Purdue uses National Preparedness Month to encourage planning for the unexpected

September 19, 2008

Purdue uses National Preparedness Month to encourage planning for the unexpected

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fifth annual National Emergency Preparedness Month, Purdue is encouraging the university community to think about and prepare for emergencies.

Ron Wright, Purdue's emergency preparedness director, said individuals on campus should take time each semester to think about how to react to an unexpected emergency. He also recommends that people complete four tasks this month. Those are:

* Review the Emergency Procedures Handbook, available online at https://www.purdue.edu/fire/safety_handbook.pdf , that provides how-to-respond information;

* Review their building emergency plan to learn evacuation routes and shelter-in-place locations;

* Review Purdue Alert, the university's emergency warning notification system, available online at https://www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparednes;

* Sign up to receive emergency text messages. So far, more than 17,600 students, faculty and staff have signed up to receive emergency text messages. To sign up, go to https://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue, click on "Change My Emergency Contact Number" and enter your account name and password to enter information.

Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Source: Ron Wright, (765) 494-0446, rdwright@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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