What to Do in an Emergency

If an armed intruder alert has been issued, use the following steps to protect yourself:

• Get Out - leave your belongings behind, have an escape route and plan in mind, and keep your hands visible to law enforcement.
• Hide Out - hide out of sight from the assailant and block entry and sight into your hiding place.
• Take Out - As a last resort, attempt to incapacitate the assailant by acting with physical aggression or throwing items.
• Call 911 only when it is safe for you to do so.

For more information on armed intruder/active shooter preparedness, please visit the emergency preparedness armed intruder page.

If a Tornado Warning has been issued:

• This means a tornado is predicted to imminently impact the area.
• Seek shelter on the lowest building level, in interior rooms, or in hallways with interior walls. Avoid windows and doors.
• Stairwells, bathrooms, and closets may be good locations in which to shelter.
• Stay inside until the danger has passed and the "all clear" has been issued by police or university officials.

If a Tornado Watch has been issued, this means conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur, but one has not been sighted or indicated on radar. Visit the emergency preparedness tornado page for instructions. The emergency preparedness site also has additional information on how to choose a tornado shelter.

If the severe weather and emergency conditions policy is activated due to winter weather:

• Do not report to work if you are in a "delayed service" position. Only staff in "essential service" positions should report or remain at work.
• Use caution when traveling on or around campus. Use priority roads and sidewalks for your commute and avoid unnecessary trips.
• Avoid going outdoors and ensure that you are properly clothed for the cold and wet if you do need to venture outside.
• Monitor the DukeALERT site for updates or call the severe weather hotline (919-684-INFO).
• Use caution while traveling around campus as surfaces may be icy or slick. Sloped surfaces, stairs, ramps, and paths not identified as the preferred route of travel should be avoided.
• Use walkways, roads and parking lots designated for priority clearing on campus.

For more information on winter weather preparedness, including priority road and sidewalk maps, please visit the emergency preparedness winter weather page.

If there is currently a hurricane impacting Duke’s campus:

• Do not report to work or remain at work if you are in a "delayed service" position and the severe weather and emergency conditions policy has been activated Only "essential service" staff should report or remain at work.
• Stay inside whenever possible.
• Avoid contact with floodwater, as it may pose a health hazard. Do not drive through significant floodwaters.
• If your building experiences a loss of power, use flashlights (not candles).

For more information on hurricane preparedness, please visit the emergency preparedness hurricane page for instructions.

If you receive a bomb threat by telephone:

• Remain calm and listen carefully to the caller. Try to gather as much information as possible while having someone call 911.
• Write down as much information as possible, including the phone number of the caller.
• Do not hang up the phone, even if the caller does.
• If the threat could be carried out-although it may not appear entirely realistic-alert others nearby and call 911 from a safe location.

If you receive a bomb threat by email or physical mail:

• Do not reply or forward an email; avoid touching the physical mail.
• Take a picture of the threat (or print if an email) and write down any information you can remember, such as the date and time it was received and any surrounding circumstances.
• If the threat could be carried out-although it may not appear entirely realistic-alert others nearby and call 911 from a safe location.

If you are ordered to evacuate a building:

• Take essential personal items (phone, keys, wallet, etc.), but leave all non-essential belongings behind.
• Leave the building immediately and proceed a safe distance away.
• Help those who need assistance and individuals with disabilities if possible.
• Convene at the designated Emergency Assembly Points.
• Attempt to account for everyone who was in the building.

If an extreme heat alert is issued, take the following steps to protect yourself:

• Limit exposure to outdoor activities and events.
• Ensure you are properly hydrating and taking time to recover and cool down if outdoor activity is unavoidable.
• Avoid drinking caffeine and other dehydrating beverages.
• Keep track of outdoor temperatures and personal comfort levels to know what temperatures feel too hot.
• If outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible.
• Call 911 if you begin to develop symptoms of significant dehydration.
• In the event that demand for cooling via Duke's chilled water system begins to exceed capacity, Duke may have to take groups of buildings off the system for a limited amount of time, leading to a loss of cooling.
• Relocate to buildings with working air conditioning if necessary.

For more information on extreme heat preparedness, please visit the emergency preparedness extreme heat page.

If you find a fire:

• Remove persons in immediate danger. Do not use elevators
• Activate alarms by pulling a fire station, activating Code Red (DUHS), and dialing 911.
• Close doors and windows if possible.
• Extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher if possible and you are comfortable doing so.

If you hear a fire alarm

• Evacuate the building immediately. Do not use elevators.
• Convene at the designated Emergency Assembly Points.
• Attempt to account for everyone who was in the building.

For more information on fire preparedness, please visit the OESO Fire Safety page.

If you smell natural gas odors:

• Turn off all stoves, open flames, and other potential ignition sources.
• Call 911.
• Move people out of the areas in which a gas odor can be detected and open doors and windows on your way out.

If you have been told to evacuate an area due to a natural gas odor:

• Turn off all ovens, open flames, and other potential ignition sources.
• Open windows and doors as you evacuate the area.
• Convene at the designated Emergency Assembly Points. If you can still smell a gas odor, continue moving farther.

For more information on Natural Gas leaks, please visit the emergency preparedness natural gas leaks page.

For a major chemical spill:

• Alert people in the area to evacuate. Remove injured or contaminated persons from the exposure source.
• Turn off ignition and heat sources if spilled material is flammable.
• Call 911.

For biological exposures:

• Remove contaminated clothing and thoroughly wash any exposed skin. For eye exposure, flush with water.
• Call the Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Hotline at 919-684-8115.
• Obtain medical attention if necessary.

For radiological exposures:

• Alert people in the area to evacuate. Remove injured or contaminated persons from the exposure source.
• Document names of persons potentially contaminated and have them stay in one area to await decontamination.
• Call 911.
• Prevent entrance into affected area.

For more information on hazardous materials preparedness, please visit the OESO Emergency Response page.

In the event of a power failure:

• Establish if the power failure is local (a single building or less). If it is local, call E&O (DUHS; 919-684-3232) or FMD (University; 919-684-2122).
• Use flashlights, never candles.
• Relocate to a nearby building with power or have staff work from home if possible. For clinical staff, follow your department’s power failure procedures to ensure continuity of patient care.

In the event of a water failure:

• Monitor the Duke Alert site to understand how your building is affected.
• Follow instructions for not using utility water if necessary.

For more information on utility failure preparedness, please visit the emergency preparedness utility failure page.