What should you do when a 900 code requires evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions?

• A. Relay instructions clearly, confirm receipt, and coordinate with safety teams.
• B. Switch to a secondary channel and wait for supervisor to respond.
• C. Interview bystanders to confirm details before action.
• D. Delay instructions until the next shift.

Answer: (A)

When a 900 code calls for evacuation or shelter-in-place, the priority is to get clear, actionable instructions to everyone who needs them and make sure those instructions are understood and acted on. Relay the directives clearly and unambiguously, then confirm receipt or understanding from the units or locations affected. Coordinate with safety teams—such as incident command, security, facilities, and any responding agencies—to implement the plan and monitor for updates. This keeps people informed, reduces confusion, and allows the response to proceed smoothly.

Other approaches slow or undermine the response: switching to a secondary channel and waiting for a supervisor introduces dangerous delays; interviewing bystanders adds unreliable information and wastes time; delaying the instructions until the next shift could put people at risk.