Portland Campus Emergency Procedures, Safety & Inclement Weather

The Campus Emergency Response Plan is published and updated annually. Routine emergency response and evacuation drills will be conducted and logged to confirm compliance.

The following procedures should be followed in the event of an emergency:

Health Emergencies

If obviously life-threatening such as heart attack, choking, severe bleeding or severe injury:

  1. Dial 911 from a campus phone. Give specific information about the problem and the location of the person.
  2. There are first aid kits located in every building. Inquire with the Armstrong receptionist, Library desk, Online Campus Office in Milliken, and Bueermann Hall faculty receptionist; or call the Campus Security Emergency Number.

If not life-threatening:

  1. Call the Campus Security Emergency Number, 503.517.1878, to report the problem. 
  2. Campus Security will assess the problem for necessary emergency assistance.
  3. First aid kits are located in every building (and blankets in most buildings). Inquire with the Armstrong Hall receptionist, the Library front desk staff, the Online Campus Office in Milliken Hall, or the Bueermann Hall faculty receptionist; or call the Campus Security Emergency Number.

Fire

If you have good reason to think there is a fire:

  1. Pull the fire alarm and call Campus Security Emergency Number, 503.517.1878, to report the problem.
  2. Dial 911. Give specific information about the problem and the specific location.
  3. IF YOU ARE NOT JEOPARDIZING YOUR SAFETY, locate the nearest fire extinguisher and follow directions on the extinguisher. Fire extinguishers suitable for all types of fire are located in each building on each floor. The three basic ways to put out a fire are: take away its fuel, take away its air (smother it), and cool it with water or fire extinguishing chemicals. Never use water on an electrical fire. Use only fire extinguishing chemicals.
  4. Proceed to the nearest fire exit.
  5. Assemble on the east Johnson Chapel lawn.
  6. Advise the Armstrong Hall receptionist of the location of the fire.

Earthquake

  • If you are inside, stay inside; if you are outdoors, stay outside. In earthquakes, most injuries occur as people are entering or leaving buildings.
  • If you are indoors, take cover under a heavy desk, table, bench, or in a supported doorway or along an inside wall. Stay away from glass. 
  • If you are outdoors, move away from buildings and utility wires. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls.
  • If you smell gas, pull the fire alarm, leave the building, and notify the maintenance department or an administrator. Do not re-enter the building until an administrator says it is safe.
  • If you are in a moving car, stop as quickly as safety permits, but stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, overpasses, and utility wires.
  • If there are injuries, follow emergency procedures above. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in danger of further injury.

Person Exhibiting Threatening Behavior

If a stranger is obviously menacing, threatening, out of control, displaying a weapon, etc.:

  1. Dial 911 for the police.
  2. Call Campus Security Emergency Number, 503.517.1878,  to report the problem.
  3. Wait in a safe location until the person is removed from campus.  

Inclement Weather

When the Seminary administration feels that weather conditions are too hazardous for safe travel, the class schedule will be modified or the Seminary will be closed altogether. 

In case of inclement weather, we encourage you to do one or more of the following: 

  1. You will be notified by Western's emergency notification system
  2. We will post delay/closure information on our website www.westernseminary.edu
  3. Place a special recording on our general voicemail (503.517.1800) to alert our constituents of any closure or delay information. 
  4. Go to FlashAlert.net and click on the "Portland" icon as indicated on the map of the U.S. Select "Private Colleges and Universities," then select "Western Seminary" to view emergency weather-related announcements. 
  5. Watch your local television news stations to see if a message from Western appears in the scrolling list of delays & closures at the bottom of the screen or on a list on the station website.

You will need to assess the safety of your commute, especially if you live outside the Portland Metropolitan area. Even if Western Seminary remains open, we encourage you to use wisdom and to contact your professors if you determine that it would be unsafe for you to travel to campus. Although missing class on such a day may still count as an absence, the Seminary understands that your safety is a high priority. 

Please Note: If the campus is closed, your professor still may hold class via Zoom. You will want to be sure to look for any communications from your professor in a closure event.

Please keep in mind that, if Western Seminary is scheduled to open two hours late, 8:00 a.m. classes will be canceled unless your class is from 8:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m., and then it will begin at 10:00 a.m. Classes scheduled to begin in the 9:00 a.m hour will start at 10:00 a.m. Decisions with regard to evening classes will be made by 4:00 p.m. on days of inclement weather.  

We will initiate the Western Seminary Emergency Notification System to alert all users of plans for closure or delay. 

 

Personal Safety on Campus

Need Assistance?  Call our Emergency Security Number, 503.720.0635, for help any time you're on campus. Our resident security service means that someone is available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Though Western Seminary provides security personnel for the purpose of student safety, we encourage all students to take responsibility for their own personal safety and security by observing a few suggestions:

  • After dark, please walk to your vehicles, between buildings, or any other outdoor location in groups of two or more.  If needed, you may call for a security escort by using the Emergency Security Number. 
  • Avoid being alone in a classroom or other indoor "semi-private" area for extended periods of time.  If at any time of day you ever find yourself feeling uneasy in an empty room or around another individual you do not recognize as a student, or feel personally violated by another person, leave the area immediately and report the incident or encounter to Security.
  • Avoid walking in areas on campus, both inside and outside, which present a slipping or falling danger (areas of mud or pooling water, areas of spilled liquids or food). Please report the location of the area in question to Security as soon as possible. 
  • Keep your vehicle locked at all times. 
  • If leaving valuable (or non-valuable but tempting) items in your car, place them in an area where they are not immediately visible. Your best option is to put them in the trunk. Police authorities also advise to not leave personal or identifying information in the vehicle glove compartment to prevent identity theft. 
  • Do not leave personal items of value lying around campus (in classrooms, Student Center, etc.) unattended. Western Seminary is not responsible for lost of stolen items. 
  • Western Seminary offers help, but cannot guarantee success, in the following services related to vehicle problems on campus property: dead batteries, flat tires, and locked-in keys.

Important Phone Numbers

    • For all emergencies: 911
    • Portland Police Non-Emergency Line: 503.823.3333
    • Western Seminary Security Emergency Numbers: 250.248.9671 or 971.303.5939
    • Western Seminary Security Office: 503.517.1878
    • Western Seminary Reception Desk: 503.517.1800
    To report a non-emergency (an encounter or incident not requiring police, fire, or medical attention) related to safety and security, please call the Security Office. For immediate assistance related to safety and security (e.g., vehicle break-in, flat tire, dead battery, etc.) or to request a security escort to your vehicle, please call one of the Western Seminary Security Emergency Numbers. 

    The Resident Security house is located directly east of Bueermann Hall; call before knocking at the door of the Resident Security house, unless in the case of an emergency.

To report a non-emergency (an encounter or incident not requiring police, fire or medical attention) related to safety and security, please call the Security Office. For immediate assistance related to safety and security (e.g. vehicle break-in, flat tire, dead battery, etc.) or to request a security escort to your vehicle, please call one of the Western Seminary Security Emergency Numbers.

The Resident Security house is located directly east of Bueermann Hall; call before knocking at the door of the Resident Security house, unless in the case of emergency.