • there is a fire
    • at Heterick Library
    • at Ohio Northern University
  • Call ONU Security at 2222. 
  • Check as much of the building as you can access safely for patrons and encourage them to leave. 
    • Do not let people use the elevators.
    • The exits on the first floor are:
      • main stairwell door
      • cafe door
      • main front doors
      • doors in corner stairwells (two; one in each stairwell)
      • loading dock door
  • Stay in the area at a safe distance and report to Public Safety and the fire department when they arrive. Share the location of the fire (if not obvious from the outside) and the location of people trapped in the building, if any. 
  • Stay out of the building until the fire department and/or Public Safety tells you it is safe to return. 
  • Contact the Library Director. 

Active Shooter

The three suggested responses in active shooter situations are run, hide, and fight.

Run

  • The run option means to flee from the shooter/get out of the building.
  • The exits on the first floor are:
    • main stairwell door
    • cafe door
    • main front doors
    • doors in corner stairwells (two; one in each stairwell)
    • loading dock door

Hide

  • The hide option means to secure yourself in a safe location, preferably one without windows and with a door that can be locked, and remain silent with the lights off.
  • Good places to hide in the building are:
    • the first floor elevator room
    • the library director's office and the recording room
    • the offices and bathroom in the back workroom
    • the offices in the Career Services/Global Initiatives area
    • rooms 201, 202, and 203
    • the tutoring/Writing Center offices
  • Once you are in the room, turn off the lights and barricade the entrances with furniture. Keep people quiet.

Fight

  • The fight option means to engage and attempt to disable the shooter with any supplies at hand. Simply throwing things at the shooter or in their line of vision can distract them enough to prevent them from aiming or to stop them from shooting. 
  • Some supplies you could use to disable a shooter are:
    • scissors in the top drawer of the gray cabinet
    • books on the hold shelf/on course reserve
    • your own backpacks/bags
    • the spray cleaners in the cleaning supplies bin (spray or splash in the person's face)
    • cords in the gray cabinet (wrap around arms/legs)
    • staplers
    • bookends on the bottom of the course reserve shelves
    • fire extinguisher (spray in the person's face or use as a blunt object)

Mental Health/Self Harm Scenario

These procedures are for scenarios in which someone is having a mental health crisis and/or threatening harm to themself or others. 

  • Call 911 and then Public Safety
  • Make sure that at least one student worker stays with the person until emergency services arrive.
  • Talk to the person in a calm, reassuring manner.