Make a Plan
In an emergency, your family may not be together, or you may be asked to evacuate your home or workplace. Thinking about what you would do in different situations and preparing a plan with every member of your family is the first step to being prepared.
What your plan should include
A Family Communications Plan
During an emergency, it may be easier to reach someone using text messaging or social media or to make a long-distance call than to call someone locally (due to network damage or a jammed system). Discuss with your family which way(s) you will try to get in touch with each other. Identify one or two out-of-town contacts you and your loved ones can call or text message to connect and share information. Be sure they live far enough away so they will not likely be affected by the same emergency.
- Contact 1:
- Contact 2:
Make sure everyone in your family, as well as your two key contacts, knows how to use text messaging. During emergencies, these messages may often get through even when phone calls may not. Always keep your communications devices fully charged.
Have a work plan
If there was an emergency on campus or in the building you work in, do you carry on your person everything you need in case you cannot get back into your workplace? Do you bring your house/vehicle keys, wallet, prescriptions drugs and other personal items when you leave your office? Have you enhanced your level of U of G Alert notification?
Learn about the emergency evacuation plans in place and what you will need to do. You may want to have some basic supplies at work, such as water and food that won't spoil, in case you need to stay put for a while.
During an evacuation
Discuss with your department what steps you would take if you needed to evacuate during working hours. Arrange to meet somewhere safe where a 'head count' could be done to ensure everyone in your department is safe. If you work in an area where coworkers travel or are not working on campus, consider setting up and "IN/OUT" board so that everyone in your area knows if there are staff members off campus.
Get a Kit
In an emergency at work, you may not be able to take personal belongings or return to your office space later to pick up vital property.
Create a portable "grab 'n go" emergency kit
During an emergency, you may only have seconds to leave your workspace. Consider creating a work kit where you get in the habit of placing your personal belongings (keys, FOBs, wallet, prescription drugs) in a small container or bag where in the event of an emergency this container or bag could be quickly taken with you as you leave your work area.
Know the Risks
Understanding possible risks is just as important as preparing for emergencies or disasters.
What Risks do we face in a University Environment?
Working in a university environment is very dynamic and possess its own set of challenges for emergencies. It is important that you are aware of hazards