Go to utah.red/sms to make sure you’re set up to receive campus alerts. 

Everyone with an active uNID can register for campus alerts through CIS. Users can add up to three cell phone numbers, allowing notifications to be sent to loved ones as well as themselves. More information and current campus alerts can be found at alerts.utah.edu. 

Parents and others without a uNID can register via the Utah 360 app.

While campus alerts provide registered users general messages about campus safety, your emergency contact is specific to you. This is the contact university officials would alert if something happened to you. Update this contact in CIS by searching for “Change Bio/Demo Info.”

In Utah, some of the most likely emergencies include wildfires, heavy snowfall, floods and earthquakes. Knowing how these risks impact your specific living situation and how to respond is key to being prepared. Beready.utah.gov is a great resource to start learning more. 

For campus-specific safety information, review the U’s Emergency Response Guide. This guide has instructions for a wide range of campus emergencies, from natural disasters to lab spills. It also outlines the Standard Response Protocol, which uses simple, action-based directives to support clear and consistent responses for all types of emergencies. Remember, being aware of your surroundings— such as noting things like exits, alternate routes, and locations of resources like Stop the Bleed Kits— can help you respond proactively in a crisis.

Start simple and maximize the resources available to you. While it can be intimidating to look over a list of suggested supplies, you don’t need to complete this process all at once. You may even already have some of the items and can begin with gathering them into one place. 

Here is a condensed list with a few ideas to get you started:

• A basic first aid kit and medicines you use regularly, especially prescriptions
• A power bank and charging cord
• An N-95 mask
• Cash in small bills 
• Water and energy-dense snacks
• Identifying documents
• Important phone numbers. You could write these on your power bank or keep a piece of paper with them inside your first aid kit.

Consider putting these items in a bag. Even if you use some of them regularly, returning them all to the same place will make finding what you need easier in a crisis.

Learn more here.

Planning ahead for day-to-day needs is a strong foundation for emergency preparedness. Stocking nutritious, filling snacks in your dorm room is helpful if you’re studying late or sheltering in place. Keeping drinking water in your car prepares you for an evacuation or going hiking. 

Here are a few ideas to get started with: 

• Keep your car’s fuel tank above the halfway mark
• Know where the nearest public transit stops are and where the routes go. At the beginning of each semester, review this information for changes
• Stock extra water and non-perishable food in your car and home. Using these things as you need them, whether it’s an emergency or not, helps items get used before they expire. Just make sure you implement a restock plan. 
• Always have access to a little bit of cash
• Keep extra cold weather clothes in your car
• Keep physical copies of your prescriptions with other important documents