A message from UTC Safety and Risk Management:
“Your safety is our number one priority.” You have heard this, but is your safety your number one priority? The first step is to make a plan. A few quick questions will help put it together.
When will you act?
Tornadoes, fire, campus violence, earthquakes and other disasters, large and small, can affect your safety.
What will you do immediately?
Some emergencies require you to evacuate. Fires, bomb threats and chemical spills in your building all require immediate and enthusiastic implementation of your evacuation plan. Other issues, such as tornados, severe weather, and large hazmat emergencies may require you to shelter in place.
What will you do next?
If you have evacuated a building because of fire, what next? You probably won’t need to leave campus but you will need to know what happens next for classes or work duties. If the campus has been severely damaged you may be asked to leave and stay away until officials can complete recovery operations. But where do you go? In many cases that is home. In some cases, you may need to go to a shelter. UTC-ALERT will provide guidance in those cases.
How will you communicate?
During an emergency, cell phone service may be disrupted. Text messages may be delayed but will eventually get through. If you have access to the web, you can use the Safe Mocs app to access the UT Reconnect site. This allows you to let friends and family know you are safe.
Discuss your plan!
Friends and family want to know you are safe. Talk to them about when, where, and how you plan to react to an emergency. Make sure your family also has the Safe Mocs app or that they can access the UT Reconnect site. And during an emergency, message your friends and family early and often to let them know you are safe.