Procedures

In a campus emergency call UAPD at 911 from a landline or 575-2222 from a cellphone. If you have the RAVE Guardian app on your cellphone just touch the “panic button.”

Emergency Preparedness

  1. Know your building's evacuation plan and evacuation assembly point.
  2. Discuss and practice preparedness plans with your co-workers.
  3. When working with hazardous materials, have the appropriate spill cleanup supplies ready.
  4. Have a battery operated radio and flashlight available, with extra batteries for each.
  5. Call Environmental Health & Safety for fire extinguisher training.
  6. Contact UAPD for training opportunities involving acts of violence and workplace violence.
  7. Become familiar with the Emergency Preparedness website.
Download Emergency Information Flyer

Building Evacuation

  1. Evacuation is mandatory when announced by alarm, emergency personnel or building executive.
  2. Exit the building in a calm and orderly manner.
  3. Do NOT use elevators.
  4. Assist persons with disabilities in evacuation.
  5. If you are trapped, dial 911 and give them your location, room number and floor level.
  6. Take personal belongings such as keys or purses if safe to do so.
  7. Protect critical assets such as cash if possible.
  8. Know your surroundings so that you can evacuate in the dark.
  9. Report to your evacuation assembly point outside the building (must be at least 50 feet away from the building).
  10. Take a head count of employees at designated meeting locations, and notify emergency personnel of any missing workers.
  11. Stay clear of parking lots or driveways to keep them clear for emergency response vehicles.
  12. Follow the directions of emergency personnel on site.
  13. Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.

Learn more about our Building Emergency Action Plan

Severe Weather

A tornado watch is issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is imminent. When a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately.

If a tornado threatens the campus directly and the campus community needs to seek shelter immediately, UAPD will send a RazALERT message and activate the campus outdoor warning sirens. Take shelter immediately during a tornado warning and consider the DUCK method to stay safe:

  • Down to the lowest part of your home/building
  • Under something
  • Center of house/building
  • Keep away from windows and exterior doors

In most university buildings, the safest area is the basement. If a basement is not available, occupants should move to the central portion of the building on the lowest floor possible away from outside walls and glass.

In residence halls, occupants will be directed to the restrooms on their respective floors or an interior room without windows or glass.

Large unsupported roof structures, as typically found in auditoriums and gymnasiums, should be avoided if possible.

Individuals should anticipate the tornado warning could last a long time, perhaps thirty-minutes or longer.

Individuals should not leave shelter until the threat of the tornado has passed.

An “all clear” notice will NOT be sent out through RazALERT./p>

Help direct people with special needs to a safe place, if necessary.

Instructors: interrupt class activity and advise the students to move to the safest area available. Should the allotted class time expire during the warning, the instructor should encourage the students to remain in the safe area until the threat of the tornado has passed.

Monitor weather information on local TV, their mobile apps, or social media:

If Outdoors:

If there is no shelter nearby, go to a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine and lie flat. Protect your head and neck with an object or with your arms. Move away from trees, buildings, walls, and power lines. Listen to instructions on immediate actions from the campus outdoor warning siren.

Power Outage

In the event of a campus-wide outage, the university has emergency generators that will immediately provide power to limited areas on campus. To report a minor, localized power outage, call Facilities Management at 575-5050.

Keep flashlights and batteries at easily accessible locations throughout your work areas and/or residence.

In case of a major, campus-wide power outage:

  • Remain calm.
  • Follow directions from the University Police or supervisors for immediate action.
  • If evacuation of a building is required, see the evacuation section of this guide.
  • Laboratory personnel should secure all experiments and unplug electrical equipment prior to evacuating. All chemicals should be stored in their original locations. If safe to do so, provide natural ventilation by opening all windows and/or doors. If this is not possible, or natural ventilation is inadequate, evacuate the laboratory until the power is returned.
  • Do not light candles or other type of flame for lighting.
  • Unplug all electrical equipment (including computers) and turn off light switches.

If people are trapped in an elevator:

  • Notify the University Police at 911.
  • Reassure passengers to stay calm and that you are getting help.
  • Instruct passengers to pick up the emergency phone in the elevator so they can provide direct information to the emergency responders.
  • Stay near passengers until police or other assistance arrives, provided it is safe to stay in the building.

Suspicious Person

  1. Do not physically confront the person(s).
  2. Do not let anyone into a locked building, office, or other space.
  3. Do not block the person(s) access to an exit.
  4. Call 911 and provide as much information as possible about the situation. This includes the following (but is not limited to:
    • Description of suspect (Height, weight, skin color, hair color)
    • Clothing description
    • Direction of travel
    • Any weapons or threats
  5. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel

Suspicious Object or Package

  1. DO NOT touch or disturb the object or package.
  2. DO NOT allow others to touch or handle the object or package.
  3. If package or object is leaking, do not attempt to pick up, sweep or contain any spillage.
  4. Call 911. Give full description of object or package (Shape, color, location, any obvious irregularities, odors, wires, etc.) to emergency services personnel.
  5. Notify your supervisor
  6. Follow the directions of the emergency services personnel present

How to Identify Suspicious Packages and Letters

  • Excessive postage
  • Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
  • Incorrect titles
  • Title, but no name
  • Misspellings of common words
  • Oily stains, discolorations or odor
  • No return address
  • Excessive weight
  • Lopsided or uneven envelope
  • Protruding wires or aluminum foil
  • Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
  • Visual distractions
  • Ticking sound
  • Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential”
  • Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address

Civil Disturbances

  1. Do not attempt to intervene or confront any individuals involved in the disturbance.
  2. Immediately call 911 and relay the following information:
    • Location of incident
    • Number of people involved in the disturbance
    • What group(s)/cause(s) the individuals are associated with (if known)
    • Are the individuals violent or threatening anyone
    • Are any weapons are involved. If so, what type(s) of weapons
  3. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
  4. Do not evacuate/leave the building unless directed to so by building executive or emergency services personnel.
  5. Remain calm.

Act of Terrorism

  1. Do not attempt to intervene or confront any individuals involved in the disturbance.
  2. Immediately call 911 and relay the following information:
    • Location of incident
    • Number of people involved in the disturbance
    • What group(s)/cause(s) the individuals are associated with (if known)
    • Are the individuals violent or threatening anyone
    • Are any weapons are involved. If so, what type(s) of weapons
  3. Follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
  4. Do not evacuate/leave the building unless directed to so by building executive or emergency services personnel.
  5. Remain calm.

Active Threat

  • Avoid™: Leave the area immediately.  If necessary, break windows or glass to get out of the area.  Run in the opposite direction of the disturbance or shots, cover your head with books or other items for protection.  DO NOT stop running until you are in a safe area.  If police officers are in the area, listen and comply with all their commands.  Raise your hands or keep them in plain sight so you are not perceived as a threat. 
  • Deny™: If you choose to stay in your room, LOCK YOUR DOOR.  Silence your phone, call 911 and give detailed and specific information about the threat to the dispatcher.  Do not leave until instructed to do so by police.  Stay low to the ground and away from windows.  Barricade the doors with anything possible (furniture, chairs etc). 
  • Defend™: If the first two options do not work, defend yourself and those around you.  Use any objects available to you to distract or interrupt the actions of the attacker.