UNCP Evacuation Procedures for People with Disabilities

Emergency Preparation

UNCP strives to maintain a safe campus for all persons, but it is the responsibility of everyone to create and practice emergency evacuation plans.  

  • Be aware of at least TWO exits and evacuation routes for each building you are in and look for illuminated exit signs. 

  • Remember to use the stairs and not elevator during an emergency. 

  • Encourage others to leave with you, but do not stay if they refuse to leave. 

  • Know where the designated emergency assembly areas are for the building and go there immediately upon exiting the building. If you do not know where the assembly area is, move at least 100 paces away from the building. 

Persons with Disabilities 

Persons with disabilities should meet with a member of the ARC staff if they need assistance with creating a personal evacuation plan and to identify themselves as a person with a disability who may need assistance in the event of an emergency. 

Each semester ARC staff will send a list of students who may need assistance during an emergency to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety and Emergency Operations. The list will include the students’ names, Banner ID’s, residence hall (if pertinent), type of disability and type of assistance that will be needed. 

In the event of a fire: 

  • When possible, exit the building immediately. Do not assume the alarm is a drill. 

  • Persons with mobility impairments will be evacuated by the stairwell in each building and will be assisted with a stair evacuation chair by trained personnel (campus police and/or local emergency personnel). 

  • A staff person on each floor will check for disabled persons and will assist them with getting to a safe place, typically the building stairwell. If you can safely assist, please do so, but do not put yourself in danger. 

  • The staff person or volunteer (you) will call 911 to report the location of the person needing help.  

  • Wait for emergency personnel to evacuate the disabled person from the building.       

Persons with Mobility Impairments 

  • Wheelchairs are not designed to be lifted and carried. Any lifting may be dangerous for the individual using the chair, the lifter, and/or the chair itself. 

  • In a life-threatening event it may be necessary to lift and carry the person and the chair but typically, the person is assisted with use of a specially-designed emergency stair chair.  

  • Trained personnel include UNCP campus police and local emergency personnel. Do not attempt to use a stair chair if you are not trained, unless the situation is imminently life- threatening. 

Persons with Visual Impairments

  • Gain the person's attention by speaking and/or by lightly tapping on their arm or shoulder. 

  • Offer your elbow or shoulder to guide the person outside or to a safe place. 

  • As you walk describe any obstacles in your path. 

Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • To gain the person’s attention, flick the light switch up and down and/or by lightly tapping on their arm or shoulder. 

  • Either gesture the emergency or write a short note indicating the emergency, such as “fire, leave by side door now.” 

Persons with Invisible Disabilities: 

  • In emergency situations persons with invisible disabilities may experience a flare-up in their disability which may cause various reactions such as freezing, disorientation, or panic.  

  • Attempt to gain their attention by speaking to them and/or by lightly tapping on their arm or shoulder.  

  • Indicate the emergency and direct them to the nearest exit unless it is blocked.  

  • Ask if they need any assistance as you exit the building.  

  • If they will not exit, offer to assist them to the stairwell and call 911 to let emergency personnel know the location of those needing assistance. 

Last Revised 03/23/2020