Emergency Plan: How to Evacuate a High-Rise Building

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High-rise buildings have gained significant awareness in the fire safety world over the years. Several floors of a high-rise building require several people to travel long distances by stairs in order to evacuate a building. 

The types of buildings involved can either be:  

• residential (apartments, dormitories, or other multi-family housing)

• office buildings,

• hotels

• commercial (offices, service centers, and others) 

By practicing hazard preparedness, we can improve the likelihood that building occupants remain safe during disasters such as fires and other crises.

Disaster Restoration Experts 

After any disaster, may it be natural, human-caused, or technology-caused, if you need professional help with restoration services for your building, office, or the establishment, hire ServiceMaster Pinellas , Florida’s disaster restoration specialist.

ServiceMaster Restore Pinellas technicians are trained, equipped, and ready to restore your property after any disaster, large or small, including water damage, fire and smoke damage, and even mold.

ServiceMaster Pinellas , an expert and trusted company with 30 plus years of industry experience in disaster restoration services, is here to give an informative article on how to evacuate a high-rise building. In view of the topic's wide coverage, this article is limited to the emergency evacuation plan only.

What is an emergency evacuation plan?

An emergency evacuation plan involves the urgent departure or escape of people away from an area that contains: 

• an imminent threat

• an ongoing threat

• hazard to life or property. 

Evacuations range from the small-scale evacuation of a building due to : 

• Storm

• Fire 

• Flood 

• Weather disasters

What to do during an emergency evacuation? 

Step 1: Evaluate the Situation

•  Focus is the key. Do not panic. Confirming the situation would help you compose your plan if necessary to best cope with the circumstances.  

• For example, if the fire alarm has been activated, the firefighters may advise the building residents to move to the east block of the building. That way, you can evacuate as instructed in a confirmed safe direction and not based your decision on what you observe others are doing.         

Step 2: Make an Evacuation Route Plan

• If you are a new resident in a building, it is advisable to speak and check with the building management for all the available information with regards to evacuation protocols and safety procedures. 

• If the building administrator has none, use the evacuation maps found in lobbies. 

Step 3: Select a Safe Escape Route

• Try to identify and select the least risky route. Study and analyze the building plans or maps to assist people to find their nearest exits, and make an evacuation plan that would take you and them quickly and safely.     

• Avoid elevators, as these could possibly fail and risk the lives of the people. If possible, use the staircases. 

Step 4: Proceed with Caution to an Exit

• Once you know your evacuation path, proceed carefully and quickly to your nearest exit.  If possible, make your way out through your nearest clearly marked exit sign.

• If the exit door is not accessible, try to find other openings or ways out of the building, like windows. 

• For people with disabilities, call 911 and report your location, and wait for an emergency personnel’s assistance.  

Step 5: Keep Some Distance

• Make sure to put some distance between you and the building.  Emergency personnel will set up a "do not cross the line" or "police line do not cross" signage to indicate a safe and secure distance. 

• Consider also the different types of emergencies, like an electrical problem in the building which requires less space, and understand how much space you need based on the reason for evacuation.  

Step 6: Report to Responders

• Check-in with emergency responders to let them know you're safe and wait for further instructions on what to do next. 

• Make time to call someone and let them know if you are injured or totally safe from harm.

•  If the authorities are still not present, call 911 and report the incident.

ServiceMaster Pinellas is servicing Clearwater and other parts of Pinellas County. You can directly contact us at https://www.servicemasterpinellas.com/contact-us/ for inquiries with regard to emergency disaster restoration services. We are available with our 24/7/365 response system where you can reach us at (813) 328-4604.

You can count on ServiceMaster Restore Pinellas to restore your property and your peace of mind. For other details and information, please visit our website at https://www.servicemasterpinellas.com/.