The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) continue to monitor the 2019 Corona Virus Disease that originated in Wuhan, China. Cornell officials are proactively working with local and state public health organizations to monitor this concern and to protect the health and well-being of the Cornell community. There are no confirmed cases of Corona Virus COVID19 in New York state and the risk to the community remains low.
Please take care of yourselves and one another, and don’t hesitate to seek support – medical or emotional – when you need it. Visit the Cornell University Corona Virus website for additional updates and resources
Protect yourself from the winter weather!
Winter in upstate New York can bring cold temperatures and strong winds that result in dangerously cold wind chill temperatures. Prepare for cold weather by checking the National Weather Service weather forecast and dressing correctly for the cold weather. When venturing outside in the cold and snow make sure you prepare and protect yourself.
- wear multiple layers to insulate from the cold
- wear a wind and waterproof jacket as the outer layer
- wear a hat and gloves/mittens
- wear waterproof boots
- wear a scarf or face mask
- cover exposed skin
- minimize your time outdoors
If you have to be outside then make sure you know the signs and symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia and are prepared to take action.
Don’t forget to keep your pets safe in the cold weather! Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside.
The Office of Emergency Management wishes everyone an enjoyable and safe winter break!
Winter Weather Awareness
Winter weather in upstate New York can cause challenge and disruption. Join the Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to improve your winter weather readiness by reviewing these important topics.
- Home and Travel Preparedness – Don’t let winter weather take you by surprise – develop a plan and emergency kit for home and travel.
- Lake effect snow – Learn about snow squalls and lake effect snow.
- Winter storms – Nor’easters, ice storms, and Alberta Clippers, oh my!
- Flooding and ice jams – Melting snow and floating ice can cause water levels to rise in rivers and streams.
- NWS winter weather terms – Advisories, watches, and warnings.
Visit the Office of Emergency Management weather preparedness page and the National Weather Service winter weather safety web page for more helpful winter weather information.
Welcome to Cornell’s Emergency Management web site.
This website provides the Cornell community with important information before, during, and after campus emergencies. We encourage you to bookmark this site and explore it to better prepare before an emergency occurs.
Emergency Messages
CornellALERT is the university’s emergency notification system and is used for situations involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of the community. Active CornellALERT messages appear in the right sidebar of this website (at the top of the page on mobile and small screen devices).
You can receive alerts on your cellular phone if you have provided your contact information or installed the Rave Guardian app and activated it for the Cornell Ithaca Campus. Messages are also sent to the @cornell.edu e-mail addresses of current students, employees, and affiliates.
If you receive a CornellALERT message you should promptly follow the directions given in the message and monitor this emergency web site for additional information.
What to do in an Emergency
CALL 911 for any situation that requires IMMEDIATE police, fire, or medical response to preserve life or property. From cellular phones call Cornell Police at 607-255-1111 or use a Blue Light or indoor emergency phone.
The Emergency Action Guide provides information about what you should do in the case of various emergencies. The Emergency Action Guide appears in the left sidebar of this website and moves to the bottom of the page on mobile and small screen devices. Take a few minutes to read through the guides so you know what actions to take during an emergency.
Preparing for Emergencies
It is everyone’s responsibility to be ready for emergencies before they occur. Use the following pages to help you prepare.
- Preparedness Checklist
- Build An Emergency Supply Kit
- Prepare for Ithaca Weather
- Learn New Emergency Skills
Got 2 minutes? Watch this video to learn how to do Hands Only CPR!