Emergency Preparedness

Making sure you and your families are prepared for disasters and emergencies is critical to the continuation of essential services. The Emergency Management Unit stresses the importance of personal preparedness as an important step to the overall readiness of the University.

Being prepared for the next disaster or emergency can be possible in three simple steps: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

Get a 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. Have a kit with the following items, and remember to store three day’s worth of food and water for every individual in your home:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers

Make a plan

  • Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
  • Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
  • Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

Be informed

  • Monitor local media during a disaster for the latest information
  • Follow UW–Madison Police Department on Facebook and Twitter
  • Sign-up for WiscAlerts to receive emergency information from UW–Madison
  • Sign-up for Dane County Emergency Alerts to receive emergency information from Dane County