Metro Center
Life Safety & Emergency Procedures

Accidents

If an accident occurs within your office suite, please notify the Management Office or call the Security Desk immediately. Security will be dispatched to the scene of the accident and will perform the following:

  • Notify the police and/or ambulance if required.
  • Provide assistance to the injured party until emergency crew arrives.

Bomb Threat

The purpose of bomb threat procedure is to have orderly, safe and rapid procedure to conducting searches, providing prompt, necessary communications and rendering assistance in the event an evacuation is called for by the local authorities.

In the event of a bomb threat, either through a telephone call or by other means, the following procedure should be followed:

  • If a threat is received by phone, try to attract someone’s attention in the office discreetly and quietly while listening to the caller.
  • Try to keep the caller talking as long as possible. Ask the person to repeat parts of the message. Remain calm.
  • Write down the message and obtain as much relevant information as possible.
  • Immediately after the call, notify the Property Manager or Tenant Services Coordinator at the Management Office, (203-353-5200) who will notify the following:
  • Local Police
  • In-house Security
  • Staff
  • Tenants
  • The building staff will assist the local authorities in:
  • Evacuation in part or in full
  • Search for the device
  • Building Staff will maintain a close relationship at all times with the local authorities to ensure maximum protection of the occupants, the building and themselves.
  • When the alert is over, the building office shall notify all Tenants. An explanation to the Tenant’s representative will be as complete as possible.

Civil Disturbance

Should a riot or civil disturbance start outside the Building, the security guards will immediately lock all entrances to the building. The police will be notified. We will keep you informed.

If a disturbance should occur in the main lobby, all elevators will be turned off at the first floor and the police will be summoned.

Elevator Malfunction

If you are in the elevator and it stops for no apparent reason, remember to remain calm. Pressing the emergency button within the cab will alert Building Management that the elevator is malfunctioning. The cab number will be identified, and so too, the specific floor on which it is stuck. The Guard will establish two-way communication with elevators occupants until help has arrived.

IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, ELEVATORS MUST NOT BE USED FOR EVACUATION. USE THE STAIRWELLS.

Emergency Contacts

Metro Center Concierge/Security Desk
(Manned 7 days a week, 24 hours a day)

203-353-5226

Empire State Realty Trust Building Engineer
Ricky Caliboso

203-353-5209
Empire State Realty Trust Management Office 203-964-1111
City of Stamford Emergency Service Telephone Listings:
Fire Department 911 or 203-977-5555
Police Department 911 or 203-977-4444
Ambulance 911
Stamford Hospital 203-325-7000
Stamford Immediate Medical Center 203-353-2000
Poison Control Center 800-343-2722

Metro North Police
(Located at the Stamford Transportation Center)

203-363-5722 or 5723
Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven CT 203-777-6311

Evacuation

Metro Center is equipped with two fire stairwells which service the entire building from the roof to the lower level. They are located in the core area on the North and South sides of the building. Please familiarize yourself with the location of these stairwells as indicated in the attached drawing.

In the event of an emergency and evacuation is required through these stairwells, occupants shall walk down the stairway and exit the building.

Fire and Life Safety

The safety of the occupants at Metro Center is the number one priority of ownership and management. The building is equipped with the following systems to insure the safety of its occupants:

Metro Center has a state-of-the-art Edwards Fire Detection System comprising of the following components:

  • Smoke Detectors on every elevator lobby
  • Duct detectors in return air plenums
  • Fire Fighter telephone on every floor
  • Manual pull stations on every floor
  • Horns/speakers and strobe lights on every floor
  • Water flow and tamper switch on sprinkler systems
  • Elevator recall
  • Fan shutdown
  • Central station notifications

Standpipe Sprinkler System

Metro Center has a combination standpipe/sprinkler system. It consists of full sprinklerization of each and every floor in combination with a standpipe system in both the North and South stairways. With this standpipe system, there is a fire hose connection located on every floor for fire emergencies.

This system is equipped with supervisory alarms consisting of both water flow switches and tamper switches. These alarms are connected to the building’s central fire alarm system and, if activated, sound an alarm at the command center.

Emergency Generator

The building is equipped with a Cummins GTA-1150-PG emergency generator which is powered by 4 cycle diesel engine. In the case of loss of power to the building, this generator set is complete for automatic start-stop operation and will provide auxiliary power to the following:

  • building emergency lighting
  • building fire alarm system
  • stairway lighting

Emergency Lighting

Strategically positioned on each floor in the building are emergency lights that allow Tenants to function during a power failure.

Fire Pump

In the event of a fire, Metro Center is equipped with a fire pump. The fire pump provides support to the Fire Department pumps by pumping water into the fire standpipe system to fight a fire.

Fire Safety Emergency Team and Procedures

The emergency team consists of the Property Manager, Tenant Services Coordinator (Management Office), building and security staff, Fire Wardens and the Deputy Wardens (appointed by each Tenant from among their respective employees). The primary function of the Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire Wardens is to ensure the safe and orderly evacuation of the occupants of the building in the event required by an emergency. This is accomplished by communication and the joint efforts of all members of the Emergency Team.

Fire Wardens and Deputy Fire Warden’s Duties

  • The Tenant or Tenants on each floor shall, upon request of Building Management, designate responsible and dependable employees for the positions of Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Wardens.
  • Each floor of a building shall be under the direction of a designated Fire Warden for the evacuation of occupants in the event of fire. The Warden will be assisted in his duties by Deputy Fire Wardens.
  • Each Fire Warden and Deputy Fire Warden shall be familiar with the Fire Safety Plan, the location of exits and the location and operation of any available fire alarm system.
  • In the event of fire, or fire alarm, the Fire Warden shall establish communication with the Property Manager or Tenant Services Coordinator and assist in the evacuation of the floor in accordance with directions received from Property Manager or Tenant Services Coordinator and security personnel.
  • Have available an updated listing of all personnel with physical disabilities who cannot use the stairs unaided.
  • Insure that all persons on the floor are notified of the fire emergency and assist in the evacuation of all personnel. A search must be conducted in the lavatories to assure all are unoccupied. The Warden should assign other personnel to check the lavatories.

Flooding

If a flood or leak should occur, Building Management should be notified immediately. While waiting for emergency personnel to respond, Tenants should safeguard and remove any valuable papers or documents from the affected area, and if possible, unplug electrical equipment in the affected area.

Emergency personnel will, upon arrival, isolate the source of water and proceed with the clean-up operation.

Homeland Security

Metro Center recommends that each tenant have an emergency action plan in place to help their employees prepare for, and react quickly to, a regional emergency, including terrorist attacks. Click on the links below to access a variety of resources that aid in preparing for a regional emergency.

Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic

Federal Emergency Management Association
http://fema.gov/

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Center for Diseases Control and Prevention Emergency Preparedness and Response
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

Local media outlets will provide important information during an emergency situation.

Medical Emergency

In the event that an accident or illness befalls one of your employees, or a visitor to your office area, please:

  1. Call Emergency Services at 911.
  2. Provide the Emergency Dispatcher with the following information:
    • Your name
    • Your Building’s name and address
    • Your specific floor number, and the exact location of the emergency
    • Any pertinent details of the accident or illness
  3. Do not move the injured/ill person. Attempt to make them as comfortable as possible.
  4. If feasible, send someone to meet the emergency unit upon its arrival in the lobby.
  5. Call the Management Office at 203-353-4028. Inform management that you have called 911 and briefly describe the nature of the emergency.
  6. The emergency unit will be with you shortly and will administer all necessary medical assistance.
  7. Determine, if possible:
    • Name, address and age of injured/ill person
    • The nature of the problem, as best you can surmise
    • All known allergies and current medications taken by the individual
    • A local doctor

The Management, Engineering and Security staff will do all they can to ensure the patient’s comfort while awaiting the arrival of the medical rescue team. Although we assume no liability for our assistance, we strongly encourage Tenants and employees to become familiar with First Aid, as well as the contact information and protocol used to alert emergency services.

Pandemic Preparedness

What you Need to Know

An influenza (flu) pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of flu disease that occurs when a new type of influenza virus appears that people have not been exposed to before (or have not been exposed to in a long time). The pandemic virus can cause serious illness because people do not have immunity to the new virus. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza that we see every year. Seasonal influenza is caused by influenza virus types to which people have already been exposed. Its impact on society is less severe than a pandemic, and influenza vaccines (flu shots and nasal-spray vaccine) are available to help prevent widespread illness from seasonal flu.

Influenza pandemics are different from many of the other major public health and health care threats facing our country and the world. A pandemic will last much longer than most flu outbreaks and may include "waves" of influenza activity that last 6-8 weeks separated by months. The number of health care workers and first responders able to work may be reduced. Public health officials will not know how severe a pandemic will be until it begins.

Importance and Benefits of Being Prepared

  • The effects of a pandemic can be lessened if you prepare ahead of time. Preparing for a disaster will help bring peace of mind and confidence to deal with a pandemic.
  • When a pandemic starts, everyone around the world could be at risk. The United States has been working closely with other countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen systems to detect outbreaks of influenza that might cause a pandemic.
  • A pandemic would touch every aspect of society, so every part of society must begin to prepare. All have roles in the event of a pandemic. Federal, state, tribal, and local governments are developing, improving, and testing their plans for an influenza pandemic. Businesses, schools, universities, and other faith-based and community organizations are also preparing plans.
  • As you begin your individual or family planning, you may want to review your state's planning efforts and those of your local public health and emergency preparedness officials. State plans and other planning information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/checklists.html.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies are providing funding, advice, and other support to your state. The federal government will provide up-to-date information and guidance to the public if an influenza pandemic unfolds.

Pandemic Flu Resources

There are many publicly available resources in place to help communities, companies, and individuals plan for a possible pandemic flu outbreak. A few of the most useful sites are linked below:

  • Pandemicflu.gov
    This is the official U.S. Government site for information on pandemic and avian influenza. The material on this site is organized by topic for easy reference.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    The CDC Web site is another primary source of information on pandemic influenza. They also have a hotline - 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) - that is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY: 1-888-232-6348). Or, if you prefer, questions can be e-mailed to inquiry@cdc.gov.
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
    DHS is working on a “Business Planning Guide,” which will be posted on the DHS home page and on Pandemicflu.gov as soon as it is completed. Also, for business-specific questions, the DHS has created an e-mailbox - DHSPandemic@dhs.gov.
  • BOMA Resources
    BOMA/Greater Toronto Pandemic Flu Report
    The report addresses the threat to commercial buildings from an avian flu pandemic.

The resources above will provide a lot of information, but we also encourage you to:

  • Listen to local and national radio
  • Watch news reports on television
  • Read your newspaper and other sources of printed and Web-based information
  • Look for information on your local and state government Web sites
  • Consider talking to your local health care providers and public health officials.

Power Failure

In case of a power outage, Metro Center is equipped with an emergency generator that will provide power to emergency lighting throughout the building and in the stairways. Additionally, the generator will power the building Fire System.

If any Tenant should experience a loss of electrical power, it should notify the Management Office immediately. Emergency personnel will be dispatched immediately to determine if the power loss is localized or building wide. If the problem is localized, personnel will check circuitry and take corrective action.

Hurricane/Tornado Procedure

Building management constantly monitors weather conditions on a daily basis. If a hurricane or tornado alert is in effect, the following will be performed:

  • All Tenants will be notified
  • Building personnel will secure all equipment and material on the roof, building exterior and sidewalk, which could move and cause damage to the building occupants and the public.
  • Depending on the severity of the storm, it may require a shutdown to some or all HVAC equipment for safety. Tenants will be notified accordingly.
  • All glass swing doors in the Lobby will be locked.
  • All Tenants will be requested to close their blinds or shades to limit their exposure to glass breakage, should it occur. Where possible, Tenants should temporarily relocate their workstations away from the windows.
  • If any window should break, Tenants should close off area involved and notify the Management Office immediately.
  • Tenants will be kept informed of weather status.

Toxic Hazards

If there is a toxic spill or exposure, proceed immediately to an area where you are no longer exposed. Call 911. Provide the building’s address, your floor and phone number, and also what type of spill has occurred. Take appropriate action to contain the hazard; close doors behind you, and always follow all safety procedures when working with toxic materials.