The Environmental Health and Safety Office wants to remind everyone of how UNTHSC notifies the campus of emergencies, including dangerous weather, and how you can prepare for severe storms.
NOTIFICATION METHODS:
We use multiple communications to notify the campus community of severe weather, closures, emergency instructions, etc.:
Red Alert — Messages via text, e-mail, phone, and the UNTHSC website. Log in to your myHSC web page, click on the Red Alert graphic, and update your contact information as needed.
Nixle — The City of Fort Worth will send emergency alerts directly to your mobile phone or email when you register for a Nixle account: http://local.nixle.com/register/?cc=fortworth&cid=8
Alert Beacons — In the event of an emergency, UNTHSC staff will activate wall-mounted Alert Beacons in prominent locations throughout the UNTHSC campus to complement the Red Alert system. If you hear or see an Alert Beacon activate before receiving one of the alternative notification methods:
• Locate the closest beacon
• Read the custom message
• Follow the instructions
EVACUATION AND REFUGE:
The Environmental Health and Safety Office provides evacuation and severe weather refuge plans for each building on campus.
Visit this page to help plan your exit or shelter area: https://insite.unthsc.edu/building-evacuation-severe-weather-plans/
Click on the link for the building of interest for a copy of the plan.
Individuals needing assistance during a building evacuation
Individuals who may need assistance to evacuate a UNTHSC building are encouraged to prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan. This plan can address your specific challenges.
At a minimum the plan should include your cell phone number (if applicable) and your plan for exiting the building or getting to an area of refuge. The plan can be shared with occupants in your vicinity and others if you would like, including the UNTHSC Police Department.
The office of Environmental Health and Safety is available to assist you in preparing this Plan. UNTHSC Safety Squad Volunteers can help individuals needing assistance by directing them to areas of refuge (e.g. protected stairwells), and notifying emergency response personnel of the person’s location.
Transporting individuals with disabilities up and down stairs must be avoided.
EHS and UNTHSC Safety Squad Volunteers will collect any pertinent information including individuals that may be in specific areas of refuge.
All people, regardless of their circumstances, need to take some responsibility for their safety in an emergency, which means being able to move away from any and all hazards.
Please follow the Environmental Health and Safety Office on Twitter at @UNTHSC_Safety