We encourage Hokies living on campus to make a plan for different types of emergencies, just in case! Here’s how to help the Hokies in your life prepare.
Facilities Emergencies
Include, but are not limited to:
- Running water - Water overflowing onto the floor, not a stopped-up sink
- Electrical problems - Sparks, loss of all room lighting/power
- Safety issues affecting life or property - Broken glass in the hall, body spills, inability to secure door/locks
What should students do in a facilities emergency?
- If there is an immediate threat to life, safety, or fire - their first call should be to 911.
- Residential students: Contact their Student Leader or other Housing Services Staff immediately.
- Dining Centers and Student Centers: Follow their emergency operational procedures.
Students may also contact the Student Affairs Facilities Help Desk at 540-231-1111, or VTPD at 540-382-4343, then submit a work order if possible.
Students can refer to the emergency egress policy for specific evacuation instructions, and read the VT Housing Policies for more information on emergency management.
Students should consult their Student Leader or hall supervisor if they think they will have difficulty responding to a fire alarm or evacuating quickly.
How can students prepare for a larger emergency?
Make a plan
What would you do in the case of a larger, non-facilities emergency? Take a moment to discuss this question with a Hokie you know.
Have Essential Items
We encourage students to keep a simple emergency kit in their residence hall room that includes basic items that may be hard to get during the initial hours of an emergency.
- In the initial minutes and hours of an emergency, university officials must assess the situation. Students may have to carry on without university services for the first 24 hours of a crisis if they are not immediately at risk.
- Students may be directed to stay in their residence hall rooms, in classrooms or dining halls in the event of an outside threat to the campus community.
Follow the Protocol
There are protocols in place for larger emergency situations. To aid these protocols, students should follow three simple steps in the initial stages of an emergency:
Stop - Remain calm and try to help others remain calm. Panic will not help people respond in a constructive and safe manner. The local fire department and the Virginia Tech Police are on their way. These parties respond to all building alarms.
Look - Be aware of your environment. Respond to any threats that are immediately apparent. This may require activating a fire alarm, evacuating a building, taking cover, or placing yourself in a secure location.
Listen - Follow the directions of university officials, including faculty, staff, and Virginia Tech police. If you hear a fire alarm, immediately evacuate that building in accordance with established evacuation procedures.
Find more information about University-wide Emergency Management or visit our website for more information on emergency preparedness.
Summer Giveaway
This information is provided as part of the Campus Countdown summer giveaway for the class of 2029! Incoming Hokies can follow along with our interactive email series this summer to win big and prepare for on-campus living.
View the move-in email archive, with move-in information sent to your Hokie, or click the links below for more information to share with the Hokies in your life:
