As IT director at my company and since my office is actually in the server area of our company, anytime there is a fire drill or actual alarm, I myself do the following tasks on my out. At most, these tasks may add 15 seconds if that.

First I start a logoff or shutdown procedure on the computer I am at since as administrator it has unlimited access to network resources.

As I pass our backup media safe, I check to make sure the door is closed and locked on it. When opened it is only open for a few minutes for rotating backup media or storing/retrieving other important documentation. As a result I have never found it open when leaving for a fire drill or actual alarm.

I then grab a handful, usually 3 or 4 daily backup tapes out of the drawer where they are kept. At least once a week I take a complete verified backup tape offsite to keep at home. The other nightly backup tapes are kept onsite for convenience.

Lastly, I grab my jacket and/or umbrella (if weather conditions require it).

These items are all directly along my path from my desk to the exit with no detours required.

As far as what directives our other employees have been given, their directive is to get out as quickly and safely as they can taking with them any personal items that THEY FEEL ARE NECESSARY. The choice of what personal items they take is entirely theirs. They have been told to not worry about any work-related or company-owned property. None of them use laptops so that is not an issue in their case. My laptop is generally located in my vehicle parked in a garage a block away so that is not an issue for me either. If I happened to have it onsite I would probably grab it on my way out but that would have to be a case-by-case basis as the data on the backup media is much more valuable for getting back up and running if needed.

The only other directive that employees have been given is to NOT USE THE ELEVATORS. We are on the 4th floor and with only a single exception steps have not been a problem.

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