CSC Emergency Evacuation for Courts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of a 'floor warden' during a courthouse emergency evacuation?
- To detain individuals who refuse to evacuate until law enforcement arrives
- To guide and account for occupants on their assigned floor and report status to command (Correct answer)
- To conduct a search of every office before the floor is cleared
- To coordinate media communications on behalf of court administration
Correct answer: To guide and account for occupants on their assigned floor and report status to command
Floor wardens are responsible for guiding occupants to exits, confirming all areas are clear, and reporting headcount status to the incident command post.
Question 2: In custody situations during an evacuation, a court security specialist must ensure that:
- Detainees are released to speed up the evacuation process
- Detainees are secured and escorted through designated routes separate from the public (Correct answer)
- Detainees remain in holding cells since they are already secured
- Detainees are evacuated last, after all other occupants have exited
Correct answer: Detainees are secured and escorted through designated routes separate from the public
Detainees must be physically controlled and routed separately from the public during evacuations to prevent escapes and protect public safety.
Question 3: Which communication method should court security specialists rely on MOST during an active evacuation when cellular networks are congested?
- Text messaging, since it uses less bandwidth than voice calls
- Two-way radio (walkie-talkie) on a dedicated security frequency (Correct answer)
- Email notifications to all staff
- Courthouse intercom system over standard telephone lines
Correct answer: Two-way radio (walkie-talkie) on a dedicated security frequency
Two-way radios on dedicated security channels remain operational when cellular networks are congested and provide real-time voice coordination.
Question 4: After all occupants have reached the assembly area, the NEXT priority for a court security specialist is to:
- Begin re-entry procedures as soon as the exterior is clear
- Conduct a personnel accountability report and identify any missing persons (Correct answer)
- Escort the media to a briefing location
- Submit an incident report to the administrative judge
Correct answer: Conduct a personnel accountability report and identify any missing persons
Accountability—knowing whether everyone is accounted for—is the immediate post-evacuation priority so that rescue efforts can be directed if anyone is missing.
Question 5: An active shooter enters the courthouse. The evacuation protocol that prioritizes occupant survival in this scenario is best described as:
- Orderly corridor evacuation with all doors propped open
- Run-Hide-Fight: evacuate if possible, shelter if not, resist only as last resort (Correct answer)
- Lockdown only; no movement until law enforcement clears the building
- Reverse evacuation routing to move occupants toward the shooter's entry point
Correct answer: Run-Hide-Fight: evacuate if possible, shelter if not, resist only as last resort
The Run-Hide-Fight framework, endorsed by DHS, gives occupants a decision hierarchy that maximizes survival options during an active shooter event.
Question 6: Which characteristic of a courthouse makes evacuation planning more complex compared to a typical office building?
- Courthouses generally have fewer exits than commercial office buildings
- Courthouses house a mix of the public, detained individuals, and judiciary personnel requiring separate evacuation routes (Correct answer)
- Courthouses are legally prohibited from conducting evacuation drills
- Courthouses rarely have emergency operations plans due to judicial independence
Correct answer: Courthouses house a mix of the public, detained individuals, and judiciary personnel requiring separate evacuation routes
The simultaneous presence of the general public, judges, staff, and in-custody individuals requires multiple, segregated evacuation routes and protocols.
Question 7: How often should courthouse evacuation drills typically be conducted to maintain staff readiness according to best practices?
- Once every five years during facility security reviews
- At least annually, with tabletop exercises conducted more frequently (Correct answer)
- Only following a real emergency to evaluate actual response
- Monthly, since court occupancy changes daily
Correct answer: At least annually, with tabletop exercises conducted more frequently
Best practices recommend at least annual full drills supplemented by more frequent tabletop exercises to keep staff familiar with procedures without disrupting court operations.
CSC Emergency Evacuation for Courts 3
What is the role of a 'floor warden' during a courthouse emergency evacuation?