Emergency Preparedness

Below are the University’s guidelines relative to emergency preparedness. Students should review and become familiar with specific emergency preparedness and response practices and procedures within their unit. See also: University Emergency Policies and Procedures.

Fire Safety

Top priority is a student’s own safety. Students should take action to secure one’s own safety before considering assisting others. Any decision to assist others is the student’s alone, and is never required. Students should not obstruct others as they evacuate the building.

  • If smoke is seen or smelled, activate fire alarms, evacuate building, and call 911 from a safe location.
  • Become familiar with location of fire alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, stairways and emergency exits in your building. Always identify two means of safe egress.
  • If the building’s fire alarm sounds, immediately evacuate via the nearest exit, encouraging others to evacuate as well.
  • Fire alarm activations require “full” evacuation of all affected buildings.
  • Evacuate through the nearest available exit. In the event of an emergency, fire and police vehicles and personnel will need full access to entrances; please move to an area of refuge away from entrances.
  • Use stairs, not elevators.
  • If it is possible to do so safely, assist those with disabilities or special needs.
  • Stay clear of building exits and fire lanes.
  • Re-enter only when directed by authorities

Tornado/High Winds

Top priority is a student’s own safety. Students should take action to secure one’s own safety before considering assisting others. Any decision to assist others is the student’s alone, and is never required. Students should not obstruct others as they seek shelter.

  • Fire alarms should NOT be activated. People should not evacuate the building.
  • All doors should remain closed, including those in the main corridor.
  • All should move to the lowest interior space of the building (hallway, basement, restroom).
  • Stay away from windows and glass or objects that could become projectiles.
  • Crouch near floor or under heavy, well-supported objects such as desks. The back of the head should also be covered.
  • Monitor local media outlets for updates and all-clears.
  • Note the following severe weather locations.

Severe Weather Locations

Moore Building:

  • Practice Room Wing, Interior Hallways
  • BAM (Room 60)
  • PPLP Rooms (Rooms 61, 360, 363)
  • Britton (Room 1340)
  • McIntosh (Room 1360)

Dance Building:

  • Interior Hallways
  • Student and Faculty Lockers Rooms

Walgreen/Stamps Auditorium:

  • Basement Level Rooms and Hallways
  • Inside Stamps Auditorium

Stearns Building:

  • Lower Floor Interior Rooms and Hallways

Burton Memorial Tower:

  • Basement and Stairwell Leading to Basement

Revelli Hall:

  • Equipment Room
  • Percussion/Flag Room
  • Rehearsal Hall

Active Shooter

Top priority is safety. A person should take action to secure one’s own safety before considering assisting others. Any decision to assist others is the individual’s alone, and is never required. A person should not obstruct others as they seek safety. See DPSS Active Attacker for more information.

Medical Emergencies

  • Call 911.
  • If trained, administer first aid/CPR.
  • Keep others clear of area where emergency has occurred.
  • Meet the first responders and direct them to incident location.
  • Leave immediate area to avoid disrupting emergency team.

Register for U-M Emergency Alerts

Emergency alerts can be delivered via text message, voice message, email, U-M digital displays, U-M or DPSS homepage, Michigan App, DPSS App, or Twitter

U-M students, faculty, and staff may sign up for voice and text EAlerts on Wolverine Access.

U-M Emergency Alert usually won’t be used for localized incidents within a building such as a small fire. This system is reserved for campus-wide emergencies, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Active violent incident, such as active shooter
  • Tornado warning for Washtenaw County
  • Severe thunderstorm with wind greater than 75 miles per hour
  • Major spill of hazardous materials

For more information about U-M Emergency Alerts, please read the frequently asked questions.

For more information on these and other emergency preparedness related topics, please visit the following websites and become familiar with the important roles and responsibilities during an emergency:
U-M Division of Public Safety and Security
U-M Occupational Safety and Environmental Health