USAID Emergency Evacuation Procedures

The building's emergency evacuation plan is designed to ensure the safety of all occupants, and it is the responsibility of employees to follow the instructions provided in this pamphlet. The evacuation plan is based on a three-floor concept, where the affected floor, the floor above, and the floor below the affected floor are evacuated. In the event of an emergency, employees are instructed to immediately terminate all activities and secure all classified documents and materials. They are then to proceed to the nearest exit stairwell, staying to the right side and holding on to handrails all the way down. Employees are not to use elevators to leave the building, except for those with disabilities, their monitors, and Bureau Banner Carriers. Once outside, they are to move to their assigned assembly area, where they will be accounted for by their supervisor. Management is responsible for maintaining an Alpha Roster to account for employees at the assembly areas. In addition to evacuation procedures, the building also has shelter-in-place (SIP) procedures in place. SIP is a temporary response to any situation that may render the immediate environment impassable due to area contamination or other obstruction. Employees are instructed to move away from exterior windows and move to a location near an interior wall, awaiting instructions via the USAID/GSA internal PA system. The Agency Command Center Team, consisting of the Designated Official, Emergency Coordinator, and Occupational Safety and Health Manager, will be responsible for communicating with employees during SIP. They will receive information from the RRB Fire Command Center and pass it on to employees through the USAID internal PA system. The team will also be responsible for maintaining control and discipline in SIP locations. The roles and responsibilities of the Agency Command Center Team are clearly defined, with the Designated Official coordinating communications with emergency responders and making decisions about the response. The Emergency Coordinator will work collaboratively with the team to make decisions and ensure that management follows the protocols outlined in the plan. The SEC will receive information directly from the FCC and coordinate with guard force, FPS, DHS, GSA, and local law enforcement. Overall, the emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures in place at the Ronald Reagan Building are designed to ensure the safety of all occupants in the event of an incident. Employees are responsible for following the instructions provided in this pamphlet to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.