蘑菇视频

When you鈥檙e walking across campus, you鈥檙e probably not pausing to check your email. But right now, email is the only way most 蘑菇视频 students receive time-sensitive information about emergencies happening on and near 蘑菇视频鈥檚 campuses.

To make it easier for students to receive 蘑菇视频 Alerts via text, at the end of January 蘑菇视频 will start adding the phone number from your 蘑菇视频 student profile to the 蘑菇视频 Alert system. If the number is for a cell phone, 蘑菇视频 will send you 蘑菇视频 Alerts via text. The messages are only for emergencies or major issues affecting the campus, such as snow, ice or power outages.

蘑菇视频 is the latest university to move from opt-in alerts to an opt-out emergency text message system for students. Universities that have experienced major incidents often switch to automatic enrollment for alert messages. 蘑菇视频 is moving proactively to get 蘑菇视频 Alerts to more students more quickly.

Division of Campus Community Safety staff have been prepping for several months with colleagues in 蘑菇视频IT to make this shift. When we reviewed the goals of the shift this past fall with Seattle campus student leaders and the more than 200 students and parents we met at the Division of Campus Community Safety info table during Parent & Family Weekend in Seattle, many were surprised that students weren鈥檛 already automatically enrolled in 蘑菇视频 Alert text messages.

Many faculty and staff members were also surprised to learn that only 17 percent of 蘑菇视频 employees have signed up for 蘑菇视频 Alert text messages. This first phase of the shift from opt-in to opt-out does not include employee information, but that will come later this year.

Even after 蘑菇视频 uploads student phone numbers to 蘑菇视频 Alert, it will be important for students to check their 蘑菇视频 Alert account to ensure that the cell phone number listed is correct and that you鈥檙e receiving messages for the right campus. Students, faculty and staff can also add or change their cell phone in their 蘑菇视频 Alert accounts themselves at any time. In an emergency, seconds matter. You need to know what鈥檚 happening quickly and how you can protect yourself.

If you don鈥檛 want to receive 蘑菇视频 Alerts via text, you can reply STOP to any 蘑菇视频 Alert text message (except for students living on campus in Seattle, who must contact Housing & Food Services for account changes).

Learn more about the 蘑菇视频 Alert update, get answers to your 蘑菇视频 Alert questions and add up to three cell phone numbers and five email addresses to your 蘑菇视频 Alert account at the 蘑菇视频 Alert webpage.

Although the , it鈥檚 still smart to be prepared for cold weather. Typically, 蘑菇视频 campuses see snow and ice in December and January and a bit into February. Here are a few things to know in advance.

It鈥檚 snowing! How can I find out if classes or in-person work are affected?

You see some flakes outside. Are your classes canceled? Do you have to go to work in person?

If 蘑菇视频, 蘑菇视频 Bothell or 蘑菇视频 Tacoma decide to change operations due to the weather, we鈥檒l share the news via email with a 蘑菇视频 Advisory message to students and employees from the affected campus. For those who鈥檝e signed up, we鈥檒l also send you a 蘑菇视频 Alert text message (pro tip: sign up now). Info will be posted on the website (check the website for your campus) and social media. Employees who work in Seattle can also call the 蘑菇视频 Information Lines at 206-蘑菇视频S-INFO (206-897-4636) or toll-free 1-866-897-4636. If there鈥檚 no message, your campus is operating on a regular schedule.

A change in operations could include canceling classes, closing offices or switching to virtual operations (which means no in-person classes or services; remote learning and work if possible). For students, check with your instructors about whether you鈥檒l have class online.

During suspended or virtual operations, employees who aren鈥檛 essential staff (ask your supervisor if you鈥檙e unsure), are encouraged to work remotely. Those who can鈥檛 should follow the .

How does 蘑菇视频 make the decision to start late, dismiss early or suspend operations?

蘑菇视频 has a Weather Status Assessment group, which includes representatives from operational and academic units across the three campuses. 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management feeds weather updates to that group and convenes the group if it looks like the weather might impact mobility and operations.

蘑菇视频 in Seattle, 蘑菇视频 Bothell and 蘑菇视频 Tacoma consider current weather conditions and reliable forecasts, whether public transit is operating, current and predicted road conditions, K-12 school operations and whether 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Facilities crews have the tools and people to keep pathways and roadways on campuses safe. A team from each campus makes recommendations for hybrid, virtual or suspended operations to the President and Chancellors.

In the event of snow, ice, high winds or other dangerous conditions, a decision will usually be made no later than 5 a.m. about any change in operations.

• 蘑菇视频 in Seattle – Winter Storms

Getting to campus

If it鈥檚 snowy out, be prepared for changes to your commute. If you ride the bus, check , or for updates and snow routes.

, but some emergencies, such as mudslides, can cancel service.

If you鈥檙e driving, especially if you鈥檙e planning a longer trip over a mountain pass, the and suggestions about what to carry in your car.

What if I can鈥檛 make it to campus?

Conditions may be different at your home than they are on campus. If it鈥檚 not safe for you to get to campus, students should contact instructors as soon as possible.

Employees should contact their supervisor if they鈥檙e unable to come to work. .

If heavy and extended snow is in the forecast, units should check their department鈥檚 business interruption and continuity plan and talk with supervisors. 蘑菇视频’s Center for Teaching & Learning also has excellent recommendations for .

More info

Check out the 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management winter storm guide for 蘑菇视频 and local info. (layers matter).

Stay safe out there, Huskies!

Life in the Pacific Northwest comes with two certainties: you鈥檙e going to need a good raincoat, and it鈥檚 only a matter of time before the next earthquake. Maybe even a .

Earthquakes, like the , occur nearly every day in Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Most are too small to be felt. Large earthquakes are less common, but can cause significant damage. Many at 蘑菇视频 remember experiencing the 6.8 magnitude 2001 Nisqually earthquake that caused at least $1 billion in property damage around the region.

We want you to know what to do when the ground starts shaking () and practice. At 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19, 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management will participate in the . We hope you鈥檒l join us. Watch for a 蘑菇视频 Alert test message, and, if you can, practice how you’d respond.

Check out the Great ShakeOut for info about what to do if an earthquake happens while you鈥檙e in bed, when you鈥檙e driving, while you鈥檙e in a stadium or you have a sturdy table to crawl under. The Seattle Times also has a helpful .

The preparedness motto is: . Make sure you know what you would do if there was an earthquake, and what your family, friends, loved ones and housemates would do if there was an emergency.

We also encourage you to download the . The app uses the ShakeAlert automated system run by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with the 蘑菇视频 and universities in Oregon and California. That system uses ground motion sensors to detect earthquakes and send a notification.

If you鈥檙e new to the area or need something to keep you awake at night, 鈥� a large-scale earthquake that will strike along the Cascadia Subduction Zone 鈥� on 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Department of Earth and Space Sciences podcast, FieldSound.

Professor Tobin is the Director of the , and the designated Washington state seismologist, studying tectonic plate boundaries, how faults work and the conditions that lead to earthquakes.

蘑菇视频 researchers are conducting crucial research into earthquake hazards, including as the lead partner on a new multi-institution earthquake research center based at the University of Oregon. The National Science Foundation announced Sept. 8 that the center will receive $15 million over five years to study the Cascadia subduction zone and bolster earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Seismologists estimate that there鈥檚 about a one-in-three chance of an approximately magnitude-9 earthquake occurring on the Pacific Northwest coast in the next 50 years. Better understanding earthquakes and preparing for them now is as important as remembering to pack your rain gear.

All 蘑菇视频 staff, faculty and students are encouraged to share concerns related to sex- and gender-based violence, harassment and discrimination through the new online Title IX reporting form. Starting this quarter, reports or consultations that previously would have been directed to SafeCampus will instead be directed to the Office of the Title IX Coordinator.

Individuals who are seeking support and options for themselves or others, or who want to make the University aware of a Title IX-related concern, should use the form. Title IX case managers can offer support, explain formal and informal options, and help identify the best way to address the concern. When submitting a report, most employees can choose to remain anonymous and/or not share others鈥� names to protect an individual鈥檚 identity.

Learn more on the Title IX website.

As more than 100,000 蘑菇视频 students and employees prepare for the start of the academic year in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell, we know our greatest strength is the self-confidence and community bonds people build over the course of the year.

Huskies watch out for each other. We do that by asking for help when we鈥檙e worried about a roommate or a colleague. We make sure our friends get home safely at the end of the night. And we know when to call 911 for a medical, fire or law enforcement assistance.

Whether you鈥檙e new to the 蘑菇视频 and still finding your community or have proudly worn the purple and gold for years, the Division of Campus Community Safety and safety offices on each of our campuses have resources to help you:

• 蘑菇视频 in Seattle safety resources

Please help us build safer communities by sharing these resources. You can take a few key steps now so you鈥檙e better prepared for the year ahead:

1. Sign up for 蘑菇视频 Alert text messages

蘑菇视频 Alerts are issued in the event of an incident requiring your awareness and an action 鈥� to remain in place, leave an area of campus or avoid an area. You probably already receive 蘑菇视频 Alerts via email, but please check your account if you鈥檙e not sure you鈥檙e receiving alerts via text message.

Only 8% of 蘑菇视频 students and 17% of 蘑菇视频 employees have added their cell phone number to 蘑菇视频 Alert to get a text message during an emergency. Let鈥檚 drive that number up. Get the 蘑菇视频 Alerts sent directly to your phone by signing up now.

2. Add contact information for SafeCampus to your phone: 206-685-7233

In urgent or dangerous situations, you know to call 911. But what if someone shares they鈥檙e struggling with their own safety or you notice behaviors that are making you or others feel uncomfortable? SafeCampus is here to offer support and guidance. You can contact SafeCampus 鈥� no matter where you work or study 鈥� to discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. Anonymous calls are welcome.

3. Know your space

Check the exits and the evacuation routes from your classrooms, labs, offices, residence hall rooms and study spaces. Doing this now means you鈥檒l be ready to respond quickly if there鈥檚 an emergency.

For more safety tips, follow Campus Community Safety on or . We鈥檒l have more information in our next blog post about how to prepare for emergencies.

蘑菇视频鈥檚 Division of Campus Community Safety, which includes SafeCampus, the and 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management, is excited to welcome Kelley Biastock as the new Director of 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management.

Kelley is responsible for working with the greater University communities to plan and prepare for crises, disasters and major emergency incidents, particularly those that affect the Seattle campus, while supporting emergency preparedness and response work at 蘑菇视频 Bothell and 蘑菇视频 Tacoma, as well as other university locations. She joins Barry Morgan, 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Plans, Training & Exercises Manager, who has been filling the director role on an interim basis. Huge thanks to Barry for his hard work over the past nine months.

Together with internal and external partners, 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management offers planning and training support to schools and units; identifies threats and hazards; develops mitigation and solutions to threats and hazards; supports effective response efforts and promotes prevention actions 鈥� all with the goal of shortening the impact and length of time involved in recovery efforts.

Kelley has more than 15 years of emergency management experience and comes to 蘑菇视频 from Anchorage, Alaska. Most recently, she supported the CDC Foundation on the Therapeutics Task Force, working with the State of Alaska Department of Health in ensuring equitable distribution of COVID-19 therapeutics across the vast geography. Prior to that, she served as the Emergency Preparedness Manager for the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health. In this role, Kelley managed the public health and emergency preparedness program as well as helped lead the city鈥檚 response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Most notably, Kelley worked for the American Red Cross of Alaska. She managed the statewide disaster program as the Regional Disaster Officer. Her many years of contribution in the public and non-profit sectors along with the emergency management expertise and ability to partner well with multiple agencies will serve 蘑菇视频 well.

In her spare time, Kelley loves to travel, read and be in the great outdoors hiking, gardening and taking strolls with her husband and their dog, Potter. She is the proud mama to a creative and loving 16-year-old, and a strong willed and compassionate 3-year-old. Kelley and her family look forward to continuing to have new adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

With commencement season comes the end of the first academic year of the 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Division of Campus Community Safety. This means it鈥檚 time to reflect on what we learned this past year and where the lessons point us for the summer and coming year.

As a reminder, the Division of Campus Community Safety was established in fall of 2022 to better address the 蘑菇视频鈥檚 complex safety challenges across geographies and demographics, day and night, through three key units – SafeCampus, 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management and 蘑菇视频 Police (Seattle campus).

We work closely with other divisions like Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities and Student Life, and allies like the and . The work is in service of reimagining what safety can mean for all of the 蘑菇视频 community and is guided by the goals of accountability, transparency, innovation and equity.

I鈥檇 be remiss if I didn鈥檛 lead by recalling we started this school year in a way no one envisioned 鈥� with four students being hit by gunfire near the 蘑菇视频 Seattle campus. This tragedy focused our work immediately on communicating with students, parents and campus colleagues, and working with neighborhood and government partners to change the conditions that led to the violence. That work continues.

From October onward the year has provided opportunities for learning around every corner 鈥� identifying gaps in existing services and protocols, but, also, developing impactful collaborations and making new discoveries. Skilled and compassionate people have stepped up at every opportunity.

The dominant messages from 蘑菇视频 students, faculty and staff this year have been threefold 鈥� that personal safety is a greater concern than it has been in the past; that mental health challenges post-COVID isolation are very present; and that training in emergency response, particularly de-escalation, is desired across all 蘑菇视频 populations.

The current urban environment has a lot to do with the first and second messages. The 蘑菇视频 Seattle campus and U District are experiencing issues common to most west coast cities 鈥� threats, theft, assaults and property damage are up. Gun violence, homelessness, addiction 鈥� especially to fentanyl and meth 鈥� and untreated mental illness pose ongoing challenges to individuals and families community-wide.

In Campus Community Safety, we鈥檙e working to reset and in some cases create foundational policies, information, templates and trainings, while providing day-to-day responses to behaviors of concern, threats and, unfortunately, crimes. We do that thanks to the incredible work of staff in SafeCampus, 蘑菇视频 Emergency Management and 蘑菇视频PD, plus partners in safety at 蘑菇视频 Tacoma, 蘑菇视频 Bothell and in 蘑菇视频 Medicine.

Here are a few learning points from the past 10 months.

Building intruders and visitors in crisis

Unfortunately, the Seattle campus has seen a sharp increase in calls regarding people smoking fentanyl in places like the Central Plaza Garage stairwells; people breaking into labs in buildings like Hitchcock and Chemistry; and actively unwell visitors entering classrooms and offices in buildings like Electrical Engineering, PACCAR, Communications and Guggenheim.

蘑菇视频PD officers respond to these calls and activate responders, as available, from REACH, the group doing outreach and service engagement with homeless individuals in the U District, and from the Downtown Emergency Services mobile crisis intervention team.

The ongoing issues with people setting up overnight to smoke fentanyl and other drugs, and damage doors and elevators, prompted 蘑菇视频 in March to establish a working group on safety issues in buildings and in April to increase the number of unarmed security guards working at night. The guards are assigned to the Central Plaza Garage (and stairways) and check other buildings as determined by calls to 蘑菇视频PD.

Concerns about safety also prompted 蘑菇视频 to pay for additional unarmed security on Friday and Saturday nights October to June in the heart of The Ave鈥檚 nighttime activity.

In April, sorority and fraternity leadership conducted a North of 45th safety walk with representatives from Seattle Police, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle Department of Transportation to highlight lighting, sidewalk and abandoned buildings challenges.

Calls for concern and safety planning rise this year

SafeCampus, 蘑菇视频鈥檚 hub for violence prevention, threat assessment and response, wellbeing concerns and safety planning, responded to 1,268 situations in calendar year 2022. This represents a 25% increase in calls from 2021.

Mental health concerns increase

In 2022, 25% of the situations SafeCampus engaged with related to some type of mental health concern for the caller or someone they study, work, live with or otherwise care about. An additional 7% were related to suicide concerns. And 32% of calls were related to sex- and gender-based harassment, stalking, violence and/or discrimination.

Providing training and safety planning

To help mitigate threats of violence or harm, SafeCampus leads Violence Prevention and Assessment Team Meetings with partners from around the University to think creatively about solutions, de-escalation and safety planning. In 2022, SafeCampus led 36 safety planning meetings.

SafeCampus also offered the Violence Prevention and Response training to 919 people; the Building Healthy Workplaces training to over 850 people; and tailored trainings to 21 departments in 2022.

If you are worried about someone or to request training for your area, please reach out to SafeCampus at safecampus@uw.edu.

Re-energizing emergency preparedness at 蘑菇视频

In November 蘑菇视频 launched the new Preparedness Oversight Committee, a critical early step in resetting and reenergizing 蘑菇视频鈥檚 post-COVID approach to emergency preparedness and response.

BARC is back

This year marks the return of 蘑菇视频鈥檚 BARC (Business, Administration, and Research Continuity) program. BARC 鈥� planning for a breakdown or crisis that interrupts regular business operations 鈥� was active 2007 through 2018. This year, Jim Tritten was hired as the new BARC program manager for the program鈥檚 reboot. Over the next year, 蘑菇视频 Bothell, 蘑菇视频 Tacoma and key 蘑菇视频 Seattle departments will be asked to participate in BARC planning as we get this critical function off the ground. If you鈥檙e interested in learning more or have BARC questions, contact Jim at jtritten@uw.edu.

蘑菇视频 leaders practice emergency management skills

In May 蘑菇视频EM hosted more than 50 leaders from the 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell campuses, and Cascadia College, to get re-grounded in the basics of emergency response and to practice working together during a simulated disaster. The training kicks off a re-commitment to regular emergency response exercises for groups all through the 蘑菇视频 system.

Work for the summer and coming year

As we go into summer and prepare for a new school year to start in the fall, we have key priorities to work on with partners, including:

• Developing foundational emergency and security policies.
• Finalizing a contract with REACH for a homeless outreach worker assigned to the Seattle campus.
• Ramping up trainings in de-escalation and active threat response.
• Standing up an advisory committee on campus community safety.
• Developing a plan for naloxone availability on campuses.
• Converting the 蘑菇视频 Alert to an 鈥渙pt out鈥� for text messages.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the students, faculty and staff who engaged with me and others from Campus Community Safety as we worked to solve problems together this year. Across 蘑菇视频 you鈥檝e been curious and thoughtful, kind and insistent when called for. Several of you have operated under very difficult circumstances amid competing demands. Thank you for your service. May you have a great summer.

Sincerely,
Sally Clark
Vice President
Division of Campus Community Safety

In the past few months, students, faculty and staff have reported concerns about personal safety on the Seattle campus at night. These issues center heavily on the Central Plaza Garage (CPG), but also include other parking areas and buildings.

Unfortunately, like in other parts of Seattle, these reports describe encountering people displaying disruptive 鈥� sometimes threatening 鈥� behavior. Students and employees report coming across drug-use paraphernalia and human waste, and report stolen property (including cars), property damage, fires and offensive graffiti.

As a result of the increase in safety issues, we have increased cleanup frequency in the Odegaard and Kane stairwells and elevators connected to the CPG so that the areas are usable for students, staff and faculty. 蘑菇视频 Building Services, the 蘑菇视频 Police Department, Environmental Health & Safety and Transportation Services are meeting regularly to collaborate on additional strategies to ensure safety for all in the CPG primarily, and also in other campus spaces.

In an effort to prevent these drug use, waste and damage issues from occurring in the first place, 蘑菇视频 is immediately increasing the number of unarmed security guards working on the Seattle campus overnight. These guards will be from a private company at first while 蘑菇视频 works to staff up internally, and they will be assigned to the CPG and check other buildings as determined by 蘑菇视频PD. The guards will have radios for direct communication with 蘑菇视频PD dispatchers and officers for situations that require a law enforcement response.

These additional security guards are necessary to meet the immediate need for assistance at night. For the CPG, additional security upgrades are slated to start later this summer, including roll-up style gates at the garage entrances, keycard access doors on the pedestrian entrances to the garage, security cameras and Wi-Fi. That work is slated to be complete in summer 2024.

It鈥檚 important to note that 蘑菇视频 and almost every other entity with public spaces in cities across much of the United States are wrestling with how to ensure safety and address the root causes of the issues causing fear and concern 鈥� humanity-wrecking addiction; a lack of mental health supports; deep trauma; homelessness; and more.

蘑菇视频 continues to help fund a outreach worker in the U District who builds relationships with people experiencing homelessness and connects them to the help they need – everything from food and clothing to medical care, shelter and mental health and/or substance use treatment. 蘑菇视频PD officers and security guards will keep sharing information about safe places to sleep for those who need support.

Through this combination of short- and long-term efforts 鈥� along with continuing work on addressing the root causes of the significant issues facing our society 鈥� we aim to provide a safer environment for our students, faculty and staff, as well as all members of our surrounding community.