About
The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for the Cornell University Emergency Management Program within Division of Public Safety.
To contact Office of Emergency Management staff please call (607)255-1111 or e-mail oem@cornell.edu.
Report emergencies by calling 911 or using on-campus emergency and Blue Light telephones. For non-emergencies, contact Public Safety at (607)255-1111.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I observe suspicious or possibly criminal behavior or observe a safety or security risk?
Contact Public Safety by calling 911 (emergencies) or 607 255-1111 (non-emergencies).
How will I know when I need to evacuate from my building?
Evacuation is required:
- Any time the fire alarm sounds
- An evacuation announcement is made, or
- A university official orders you to evacuate
What should I do if I am unable to evacuate from the building due to a physical disability?
Be proactive and develop a plan before an emergency happens. Visit the Emergency Evacuation Planning web page for more information.
If you are unable to leave the building due to a physical disability:
- Go to the nearest area where there are no hazards.
- Use a telephone to call 911 or Cornell Police at 607 255-1111
- Be sure to give them the room number so they can send help to you.
- If possible, signal out the window to on-site emergency responders.
- One person may remain with you if they wish to assist you.
Does Cornell have an emergency warning notification system?
Yes, Cornell’s emergency warning notification system consists of a variety of communications tools and information channels to quickly provide accurate information. Specific tools and channels used will depend on the type and severity of the emergency and include:
- CornellALERT Text/Voice Messaging System – if you receive an emergency warning text or voice message, you should promptly follow the directions given in the message. Cornell University faculty, staff and students should sign up to receive emergency notification text messages. Visit this web page for instructions.
- Outdoor Warning Sirens – if the sirens are sounded you should promptly follow the instructions given after the initial tone and move to a safe place.
- E-mail sent to all current faculty, staff, and student cornell.edu addresses
- Building Fire Alarm Systems (evacuate the building if the fire alarm sounds)
- Current Alert Messages
I am concerned about acts of violence on campus. Where can I find information on how to respond?
Call 911 if you believe there is an immediate threat to your safety.
Review the university’s Emergency Action Guide to learn about how to respond to active threat or workplace violence incidents, as well as other incidents you might encounter on campus.
Cornell Police offers free community engagement outreach programs on a variety of safety and security topics. Contact the Cornell Police Community Engagement Program at (607) 255-7305 or (607) 255-7404 or send an email to cupd_engagement@cornell.edu. to speak with the team about concerns regarding your personal safety and security in your building or to attend or host their training.