Emergency Management

Penn State University Emergency Management is prepared for crises.

Penn State is well prepared to respond to natural disasters or emergency actions, particularly with questions and concerns arising from the war with Iraq and recent alerts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Often times, events a world away have a ripple-like effect on all of us. University officials warn faculty and staff about dangers of international travel news alert courtesy Penn State Live.

The University Police currently employs 46 full-time armed police officers, five traffic and parking officers, five dispatchers/recorders and approximately 175 students as Auxiliary Officers and escorts.

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety oversees the proper handling of storage and hazardous materials used throughout the University. The University Health Services operates an ambulance providing Emergency Medical Services campus-wide. These agencies are an integral part of the emergency response team in time of crises.

Personal anxiety and family concerns mount during times of uncertainty. Governor Rendell has responded to the growing concerns of the pandemic in the Commonwealth. A new PA Pandemic preparedness information can be found here. The Division of Student Affairs, Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides student counseling assistance and consultation services. University employees have access to similar services via the Employee Assistance Program. The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences' "Parents: Help your children cope with war's realities" news release alerts parents to address concerns of the youngest members of our extended University family.

We encourage you to explore our web site as it will be updated with new information to ensure your safety and security. We also encourage any comments that you may have to better improve our site.