E VACUATION PLANNING
EventQuip Wants You and Your Guests to Enjoy Our Tents Safely.
Thunder and lightning in particular pose a significant safety risk for tented events.
In addition, tents may need to be evacuated for other types of emergency situations.
It is your responsibility to ensure your guests’ safety. We recommend that you develop an emergency evacuation plan so you are prepared to act decisively in the event of an emergency during your event. Following are suggested guidelines for developing an emergency evacuation plan.
Designate someone who will be in charge of the emergency evacuation plan and on site for the entire event. The point person(s) will assist in developing the plan and be responsible during the event for monitoring the weather, determining whether a situation calls for evacuation, and if so, acting decisively and authoritatively to instruct guests to evacuate. The point person(s) can be an individual or a small group. For example:
- For a wedding: A family member, member of the wedding party, event planner, caterer, etc…
- For a corporate event: An event planner, company representative, etc…
- For a public event: A show manager, representative of the venue, the fire chief, etc…
Here are a few things to consider when developing an emergency evacuation plan:
- Who will make the evacuation decision, and how will the decision be made?
- Who will calmly announce the decision to the guests, professionals and staff?
- Where is the alternate building located?
- Ensure that the alternate location is prepared (beverage service, bathrooms stocked, etc.)
- Remember to evacuate everyone (wait staff, etc).
- Who will make the decision to return to the tent?
Emergency Conditions
Work with the point person(s) to determine the emergency conditions that will trigger an evacuation of the tent structure. Following are some examples of situations in which it is unsafe to remain in a tent:
| Hazardous Situation | Why Evacuate? |
|---|---|
| Lightning & Thunder | Lightning poses a risk of electrocution, electric shock or fire. |
| Damaging winds | The tent could collapse and injure occupants; the tent cannot protect occupants from flying debris. |
| Fire or explosion | The tent cannot protect occupants from excessive heat, flames or flying debris. |
| Hail or sleet | Excessive weight could cause the tent to collapse and injure occupants. |
| Excessive rainfall or Flash Flooding | Saturation of ground with water may compromise securement. The tent could collapse and injure occupants. |
| Snow or ice accumulation | Excessive weight could cause the tent to collapse and injure occupants. |
| Earth Movement | Ground conditions may not be suitable for occupants and may compromise the tent’s securement. |
| Gas leak | Atmospheric conditions may not be suitable for occupants. |
Work with your point person(s) to predetermine where guests will go and how they will get there if the tent must be evacuated:
- Identify a nearby permanent building large enough to accommodate your guests, make sure it will be open and accessible during your event, and make a note of its address in case you have to call for emergency assistance. If there is no building nearby, consider using vehicles, an open area away from the tent, or locations recommended by the National Weather Service or Emergency Alert System. Of utmost importance is that the tent should never be used as a shelter in an emergency situation.
- Determine how guests will get to the evacuation location (e.g., the route to take, travel by foot or car, etc). Consider preparing a sketch of the event site.
Plan how you will communicate with your guests in an emergency, prior to and during the event.
Based on weather forecasts and other circumstances, you may wish to make an announcement to participants regarding the identification of the point person(s), location of exits and the emergency evacuation location.
Depending upon the size of the event, consider backup methods of communication for situations in which there is no electrical power, mobile signals are interrupted, etc.
Beginning at least two hours before the start of the event, the point person(s) should begin monitoring a source of weather information such as the National Weather Service. If any of the weather emergency conditions listed previously are predicted, you may need to postpone or cancel the event.
After the tent has been installed, monitor the tent structure for various changes. These would include stakes or augers pulling out of the ground; tent weights moving; loose poles, ropes or straps, etc. If you notice any of these occurring, contact the rental company immediately.
Continue to monitor the weather and be alert for other emergency situations during the event. Implement your evacuation plan for any of the following conditions:
- A severe weather alert is posted by the National Weather Service.
- Dark clouds are approaching.
- Lightning strikes within ten miles.
- Hail or sleet falls.
- Twigs break from trees or large trees sway.
- Any of the tent anchoring devices fail or the tent begins to move (e.g., tent poles wobble, ropes snap, tent top rips or tears, etc.).
- Rain falls so hard it runs off tent walls in sheets.
- Water is running through the tent or surrounding area.
- Snow or ice is accumulating.
- An explosion, excessive heat, smoke or fire is in the vicinity of the event.
- There is ground movement of any kind.
- Other conditions exist as previously determined in developing your emergency plan.
After the Evacuation: Even if the tent appears intact, it may not be safe to return. If stakes or augers have pulled out of the ground, tent weights have moved, or there are loose poles, ropes or straps, contact the rental company so that the tent may be re-secured before resuming the event.
After instructing guests to evacuate, you may need to call for police, fire or medical help as the situation warrants.
Download the Evacuation Plan Checklist
These Guidelines for Developing an Emergency Evacuation Plan for a Tented Event (these “Guidelines”) developed by the American Rental Association and ARA Insurance Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Rental Association (collectively, the “ARA”), are intended to provide general guidance to assist you with emergency evacuation planning when using tents and related rental equipment. The ARA does not purport to include in these Guidelines all possible scenarios which may require evacuation or all possible safety measures and procedures that could be used in each evacuation scenario. You should use your own independent judgment and discretion in successfully implementing these Guidelines to best fit the unique needs of your event and your particular use of the tent and other rental equipment.
The ARA expressly disclaims any warranties or guarantees, express or implied, and the ARA shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the material, information, or procedures set forth in these Guidelines or for reliance on the contents of these Guidelines. In issuing these Guidelines, the ARA is not rendering legal or other professional services. These Guidelines are not substitutes for applicable laws, standards and regulations and do not alter or limit your obligation to fully comply with federal, state and local law and prudent safety measures relating to the use of tents and other rental equipment. These Guidelines are not intended to create new legal liabilities or expand existing rights or obligations.
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