Jupiter Campus Library Emergency Plans

Last reviewed: February 28, 2024

Building Safety Supervisor –Director
(Leah Plocharczyk)
Office phone (561) 799-8685

1st Alternate Bldg. Rep. – Staff Support Specialist
(Marilee Brown)
Office phone (561) 799-8010

HURRICANE WATCH PREPARATIONS

Wilkes Honors College Dean notifies Building Safety Supervisor (or in his/her absence, next alternate) to follow procedures to protect equipment identified in their hurricane preparedness plans (see attached list, “Equipment to be protected in event of a hurricane”). Library Essential Personnel: Leah Plocharczyk (799-8685), Marilee Brown (799-8010)
Building Safety Supervisor and alternates should communicate with each other to ascertain whether help is needed or if it is not necessary to come on campus.
Building Safety Supervisor will arrange to move portable equipment and cover stationary equipment with weighted and/or taped plastic sheets. HURRICANE SUPPLIES WILL BE STORED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 105C, 107 AND/OR 202B.
It is the responsibility of the respective Department Head to draft a list of equipment to be protected and to provide this list to the Building Supervisor or Alternate. It is further the responsibility of these area supervisors to identify members of their respective staff who might expect to be able to participate in hurricane preparations. This list should also be provided to the Building Supervisor or Alternate.
Building Supervisor Representatives and Alternates should each review FAU Policy Memorandum #1.14.
A battery-operated radio, flashlight, and batteries will be kept in the rear staff area (107) and a flashlight will be kept at the service desk. A battery check for corrosion and strength will be done each year with the issue of the Emergency Plan.
Batteries should be tested each month during the hurricane season (June 1 – November 30) and at the time of a hurricane watch.
If a storm seems to be approaching over a weekend, we will make hurricane preparations in the library on the Friday of the week. This may be in advance of any tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings. As storm paths may be unpredictable, equipment preparations should be made prior to the weekend.

HURRICANE WARNING EVACUATION OF JUPITER CAMPUS LIBRARY

Upon official notification that a Hurricane Warning is in effect, the Building Supervisor will close the Library as follows:

Notify Dean of Libraries that the Library is closing. Supervisors will assure that their prearranged procedures for protecting departmental equipment have been or are being accomplished and notify department employees to evacuate the building for home or other safe shelter as soon as possible. If notification to close occurs on a weekend or at night, the senior staff member will attempt to contact the Building Supervisor. If Building Supervisor or alternates are not available or are unable to come on campus, staff who are familiar with the procedures involved in closing the building will carry out evacuation and closing procedures in place of the Building Supervisor.
Evacuate patrons and close building according to the following procedure:1) An initial closing announcement is made and repeated once. If a deviation in the proposed announcement is necessary, it is determined at this time. Otherwise, the prescribed announcement is: “YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR THIS AREA. AT THIS TIME ALL PERSONS EXCEPT EMERGENCY PERSONNEL SHOULD LEAVE THE CAMPUS.”
The above announcement is made again in five minutes (10 minutes before closing) and repeated once.
A final announcement is made and repeated once at closing time:
“THE LIBRARY IS NOW CLOSED. ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS MUST LEAVE THE BUILDING AT THIS TIME. A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR THIS AREA. ALL PERSONS EXCEPT EMERGENCY PERSONNEL SHOULD LEAVE THE CAMPUS. THE LIBRARY IS NOT A PUBLIC SHELTER AND MUST BE CLOSED.”
The doors to the Library are locked.
The senior staff member and available assistants make a check of all floors, including restrooms and the group study rooms, to ascertain that all persons have left the building. Lights are turned off on floors and in rooms as they are checked. Office and study rooms doors are closed and locked.
An assistant staff member remains at the Service Desk to answer calls and watch for emergency personnel and calls Campus Police (cell phone: 339-0015) to notify them of the procedures while the final check is made.
Upon completion of the final check, ending approximately 3 minutes after the closing of the Library, the lights in the Service Desk area are turned off and the doors are re-checked for proper locking.

EQUIPMENT TO BE PROTECTED IN EVENT OF A HURRICANE,
CATEGORY 3 or HIGHER

Hurricane plastic sheeting is stored in 105C and 107.

Boxes of plastic on each floor are labeled for compact shelving, art books, children’s books, reference, and comfortable seating. 39-gallon bags (stored in a plastic bag) are for covering TV monitors, printers, and similar smaller equipment. Second floor book ranges (under vulnerable ceiling tiles) are to be covered in a Category 3 hurricane or higher.

The following is a checklist of equipment to be protected. Unless otherwise noted, these items should be moved to a protected area of the building, if feasible. If there is not enough time or staff available to move items needing protection, all electronic and electrical equipment left in place should be unplugged from the power source, elevated off the floor, if possible, moved away from windows, if possible, and covered with plastic sheeting. All office doors should be closed and locked.

Abbreviations:
E = Elevate, if feasible
M = Move, if feasible
U = Unplug
C = Cover with sheeting

All equipment in the collaborative study rooms – U, C, E
Assistive technology station – U, C
Black air purifiers (4 upstairs) - U
Blue dehumidifiers (2 upstairs) – U,C
Blue study tables (5) - U
Children’s book collection – C
Donation station – C,M
Individual Study Pods (10: 8 downstairs, 2 upstairs) - U
Large, round overhead lamp (upstairs) - U
Microwave, refrigerator – U
Network printer/ copiers – U, C – make note of how they were unplugged so they can easily be restored to service.
New study booth (atrium) – U,C
Printing pay station – U, C
Public PCs & service desk PCs, including second floor PCs – U, C, E
Self-service check-out station – U,C
Smart locker (atrium) – U,C
SmartKapp – U
Three book scanners – U, C
Vending Machines (atrium) – coordinate with Michelle Kominarek, Academic Operations and Facilities departments
Writing Center, room 202B — writing center staff are responsible for unplugging, moving, and covering all equipment and items.
If artwork is on display, these will be taken down, and stored in a study room. Items in staff offices will be taken care of by staff. Please secure items in offices of staff who are not on campus during this time.

POST HURRICANE PROCEDURES

FIRST ITEMS TO BE CHECKED:

A)   Be certain of structural integrity of building before entering
B)   Be certain of electrical conditions inside building
C)   Determine conditions of computers, printers, copiers, and telephones
D)   Determine condition of library materials, i.e. books, DVDs, etc.

FOR CLEANUP AND PHYSICAL REPAIRS:

For general cleanup, call Don Cole, Facilities Management (phone 561-213-1289), Michele Kominarek, Academic Operations (6-8105), or submit a work order.

An inventory of the computer equipment and furniture, with property tags, is kept as a digital object. Replacement value of PCs is approximately $1000 each.

VENDORS AND CONTACTS FOR REPAIRS OF CRITICAL EQUIPMENT:

A) Computers - submit a ticket to libticket@fau.edu (Boca Library OIT Department)
B) Copiers – Toshiba: 800-526-7926

NOFITY THE DEAN OF LIBRARIES: Linda Golian-lui