Important safety reminders for our Carolina community
In the wake of gun violence in the U.S., Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and Risk Management George Battle shares campus resources and safety reminders if you encounter an active assailant situation on campus.
Dear Carolina Community,
The recent weeks in our nation have been difficult with news of gun violence once again in the headlines. As you take the time to reflect on these incidents and mourn those lost, we would like to remind you about recommended practices should you encounter an active assailant situation on campus.
Active assailant/armed intruder situations are unpredictable, dynamic and evolve quickly. Your actions during an incident could be the difference between life and death. If you see any suspicious activity call 911 or UNC Police at 919-962-8100.
In the event of an active assailant on campus, the sirens will sound and the Alert Carolina system will send notifications via email and text. Also follow Alert Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill on Twitter for updates during the situation.
An important universal strategy known as Run, Hide, Fight/Defend could help. Depending on your situation, one or more of these options may work best. These are not intended to be in any sequential order.
- Run – Exit the building as quickly and safely as possible, distancing yourself from the threat.
- Hide – If you can’t safely evacuate your building or are unsure of the location of the threat, secure yourself in a room, classroom or office, creating as many barriers between you and the threat. If you are caught outside, seek shelter inside the nearest building, and secure yourself in an interior space. Additionally, take the following actions:
- Secure doors
- Turn off lights
- Move into concealed areas of the room, away from doors and windows
- Remain calm and quiet
- Fight/Defend – If there are no other options to safely escape, and you are confronted by the assailant/intruder, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the assailant/intruder using all available resources (acting aggressively, yelling, throwing items, improvising weapons).
For more information on what to expect and do in an active assailant situation, please visit the active assailant webpage from Institutional Integrity and Risk Management and Campus Safety.
In addition, the Carolina Ready Safety App includes emergency alerts, tools for staying safe on campus, emergency response guides, campus maps, and a variety of health and wellness resources.
Additionally, UNC-Chapel Hill has an upcoming sirens test that will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28.
Training and planning within emergency and safety teams on campus have and will continue to be constant to keep our campus, students, faculty, and staff safe.
Sincerely,
George E. Battle III
Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and Risk Management
