Once notified of an emergency, the ERT will decide what response is appropriate to the situation. The ERT will be notified the rest of the facility by a verbal announcement over the public address system. This announcement will specify the actions to be taken such as:
- “Evacuate the building!”, or
- “Move to a designated shelter!”
- “Shelter in place!”
In parallel, a distinctive alarm will sound and strobe lights will begin flashing throughout the organization. One type of alarm will indicate the need to evacuate. A second, distinctive alarm will indicate the need to shelter. Each type of alarm is discussed below.