Ensuring Northwestern Is Prepared for Emergency

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University is participating this September in the ninth annual National Preparedness Month, a yearly campaign led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to encourage all Americans to take steps to be prepared in case of an emergency.

National Preparedness Month provides an opportunity to familiarize students, staff, faculty and visitors with the University’s safety programs and to provide awareness training to leaders, managers and community members.

Northwestern’s goal is to provide the highest level of preparedness and readiness for responding to emergencies. Preparedness month provides a forum for educating the University about community programs and individual responsibilities.

This year’s activities will include a comprehensive training workshop for University administrators conducted by departments involved in institutional safety and response. The safety workshop will include instruction from the departments of Risk Management, University Police, Emergency Management and Business Continuity.

In addition to the workshop activities, University Relations will use the bulk email system Tuesday, Sept. 25, to provide general safety tips to the larger campus community and encourage participation by instructing community members to visit safety websites and review safety procedures throughout the academic year.

Among the tips, the University:

--Reminds the community that being physically and psychologically prepared to handle unexpected emergencies is an individual as well as an organizational responsibility. 

--Encourages community members to use these websites and their guidelines as resources to prepare yourself as well as the community for emergencies and preparedness:

http://www.research.northwestern.edu/ors/emergencies/index.html

http://www.northwestern.edu/risk/safety-procedures/campus-buildings-offices/index.html

http://www.northwestern.edu/emergency/

http://www.northwestern.edu/up/crime/violence-prevention.html

There will also be an emergency test -- at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 -- of the Blackboard Connect notification system, which would alert students, staff and faculty of an imminent emergency via phone, text, email and social media in an actual emergency. All Northwestern students, staff and faculty are reminded to please review and update your emergency contact information. Out-of-date information will prevent or delay delivery of important information during an emergency.

It you do not receive an alert Wednesday morning, be sure to update your personal contact information.

Students can do this by going into CAESAR using the following link: http://www.northwestern.edu/caesar/.

Faculty and staff can do this by going to the Human Resources page from the University’s website and signing in to the FASIS self-service portal. Or go directly to: https://nuhr.northwestern.edu/psp/hr91prod_ss/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG&. 

The workshops and drills are part of FEMA’s Ready Campaign, “Resolve to be Ready.” The campaign is a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the coming year.