The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Students

While the Office of Emergency Management is committed to managing any crises the campus might encounter, we can increase our efficiency as a campus if each individual creates their own personal preparedness plan.

1. A Communication Plan

Talk with your family, roommates and colleagues to create a plan for efficiently alerting each other to your current status in the case of an emergency.  This can be especially important in an evacuation scenario, when it’s important to know whether an individual has safely exited the area.  Be sure to consider two alternative methods of communicating other than the phone, in case phone lines are down.

  • Designate a single family contact outside your area – be sure family, friends and/or roommates know who this contact is and how to reach them.
  • Notify family or friends if you are affected by an emergency so they know where you are – if you can’t reach them, notify your family contact person.
     

2. An Evacuation Plan

Know your immediate surroundings and form an exit strategy.  Be sure to know alternative routes in the case exits are blocked or unsafe.  If you are disabled, visit this link for special instructions on building an evacuation plan.
 

3. Build Your Own Emergency Kit

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

  • Emergency contact and medical information
  • Battery-powered flashlight  and NOAA WX radio
  • Extra batteries
  • First-aid kit, prescription medications and hygiene supplies
  • Whistle
  • Some food with a long shelf-life