Purdue’s ‘Your Campus, Your Safety’ annual security, fire safety report available online; other news

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — To update and continue an effective emergency response and evacuation strategy, Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus recently participated in the 2020 Great Central U.S. Shake Out, simulating an earthquake drill.

Other agencies participating in the Shake Out included the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency), Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium.

This drill was designed to allow the university to test its emergency response, notification, and evacuation process, and provide an after-action review to determine if adjustments are needed.  The drill was announced ahead of time via Purdue Today and a mass email to the campus community. Evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures are highlighted in the Campus Emergency Situations Quick Reference Guide.

Read the specific Building Emergency Plan and the Emergency Procedures Guide to review emergency response and evacuation/shelter procedures. These documents can be found on the Emergency Preparedness website.

For information on Purdue safety measures and procedures, go to the Purdue Emergency Preparedness (EP) Office website.

Students, faculty and staff also are encouraged to sign up for emergency text alerts from Purdue and familiarize themselves with their Building Emergency Plan. All BEPs are located on the Emergency Preparedness Office website. Everyone should take a few minutes and review their individual emergency response plans for possible evacuation and shelter-in-place scenarios. The emergency planning office continues to provide all hazards awareness training. To sign up for a class or access online training, go to the EP Office website. 

To expand the evaluation of the evacuation procedures, Purdue Alert, the university’s Emergency Warning Notification System and primary method of notification in the event of an emergency, was tested in January and September 2020.

The most recent version of Your Campus, Your Safety annual security and Fire Safety report is available online. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for Purdue University.  The policy statements address the university’s policies, procedures and programs regarding safety and security. Three years of statistics are included for certain crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the university and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. This report is available online.

You may also request a paper copy from the Purdue University Police Department. If you have been identified as a campus security authority, visit here for more information and training. 

Source: Jefferson Howells, 765-494-0446, jfhowells@purdue.edu

Journalists visiting campus: Journalists should follow Protect Purdue protocols and the following guidelines:

• Campus is open, but the number of people in spaces may be limited. We will be as accommodating as possible, but you may be asked to step out or report from another location.
• To enable access, particularly to campus buildings, we recommend you contact the Purdue News Service media contact listed on the release to let them know the nature of the visit and where you will be visiting. A News Service representative can facilitate safe access and may escort you on campus.
• Correctly wear face masks inside any campus building, and correctly wear face masks outdoors when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible.