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 refuges areas:
- MOORE BUILDING
- Practice Room hallways, along west wall
- STEARNS
- Lower floor; Resource room area and in hallway outside of Development Staff offices
- REVELLI
- Percussion/Flag Room in the middle of the building
- BURTON MEMORIAL TOWER
- Basement and stairwell leading to the basement
- STAMPS/WALGREEN
- Basement
- DANCE BUILDING
- Basement; Stay in corridor and shut doors to the conference room and GSI offices
- MOORE BUILDING
Active Shooter
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 safety.
- Call 911 if you can do so without being overheard by shooter.
- Run, if it is possible without encountering shooter.
- Evacuate via safe route to escape threat.
- Encourage others to leave without slowing down escape.
- Prevent others from walking into danger zone.
- Hide, if not safe to run.
- Seek a safe location where one cannot be seen or heard.
- Secure area by locking or barricading door.
- Turn off lights.
- Silence phones and electronic devices.
- Remain quiet and still.
- Fight, as a last resort. If running or hiding isn’t an option and the shooter must be confronted, fight back.
- Use element of surprise, if possible. For example, if shooter enters through an unlocked door, hide behind door with heavy object, then strike fast and decisively, and repeat until shooter is incapacitated.
- Distract, disorient, or disarm the shooter.
- Fight as a team if there are others around. Gang up on shooter and attack until he is incapacitated.
- Use improvised weapons such as fire extinguisher, laptop computer, tools (hammer, screwdriver), heavy coffee mug, chair or small table, heavy desk phone, metal trash can with sharp edges. Do not worry about damaging equipment or furniture. Choose items that can injure and incapacitate from the first blow, if possible. The goal is to incapacitate the shooter which requires injuring him. Be aggressive and decisive and do not worry about the level of harm you inflict on shooter.
- Fight to incapacitate shooter. Fight to survive.
- To request active shooter response training presentation, please contact the Division of Public Safety and Security Community Outreach.
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