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Emergency Preparedness

General Preparedness

“Ready: Whenever. Wherever.” is a public service campaign which encourages Hoosiers to practice reasonable awareness and develop a plan for action in the event of an emergency. Hoosiers are asked to pause and consider potential safety risks in their surroundings and to identify possible actions they could take to increase their personal safety in the event of an emergency.

Situational Awareness

Be Prepared, Be Aware, Take Action

  • How to survive an active threat event.

    • Know how to classify information and documents correctly.
    • Install and maintain an anti-virus program on your computer.
    • Set up your electronic devices to automatically update its operating system and applications to keep security patches up to date.
    • Store your information with a strong password. Passwords should be at least 10 characters and include upper/lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers.
    • Never use the same password used for personal web sites that you use for logging into Ivy Tech systems.
    • You should always use a different password for every website.
    • Never disclose your password to anyone (in person, over the phone, or email).  IT support departments will never ask for that information.
    • Be able to recognize unknown/unverified email sources.
    • Don't respond or click on unknown links.
    • Ignore and delete unsolicited emails.
    • Never open an unexpected email attachments, if you receive an email attachment that you didn’t expect verify it by contacting the sender.
    • Report suspicious emails to abuse@ivytech.edu.
    • Never let anyone (family, friends, etc.) use your work allocated electronic device (computer, tablet, mobile phone, etc).
    • Never leave your electronic devices unattended, lock them up or carry them with you.
    • Lock your workstation when you are away from it.
    • Never attach an unknown device to your computer (USB Drive, portable hard drive, etc).
    • Know your route in advance.
    • Know the ASOM policies related to travel.
    • While driving, do not text or use your mobile device.
    • Before exiting your vehicle, scan the area for potential threats.
    • Avoid parking in dark spaces or near suspicious vehicles.
    • Keep keys in hand and promptly stow your items.
    • Don't spend unnecessary time in the parking lot.
    • Keep your head up and scan the surroundings for threats.
    • Always secure your belongings in public places.
    • Keep your head up, not looking down at your phone.
    • Wait to use your phone until you have arrived at your destination.
    • Only use ATMs in well-lit areas.
    • Look around to notice other people watching.
    • Cover your pin number with hand.
    • Be proactive, and know where to go in an emergency.
    • Note where exits are.
    • Be aware of your surroundings, and avoid phone usage in public.
    • Notice people around you, and look for strange behavior.
    • Know where to go in case of an emergency.
    • In the event of an active threat:
      Run       - If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate.
      Hide - Lock and/or blockade the door. Silence your mobile phone.
      Fight - Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to disable the aggressor. Act with physical aggressions and throw items at the armed aggressor.