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Emergency Planning

Access and Functional Needs During Emergencies

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The evacuation of individuals with access or functional needs will be given high priority in all emergency situations. During any emergency, it is important that you are familiar with your needs during a building or campus evacuation. Become familiar with the buildings you spend the most time in and all possible emergency exit routes.

  • Individuals with disabilities should prepare for an emergency ahead of time by instructing a classmate, instructor, or coworker on how to best assist in the event of an emergency.

  • If assistance is not immediately available, remain near a stairwell landing or in the elevator lobby area. Rescue personnel will first check all exit corridors and stairwells for trapped individuals.

  • Those with voice or speech impairments may consider carrying a whistle or other personal audible device as a means of attracting the attention of others.

  • Be familiar with the different types of alarm signals in campus buildings.

SCU Bronco Alert can also send emergency messaging to TTY/TDD devices for the hearing impaired.

You may also text to 911. Text to 9-1-1 is intended primarily for use in three emergency situations:

  • For an individual who is deaf, hard-of-hearing or has a speech disability.

  • For someone who is in a situation where it is not safe to place a voice call to 9-1-1.

  • A medical emergency that renders the person incapable of speech.

How to text 911 in an emergency:

  1. Enter the numbers 911 (no dashes or spaces) in the "To" field.

  2. The first text message to 9-1-1 should be brief. Include address, city and type of emergency (police, fire or medical).

  3. Push the "Send" button.

  4. Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the Public Safety Dispatcher.

  5. Text in simple words - do not use abbreviations.

  6. Keep text messages brief and concise.

Campus Safety Services can utilize 711, the California Relay Service. Both 711 and the 800 numbers below are toll-free calls and provide access to the same relay services.

  • English TTY/Voice: 800-855-7100

  • Spanish TTY/Voice: 800-855-7200

  • Speech-to-Speech: 800-855-7300

  • Visually Assisted STS: 800-855-7400

If a call to the Santa Clara 911 Communications Center determines that the caller has a hearing and/or speech impairment or disability, he/she shall immediately initiate a connection with the individual via available TDD/TTY equipment or Telephone Relay Service (TRS), as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Additional Information: