SECTION 8.5. Emergency Evacuation

(a) Evacuation order. The commander of the Capitol Regional Command Office, or the ranking department officer on duty, may order evacuation of all or any part of the Capitol Building or other state buildings in the event of a fire, bomb threat, or any other threat to life and/or property. In the event of a potentially harmful situation at the Capitol Building which does not pose an imminent threat to the health or safety of the occupants and visitors nor to the buildings or grounds themselves, the department shall inform the board and take such action as approved by the board.

(b) Floor managers. A floor manager shall be appointed for each floor in each state building in the Capitol Complex. Occupying state agencies shall make their appointments in cooperation with the department and with other agencies and these floor managers shall assist the department in clearing the buildings during emergency evacuations.

(c) Use of elevators. No elevators shall be used during an emergency evacuation except to transfer handicapped persons from areas to be evacuated to places of safety and only then with the approval of a member of the department or a fire official.

(d) Evacuation of building floors. No one shall be allowed on floors to be evacuated during the period of the threat except department officers, floor managers, and duly authorized peace officers and firemen.

(e) Readmission to evacuated areas. A department officer shall give the all-clear signal and permit readmission to the evacuated areas only when the threat has passed.

(f) Notification. In all instances enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, the Fire and Safety Office of the State Preservation Board will immediately be notified by the Capitol Regional Command Office and should be represented at the scene.

Source Note: The provisions of this §8.5 adopted to be effective January 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 248