Dear Members of the HLS Community,
I wanted to take this opportunity to review some information about personal safety and security and to remind you of the resources available to you should we experience an emergency situation.
To that end, please review carefully the HLS Safety & Security Information Sheet, which summarizes the steps you should take in any emergent situation; the HLS Emergency Information page; and the HUPD Safety and Security Guide. Please keep these resources bookmarked for easy reference.
If you have not already done so, please also:
- Save the number for the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) on your phone now: 617-495-1212.
- Sign up for MessageMe, the University’s tool to communicate with the Harvard community when there is an imminent or critical public safety issue. You can sign up for alerts or update your contact information at messageme.harvard.edu.
Most importantly, should an emergency arise – whether security-related, medical, or otherwise – please call HUPD at 617-495-1212 or dial 911. Securitas personnel are also available for questions and assistance.
Lastly, I wanted to make you aware, if you have not already learned about this, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will be conducting a nationwide test of the emergency alert and wireless emergency alert systems on Wednesday, October 4th at 2:20 pm. Both systems are utilized by local, state, and federal authorities to rapidly notify the public about an emergency. All phones will ring with an alert tone and buzz (even those on silent) and television and radio broadcasts will be interrupted by the alert. This is merely a test and there is no action required.
We hope this information is helpful. Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with these important resources and for doing your part to contribute to the safety and well-being of all in our community.
Best,
Tracee Whitley