November 1, 2001
Emergency guide: New posters installed in campus buildings
As a result of last February’s earthquake, a new poster is making an appearance in buildings around campus.
“Feedback from the departments after the quake indicated that many, many people on the campus did not know what to do,” said Anne Guthrie, coordinator of the UW’s Disaster Resistant University project (DRU). “Clearly, more basic emergency-procedures information was needed.”
A poster was developed as a way to get that information to people at the time they need it most – before an earthquake or other disaster happens. The poster can be viewed on the DRU Web site: http://www.depts.washington.edu/disaster. Click on “response” in the drop-down menu.
It can also be seen in campus buildings as it is being installed in classrooms and public areas. Posting began the week before school started, and 10 buildings have been completed so far.
The posting plan is being coordinated with Environmental Health and Safety, as that department is developing emergency evacuation route map signs for buildings, Guthrie said. About 60 percent of campus buildings now have these maps; DRU has begun its efforts in the buildings that do not yet have maps.
“Health Sciences, the HUB and South Campus Center are determining how they want to use the poster, since they already have lots of emergency information posted,” Guthrie said.
She said Housing Services is incorporating the information on the UW/DRU poster into an updated version of their evacuation posters in each room. They’re also planning to print paper copies of the UW/DRU poster and post them under plexiglass.
“I’m currently considering other questions, such as what to do about leased space,” Guthrie said.
