SPEAKER: Cornell’s Ithaca campus is a residential community where students live and study, faculty and staff research and work, and visitors explore and attend events. Each of us must do our part to have a safe, welcoming community where everyone can thrive. Cornell’s public safety team and emergency responders are here 24 hours a day to serve and protect the community. If you see something, say something. Report emergencies or suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1.

When there is a serious incident that poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees on campus, such as severe weather or other active threat to life, the university will send a Cornell Alert message. Cornell Alert messages include important information about how to stay safe. Stay attentive for additional messages and updates. Follow all Cornell Alert instructions until you receive an all-clear message. For incident updates and to familiarize yourself with safety terms and actions, visit emergency.cornell.edu.

Building evacuation is required any time the fire alarm sounds, or an evacuation announcement is made. In the event of an evacuation, immediately leave the building or area. Turn off equipment and secure hazardous operations, if possible. Avoid using elevators, and alert anyone around you who might not be aware of the evacuation.

During certain emergencies, it may be safer to stay indoors. You may be asked to shelter in place because of severe weather, a hazardous materials incident, or other active threat to life. The most appropriate shelter area will vary depending on the hazard. Select a room or area away from windows and glass, exterior walls and doors. If you’re outside, quickly find shelter in the nearest building.

Cornell Police follow the Department of Homeland Security’s model of run, hide, fight to prepare individuals for active threat to life situations. The first thing to do in the presence of any danger is to remove yourself from the situation and do it quickly. Call 9-1-1 when it is safe to do so. Obey officers. Keep your hands visible and free of objects.

If you are unable to get out, do everything you can to make yourself safe where you are. Lock your door. Work with others to move heavy objects and furniture to block entry. Turn off lights, close blinds, and silence phones. Conceal yourself as much as possible. As a last resort, if you’re face-to-face with a threat, use anything available to improvise weapons, such as sharp objects, fire extinguishers, coffee mugs, laptops, or books.

It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious behavior or activities. In addition to calling 9-1-1, you can use the nearest blue light emergency phone or the Rave Guardian app to directly text the Public Safety Dispatch Center for emergency assistance. For non-emergencies, you can anonymously report information about a crime through Rave Guardian or the Silent Witness Program on the Cornell Police website.

The Division of Public Safety offers a variety of crime prevention, personal security, and emergency preparedness trainings and outreach programs for individuals and groups. By working together, we can keep our campus community safe. You can learn more at emergency.cornell.edu.