• Large crowds pose problems for site evacuation.crowd at the stadium image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
  
  The threat of danger or disaster always exists. Fire, flood, tornado, hurricane and other natural or man-made disasters have the potential to strike at any time. Proper planning and preparedness are key to making sure you are always prepared for the worst-case scenario. You need to have evacuation plans and procedures in place in case of emergency.
  
  

Announcement and Notification

• As soon as danger threatens, it is important to notify everyone in the facility or area. You need to relay the information quickly and succinctly. Use a paging or intercom system if one is available; if not, use bullhorns or other sound-amplifying devices. Tell people what is occurring and give brief instructions as to what they are to do.
  
  For example, in an office building, if a fire breaks out in the basement electrical room, use the public-address system and announce "Everyone in the building make your way to the nearest exit. There is a fire in the basement." Or "Everyone in the building, make your way to the closest exit except the main door; there is a fire in the basement."
  
  The goal is to get everyone's attention and have them follow your simple instructions. Do not take time to go into detail.
  
  

Organization

• Plan and organize for an evacuation in advance of an emergency. Organization means that different people are responsible for different elements of an evacuation.
  
  For example, in a multiple-floor office building one person from each floor or each department in the building should be in charge of making sure that everyone she is responsible for is aware of the evacuation order and that she knows the procedures being implemented. In a public gathering area, such as a stadium or amusement park, different employees should be responsible for different areas to make sure that everyone in those areas is evacuating properly.
  
  Organization is also important after an evacuation. Group or floor or area leaders must contact those they are responsible for to let them know it is safe to return to the facility or site.
  
  

Exit Strategy

• Practice site evacuation before an emergency makes it necessary. Have those at the site evacuate in the order that has been determined to be the fastest and safest way to get everyone out of a building, facility or area.
  
  After the initial announcement notifying everyone that a site evacuation has commenced, make another announcement to let everyone know what order to exit in and where to go.
  
  Be sure you know where people will be evacuating to and where they are to gather. Announce that everyone must leave the site and gather at the designated meeting area and then remind everyone where that area is. For example, once the evacuation has started, you can announce "Please gather at the north end of the main parking lot. Repeat, please make your way to and gather at the north parking lot."
  
  The gathering spot is important to ensure the safety of everyone from the site and to make sure everyone got out to safety.
  
  

Post-Evacuation Follow-Up

• An evacuation of a site means that people exit the property and they are not to take time to gather personal belongings. The evacuation also means that no one is to re-enter the site until told to do so. After the evacuation you must communicate with everyone to let him know whether it is safe to return to the site. At this time you can also interview people who went through the evacuation to gather information to enhance safety procedures in the future.