Planning a campus event? An emergency preparedness checklist is available for event planners

Emergency Preparedness and Planning is encouraging departments, student groups and others to utilize an emergency planning checklist to prepare for special events. 

The Special Event Emergency Preparedness and Planning Checklist is available under the “Resources” tab on the Emergency Preparedness and Planning website. The checklist serves as a guide for student, staff and faculty event organizers to follow when planning on-campus events. It offers guidance on several topics that should be considered, including security, weather and fire safety.

“My office has had event organizers ask what they should do or where to begin when planning a campus event,” said Jefferson Howells, director of Emergency Preparedness and Planning. “The goal of this checklist is to serve as one central resource for all their planning needs.”

The checklist includes information for various departments and groups that should be contacted during the planning process. It also includes links to track weather forecasts, a link for a food service application, a link to apply to use a drone, as well as several other resources. Howells says the checklist continues to grow.

“Purdue has been fortunate to host several different kinds of events on campus throughout the years,” Howells said. “The list has been modified over time as the university gains experience with the various events. The list not only helps meet the needs of event organizers, but also provides resources to conduct safe and reliable operations.”

Howells said his office does not need to approve the checklist for each event, but he encourages event organizers to fill it out and consider it a valuable tool.

Emergency Preparedness and Planning is part of the Administrative Operations organization. The organization supports the university by providing safe, reliable and transformative services. Providing proactive planning resources to support safety during campus events is just one of the ways the organization helps power Purdue.

More resources are available on the Emergency Preparedness and Planning website. Questions about event planning may be directed to Howells at jfhowells@purdue.edu.