Planning for emergencies is important for ensuring the readiness and resilience of our campus in the face of unexpected events. Whether it’s natural disasters, accidents, or other unforeseen crises, having a well thought out emergency plan mitigates risk, minimizes damage, and saves lives. Emergency planning is important at all levels, from the individual student to campus-wide, to prepare for each person and campus department’s unique needs. Investing time and effort in emergency preparedness not only enhances safety but also fosters peace of mind, knowing that there are measures in place to address unexpected challenges.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
– Benjamin Franklin
UW Emergency Management facilitates the creation and upkeep of the campus Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), campus department continuity of operations plans (COOP), and occupant emergency plans (OEP) for campus buildings. To learn more about how to keep yourself prepared for emergencies on campus or about planning at the university level, check out the resources below.
Emergency Preparedness for Individuals
You play an integral role in preparing yourself for emergencies here at UW-Madison. Click below to find information and resources on individual emergency planning and preparedness.
UW-Madison Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
UW–Madison is vulnerable to many different types of threats. From natural disasters to human-made accidents, our campus must be ready to respond to anything. The EOP is an all-hazards plan for responding to and recovering from disasters and emergencies and provides the needed framework to ensure a safe and secure environment for all members of the University community.
The EOP contains sensitive information making it unavailable for public distribution. If you wish to review the EOP, email the Emergency Management Unit to set up a time to review the plan with a staff member.
UW-Madison Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)
UW–Madison strives to be a reliable public institution. To ensure the fundamental mission of the university is always protected, COOPs are designed to plan for the continuation of essential services during a disaster or emergency. Should an incident severely affect a UW-Madison department, that department will activate its COOP. The COOP will ensure the essential functions of the department continue as the incident is resolved. COOPs are updated and revised annually to meet the current threats and vulnerabilities.
COOP Template Downloads:
UW-Madison Occupant Emergency Plans (OEP)
Each building at UW–Madison is required to have a completed Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP). The OEP is an all-hazards plan designed around a building’s unique layout and function. The primary purpose of the OEP is to provide guidance to building occupants in the event of an emergency, such as a tornado, active threat, gas leak, or bomb threat.
Every building that has a completed and approved OEP is required to hold at least one emergency drill per year. These drills will test the building occupants with a scenario they may face in real life. Note that the yearly OEP drill is in addition to the required yearly tornado and fire drills.
If you are unsure if your building has an OEP, please contact your facility manager. If you are a facility manager and need assistance with your OEP, please contact the Emergency Management Unit at em@uwpd.wisc.edu.
OEP Template Downloads: