The university campus will conduct a test of the UMass Amherst Emergency Alerts on Thursday, Feb. 15 after 11:15 a.m.

The test is part of the university’s continuing effort to test, evaluate and improve its ability to provide timely and effective emergency notifications and warnings during a campus emergency. The test will include the UMass Amherst Emergency Alerts, emergency text messaging, broadcast e-mail and outdoor warning sirens.

Visit www.umass.edu/emergency/ for information on how to sign up for the text messaging system.

New Emergency Preparedness Training 

Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Management is excited to launch a new online Emergency Preparedness Training. This 30-minute online training has been developed for UMass faculty, staff and students to provide guidance and recommendations on how to manage incident that may arise on campus. The goal of the new training is to provide the information, skills, and resources needed to handle emergency situations.

The training focuses on three steps to enhance personal preparedness: 

• Step 1: Be Informed: In order to take action when there is an emergency, you first must be aware the emergency is happening. We share the variety of ways you can receive alerts and notifications regarding emergency situations.
• Step 2: Have a Plan: We discuss a variety of emergency situations and provide guidance to help you make an informed, safe decision.
• Step 3: Build Your Kit: Kits are the tools to minimize risk and respond effectively. We present resources, trainings, supplies, and preventative actions available to you.
  
  

Overview of Campus Emergency Preparedness Resources 

The university has several services and resources available to the campus community for emergencies. Components of both personal and campus preparedness include the following: 

• Emergencies are highly unpredictable, and your response may depend on the exact circumstances and your location on campus. You should familiarize yourself with resources available from the Office of Emergency Management, which guides the campus community to prepare for and react safely in an emergency. 
  • Emergency Procedures are available with guidelines and considerations for various incidents and include a printable document that can be posted in your office, residence hall, or classroom. 
  • Preparedness Resources are available to help individuals develop plans for responding and communicating effectively during an incident before it occurs. 
  • The My UMass App includes an icon focused on emergency preparedness. This easy to access app is for students, faculty and staff and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. 
• The UMass Police Department offers active-threat training on request. This 90-minute program is available to students, staff, and faculty. You can find details at http://www.umass.edu/umpd/active-threat-program. 
• Please take a few minutes to watch the UMass Amherst Active Threat Training Video to familiarize yourself with the guidance for individual decision-making during an active threat emergency.  
• UMass also has a team for helping individuals within the UMass community who may be in distress. The team focuses on early intervention, taking action to help the individual and protect campus safety. The team includes representatives from areas across campus, and are trained in early recognition, assessment, and mitigation coordination.
  • The Maroon Folder is a guide for faculty and staff to help recognize, respond to, refer, and report any student who appears to be in crisis. The folder also lists state, federal, and university policies that guide campus events and behaviors. Find it and other related resources at https://www.umass.edu/umatter/downloadable-tools.  
  • If you are concerned about a student, please complete the Student Support Request/Referral form. 
  • In case of urgent or life-threatening concerns, call 911 or the UMass Police Department emergency line at 413-545-3111. 
• UMass cares about the success and well-being of our community and has many campus resources to support students, faculty, and staff. The following resources are available to help you work through challenging situations and thrive at UMass: 
  • Students: https://www.umass.edu/studentlife/single-stop
  • Faculty & Staff: https://www.umass.edu/humres/ecco

Reminder: UMass Emergency Alerts (text messages and e-mails) are designed to work in tandem with the outdoor warning sirens. When a siren sounds, please check your phone for a text message update on the emergency. 

For more information, contact Jeffrey Hescock, executive director of Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Management, at [email protected].