Code BROWN – External Threat
Call 000 in a life-threatening situation.
Emergency responders will try to come to your aid but there may be delays due to dangerous conditions.
Monitor:
- the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Warnings and Incidents and
- the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather warnings.
Extreme weather event / storm
- Take shelter away from windows.
- Caution others.
- Continue to monitor Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather warnings to obtain advice and assess when the event is expected to pass.
- Follow emergency instructions in the official warning and leave with caution only when the storm risk has passed and the warning has been cancelled.
Sport: For PSA and JPSSA events, Scotch College follows the Public Schools Association (PSA) Severe weather guidelines for management of outdoor activities
Boatshed: Scotch College follows the Extreme Heat Recommendations from Rowing Australia.
Earthquake
In the event of an earthquake or vibration
- If you are inside
- DROP to the ground.
- COVER your head and neck with your arms and shelter under a sturdy desk or table. If there isn’t a safe shelter nearby, crouch alongside a bench or an inside wall.
- HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.
- If you are outside
- DROP, COVER and HOLD ON away from potential hazards.
- Keep clear of buildings and other structures such as: power lines, trees and vehicles.
- If in a vehicle, stop in an open area until the shaking stops.
- If trapped, stay as still as possible and cover your mouth with your clothing. Tap slowly on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you and shout only as a last resort to avoid inhaling dangerous amounts of dust.
- If you are at the beach and experience strong shaking for more than 60 seconds, move to higher ground, as a tsunami may result from the shaking.
- If you are in a coastal area:
- DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
- Go to high ground or inland. Do not wait for an official warning to evacuate the coastal area. Tsunami waves may arrive in minutes, or be delayed up to hours.
- Stay on high ground. Tsunami waves may stay for hours. Return home when emergency services advise it is safe to do so.
Immediately after the earthquake
- Look for any injured persons in your area and follow procedures for Medical Emergency if necessary.
- If safe to do so (i.e. a clear path of egress is available) leave the building – do not use lifts. Otherwise, maintain refuge until structural safety checks are completed.
- Be aware that aftershocks may occur and could cause damage.
- Keep an active watch for hazards and damage.
- Do not re-enter damaged buildings.
- Stay clear of fallen powerlines.
Bush / grass fire
In the event of a bushfire, the Chief Warden will:
- Immediately alert the authorities of the location and nature of the fire emergency by dialling 000. Advise the Fire Brigade of the number of persons on site.
- Establish the scope of the emergency and if necessary secure the building and place all staff members on alert.
- Advise the ECO and staff to be on standby. DO NOT attempt to combat the fire. Only personnel trained and competent in the use of first attack fire equipment should attempt to combat fires.
- Ensure all members of the ECO follow the instructions of the responding Emergency Services.
Response
- Keep all doors and windows closed but not locked and the air-conditioning systems to the closed or re- circulate positions. If this is not possible, the air-conditioning systems may need to be switched off.
- Switch off gas supply.
- Continue to monitor conditions through Emergency Services.
- Follow shelter in place procedure if required.
- Shut down and total evacuation of the facility if advised by Emergency Services and considering:
- Power is cut which may make it hard to continue services and some telephone systems require electricity to operate. Some investigation may be required to ensure that all hazards relating to power outage have been investigated and addressed.
- Water and sewerage are interrupted by a bush fire. Water pressure is very low affecting water quality.
- Roads out of the area are hazardous due to the location of the fire or other hazards such as fallen trees of power lines.
- Any sprinkler system around the facility to be turned on (if this does not compromise other water-based defence systems).
- If safe to do so, relocate cars and any other movable combustible objects to greater than 20m from the Shelter in Place and the evacuation path between the Bushfire Evacuation location.
Moray Outdoor Education Centre
The College’s Moray Outdoor Education Centre has a comprehensive Bushfire Emergency Plan, which must be read, understood and followed by all users of the Centre. Access the Bushfire Emergency Plan for Moray here.