Natural and man-made emergencies can occur at anytime without warning. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) describes an emergency as "any unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant injuries to employees, customers, or the public; or that can shut down your business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten the facilities financial standing or public image."

Northwestern University is committed to maintaining and providing the highest level of emergency preparedness for all types of emergencies. Creating and maintaining a safe and secure campus environment is a responsibility shared by everyone at Northwestern. Pre-emergency planning by University community members is a critical part of emergency planning. Members should know what to do in advance of an emergency, who should be called for assistance and where to obtain required services and supplies.

This web page contains valuable information concerning emergency resources and the University's efforts to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and the community at large.

University Emergency Preparedness

Three key components of the University's efforts to better prepare for an emergency have been reviewed and updated since September 11, 2001. The first of these components is the Emergency Response Plan, which identifies key decision makers and their roles during a campus emergency. The plan established emergency command centers and describes procedures that will be utilized during specifically identified severities of emergency.

The second component is Building Emergency Plans. Each building on both campuses has a designated building manager who is responsible for developing an emergency plan and making sure that all employees working in the building have a complete understanding of the evacuation process. The building manager is also responsible for coordinating an evacuation drill with the Office of Risk Management.

The final component within the Emergency Response Plan calls upon all employees to be familiar with the Employee Safety Handbook. For additional information on University emergency procedures and safety resources, please consult the Emergency Safety Handbook. For information on radiation, chemical, and biological laboratory safety and on hazardous chemicals, human blood or other potentially infectious human materials, visit the Office for Research Safety (ORS) Web site.

The ultimate goal of emergency preparedness is to promote community safety, assure continuity of emergency response operations and restore normal University operations and services as quickly as possible following an emergency.

Emergency Notifications via Voicemail and "Breaking News": A voicemail notification system and the "Breaking News" link on the University's Web home page provide information to community members during emergencies. The voicemail system can be reached by calling 847-491-1100 or 312-503-1100.

Resources

The following resources can assist University community members in case of an emergency:

Provides local information on safety, weather conditions and emergency preparedness brochures.

Learn how to personally prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Information on disasters, emergencies, travel advisories for home and the community.

Illinois Homeland Security. Information on prevention, preparation, response and recovery to emergencies.

Information on missing and exploited children.

Information on how to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

News, safety tips and disaster updates.