DUSON Emergency Awareness: Tips to Keep You Safe in Case of Inclement Weather/Extended Power Outage

​DUSON is committed to the safety of its faculty, staff and students. This month's awareness focuses on inclement weather and extended power outages.

DUSON Faculty and Staff are considered to be in “delayed service” positions and do not report to or remain at work when the university is closed for a winter weather event.

• In preparation for a winter storm, be sure to have a flashlight and extra batteries, a portable radio to receive emergency information, extra food and water, extra prescription medicine and first-aid supplies.
• Those traveling should only use priority roads, sidewalks and walkways during periods of severe weather.
• Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow and ice from cars causes accidents.
• Let someone know where you are going and what route you will take. If something happens, the person will know where to begin the search.
• Do not leave your house without a fully charged mobile phone and emergency supplies.
• If you have trouble seeing while driving, pull over to the side of the road until visibility improves. Turn off your lights so another car will not follow you and accidentally hit you.
• If your car gets stuck during a storm, stay in the vehicle.
• Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat, but open the window a little to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.
• Use caution while traveling around campus as surfaces may be icy or slick. Sloped surfaces, stairs, ramps or paths not identified as the preferred route of travel should be avoided.

In the case of an extended power outage, DUSON has a generator system to provide very limited power for the Pearson building in the event of electrical failure. The Rutherford building is not connected to generator power. If classes need to be relocated or cancelled, or if the outage will be extensive, the Director of Facility Operations and ADFA will work with those faculty whose classes will be impacted, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Academic Program Directors to relocate classes and notify the School of such plans. For all weather related updates, monitor your Duke email account, the DUSON website, emergency.duke.edu or call 684-INFO for updates.

This safety message has been brought to you by DUSON’s Emergency Preparedness Team. For more DUSON emergency information and tips, visit our Emergency Information Center.