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Emergency Preparedness

The University has taken steps to ensure that the campus continues to function in the event of an emergency. The resources and information contained on this page are designed to help you cope with an emergency situation and protect yourself and your colleagues should the region experience a hostile act. Please bookmark this page and refer to it often for up-to-date information as events unfold.

Campus Security Information

Please be alert and report any criminal incident, suspicious behavior or improper security activity to the Division of Public Safety by dialing 511 from any campus phone or 215-573-3333 if you are off campus.

UPennAlert Emergency Notification System
Penn's emergency alert communication system enables students, faculty, and staff to quickly receive news and instructions during crisis situations. The system allows the University to send simultaneous alerts in minutes through text messaging, voicemail and email to numerous devices, such as cell phones, landline phones, fax machines and PDAs, and permits two-way communication between each recipient and the University.

Security Alert from the Vice President of Public Safety

Counseling and Psychological Services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offer a variety of services to help members of the Penn community deal with stress and anxiety.

Counseling Resources

Dealing with Traumatic Events and Emergencies — from Human Resources
Materials that may be helpful in your workplace or at home following a personal emergency, crisis, or national or local traumatic event (these documents require Acrobat Reader), including:

• How your body reacts to stress
• Common reactions to traumatic incidents
• Family readiness kit: preparing to handle disasters
• Talking to children about war

Information from the Office of International Programs

• Immigration and Travel Information for International Students and Scholars at Penn
• Information for Parents of Penn Undergraduates Studying Abroad

Related Events and Services

The website of the Office of the University Chaplain offers a full listing of services, vigils, and programs organized by Penn religious communities in response to U.S. military action in Iraq (click on the "Response to War" button in the top-left corner).

If You Should Find a Suspicious Package...

The Division of Public Safety advises everyone to take extra precautions at this time. Information on how to deal with suspicious packages and other unusual activity can be found on the division's web site.

For information about biological agents such as anthrax, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's emergency preparedness site.

International Travel Safety Advisories

The U.S. Department of State is closely monitoring world events and the impact that these events have on international travel. Visit to their web site for the most current travel information.

Additional Information:

Philadelphia International Airport

Amtrak

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority)

CNN

American Red Cross