Be prepared

Personal preparedness

Personal preparedness is about the small, proactive steps you can take to be ready for the unexpected. While emergency procedures explain what to do in a specific situation, personal preparedness focuses on what you can do in advance—so you can respond confidently, help others and recover more easily afterward.

How to get started

• Build a personal emergency kit with essentials like food, water and a flashlight.
• Make a plan for how you’ll contact friends or family if regular communications are down.
• Learn about local risks (e.g., earthquakes, severe weather, power outages) and how to prepare.
• Take care of your health. Do a daily health check before coming to campus and if unwell, consider staying home to rest and recover. Wash your hands regularly.

Visit the Prepare Yourself website for step-by-step guidance.

You can also join one of our emergency preparedness workshops to learn practical information and build confidence. Check UVic Learning Central [Filter by provider: Emergency Planning] for upcoming dates and to register. 

Accessibility & personal preparedness

Once you’ve covered the basics, take a moment to think about any specific needs you or those around you might have during an emergency.

Plan for your needs

• If you have a health condition that could affect your attendance or safety on campus—such as seizures, severe allergies, or a chronic illness—consider how it might impact you in an emergency.
• Carry any medication you might need (e.g., EpiPen, inhaler).
• Think ahead about anything else you might need in an emergency and make those arrangements.
• Share key information with someone you trust—like a classmate, lab partner or instructor—so they can support you if something happens.
• Maintain and update your emergency contacts page.

Plan for mobility or sensory needs

• Review your building’s evacuation routes and what to do if you cannot use the stairs.
• Identify a few “emergency buddies” who can help relay information during an emergency. This may include telling you when to evacuate or informing emergency personnel that you need assistance. They can also help you navigate the building quickly. Emergency buddies may be friends, peers, Building Emergency Team members or your instructor.
• Keep essential assistive devices, including mobility aids, hearing devices and visual aids, within reach whenever possible.

If you’d like to discuss your emergency plan or need help identifying options for assistance, contact the emergency planner.

Faculty, instructors & facilitators

If an emergency happens during a class, lab or organized event on campus, participants will naturally look to their instructor for guidance and information.

Plan ahead

Familiarize yourself with UVic emergency procedures. Start with emergency basics on the homepage, earthquake and active threat. You can find all procedures on this website, the UVic SafetyApp and posted in building hallways. 

Prepare your class

At the start of term, share important emergency information with your students:

• Emergency Procedures – 5-slide overview 
• Your approach to handling disruptions (e.g., snow days, cancellations)
• Your planned communication method (e.g., email, BrightSpace)
• Your building's evacuation routes and Building Emergency Assembly Point(s)

You can also review the campus closure guidance for faculty and instructors (winter weather) and consider how you can build flexibility into your course plans (e.g., recorded lectures). 

During an emergency

If an emergency happens, you're not alone. Look to emergency personnel for instruction—such as a Building Emergency Team member, Campus Security, police, fire or ambulance. You may receive a UVic Alert with instructions (text, email and/or push notification via the UVic SafetyApp).

Tips for during an emergency:

• Stay calm and lead by example.
• Assess the situation and act quickly.
• Get help if needed (e.g., call 911, then Campus Security; ask a bystander to assist).
• Follow official instructions and avoid unsafe actions (e.g., do not use elevators during evacuation).
• Stay updated (e.g., uvic.ca, UVic SafetyApp).

After an emergency

You are an important information holder. Keep track of your students/participants as best you can.

• Report missing or injured individuals to Campus Security: 250-721-7599.
• Share relevant details with emergency personnel:
  • Missing, injured or trapped individuals, or those who need assistance
  • Situational details (e.g., if fire bells were ringing, did you see flames or smoke?)

If you have additional questions, contact the emergency planner.