The following information is meant to assist you in case there is a natural, accidental or deliberate incident affecting our community. While the level of detail is intentionally brief, the administration at Georgetown Law has established specific plans for emergencies. Details of these plans are available on the Georgetown Law website www.law.georgetown.edu. This overview will give you an idea of the services and support systems available to you at the Law Center. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with this information.

Georgetown Law Safety and Support Systems

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for providing security at the Law Center. In order to meet this objective, DPS has 24-hour coverage at the Gewirz Student Center and the 2nd Street entrance to McDonough Hall. There is also a security post maintained in the entry foyer of the Williams Law Library when the library is open. In addition, DPS officers patrol the Law Center campus, both on foot and in marked vehicles. In case of an emergency, DPS should be notified immediately at (202) 662-9325. Top

Union Station Shuttle Bus

DPS operates a free shuttle bus service between the Law Center and Union Station. On most days the shuttle operates from 5:00 pm until 12:45 am. It leaves from the McDonough Hall 2nd Street driveway at 15-minute intervals and drops off passengers near the Metro station escalators. Top

DPS Escorts

DPS offers 24-hour escorts to any campus location as well as to cars parked near the school and to the Washington Court Hotel taxi stand. Contact DPS at (202) 662-9325 for details. Top

Access Control

The Law Center limits access to our campus. Employees monitor access at the main entrance of Williams, Gewirz, Hotung, the Sport & Fitness Center, and at the 2nd Street entrance of McDonough. In order to assure campus security, it is important that you show your Georgetown Law GoCard when requested to do so. Top

Community Alerts

Information about any serious criminal activity affecting the Law Center is reported to the Georgetown Law community as soon as possible. This information is made available through oral briefings, posted memos, campus publications, and e-mail. In addition, there are computer monitors at 2nd Street and in the Chapel area that provide information on events affecting the community. Top

Disabled Student Services

The Law Center is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities and encourages them, particularly anyone with limited mobility, to contact the school's Disability Services Coordinator, Assistant Dean Everett Bellamy. You can schedule an appointment with Dean Bellamy on (202) 662-9039 or via e-mail bellamy@law.georgetown.edu . Top

Safety Marshal Program

The Law Center has identified staff to serve as Safety Marshals to assist in implementing our emergency procedures. There is a Safety Marshal assigned to each floor of each building on the campus. During an emergency situation, these people will wear special attire and direct people as appropriate. Top

Safety and Emergency Responses

Fire/Structural Threat

The Law Center's alarm system is activated when fire or smoke is detected. Immediately following the alarm, an evacuation message will be heard. Everyone should leave through clearly marked exits. The elevators should not be used. Reentry to affected building(s) will be announced by the Dean's office after clearance from the Fire Department. It is very important to evacuate when the fire alarm goes off. Top

Weather-Related Events

In the case of natural disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or blizzards, updated information will be available on the televisions in the classrooms on Georgetown Law TV channel 8. If specific action is required, it will be announced on the public address system. In some of the above cases, the recommendation may be to shelter inside the law school buildings. The Law Center generally follows the Federal government with respect to class cancellation and school closure. Class cancellation decisions are updated regularly on the Class Cancellation line (202) 662-9446. Top

Man-Made Disasters

This type of event would include such threats as bioterrorism, dirty bombs and chemical spills, and may or may not require partial or full evacuation of the Law Center. In the case of such an event, an announcement will be made indicating what you need to do. In some situations, the decision could be to ask you to remain in the shelter of the law school buildings. Top

City-Wide Evacuation

In the event of a threat affecting the entire city, information will be announced over the public address system. Evacuation routes from the Law Center are North Capitol Street, New York Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. Top

To better prepare for a potential disaster situation, the Red Cross and FEMA suggest you have discussions with family, friends, and roommates about access to emergency supplies such as water, food, flashlight and clothing, as well as where to meet in case of an evacuation. For more information on preparing for such an event, consult the following websites: www.redcross.org , www.fema.gov , and www.dcema.dc.gov. Top

Revised July 8, 2003 (JE)