At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the safety and preparedness of our campus community is a shared responsibility. September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide initiative designed to promote awareness and encourage action before disasters strike.
Why Preparedness Matters
Emergencies can happen with little warning. Severe weather, power outages, medical incidents, or other disruptions can affect instruction, operations, and campus life in an instant. Whether you’re teaching in a lecture hall, managing a department, supporting student services, or conducting research in a lab, preparedness ensures you are ready to respond quickly and effectively.
Preparedness means more than just reacting in the moment, it’s about planning ahead, knowing what to do, and being able to support one another before, during, and after an emergency.
How You Can Be Prepared
During National Preparedness Month, IUP encourages all students, faculty, and staff to:
Stay Informed
Sign up for IUP Emergency Notifications through Everbridge to receive alerts about campus emergencies and safety updates.
Know Your Surroundings
Review evacuation routes, shelter areas, and building safety features in the spaces where you live, work, or study.
Build a Kit
Keep basic supplies (flashlight, batteries, water, medications, and important documents) in your residence hall, office, or lab for unexpected disruptions.
Make a Plan
Talk with family, roommates, or colleagues about how you will communicate and where you will meet if an emergency occurs.
Engage in Training
Take advantage of campus training opportunities such as Stop the Bleed, CPR/AED, and emergency response awareness sessions. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming training day opportunity.
Preparedness is an Ongoing Effort
Preparedness is not a one-time task, it’s a continuous process. By taking small steps now, we can reduce risks, respond more effectively, and recover more quickly when challenges arise.
Together, we can create a safer, more resilient IUP community.