Are you prepared for an emergency?
Dear UTRGV Family,
While September signals the start of a new institutional year, it also means that we are halfway through Hurricane Season (June 1 — November 30). And as we’ve seen recently with Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas, devasting storms are forming quickly in the warm gulf waters, leaving those in their path with less time than ever to prepare.
However, preparing for an emergency begins well before a threat is ever known. That’s why UTRGV’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Incident Management Team wants to remind you of some things you can do during National Preparedness Month (September) to ensure you’re ready for whatever happens next:
- Visit UTRGV's Hurricane Preparedness page.
- There, you will find links to critical resources that can not only help you secure your work area but also protect yourself, loved ones, and property during a storm.
- Check your contact information — particularly your cell phone number — and update it on PeopleSoft to ensure messages from UTRGV’s Emergency Mass Notification System reach you.
- Instructions: How to Update your Contact Information (PDF).
- Check your cell phone and UTRGV email for official notifications from UTRGV’s Emergency Mass Notification System. You will receive SMS/Text messages and emails if campus facilities close or classes are canceled.
- Also, check for detailed emails regarding university operations from UTRGV Announcements (announcements@utrgv.edu).
- Follow UTRGV’s Facebook and Twitter pages. All updates will be accessible on these social media platforms.
- Visit www.utrgv.edu/alert for supplemental updates and resources to help you make informed decisions before, during, and after a crisis.
- Tune into local media (television, radio news stations, and newspaper websites) for real-time information related to storms or other emergencies.
- Tip: Get a battery, manual, or solar-powered AM/FM radio to use if you lose electricity or must evacuate.
PLEASE NOTE: If a campus is closed, no one will be allowed onto that campus until the campus is inspected and declared safe. You will receive a notification when it is safe to return to campus via SMS/Text, email, and the previously mentioned UTRGV webpages.
We never know when a life-threatening crisis may occur. National Preparedness Month is your reminder to have a plan in place. Don’t wait for the next storm or disaster to strike before getting ready — it could be too late.
Sincerely,
The Office of Emergency Preparedness & Incident Management Team