EMERGENCIES

The University of Washington strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for work and learning. The guidance and links below are provided for responding to emergency and emerging situations that may occur at a University location.

Last Updated: September 02, 2025

The University of Washington strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for work and learning. The guidance and links below are provided for responding to emergency and emerging situations that may occur at a University location.

INCIDENT RESPONSE

Call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Click on a topic below for information on how to get help when an event occurs that disrupts normal operations.

Active shooter

UW Police provides the Active Threat/Shooter Guide that includes safety tips and actions for preparing for and responding to an active threat situation. 

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Demonstration/Protest

Contact your campus security for assistance if a demonstration becomes violent. On the Seattle campus, contact UW Police.

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Disaster

Check the UW Alert Blog for information and instructions during a widespread disaster.

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Earthquake

DROP! COVER! AND HOLD ON! during an earthquake.

Exposure to hazardous materials

Follow the steps in the Exposure Response Poster if there was an exposure to hazardous materials (e.g., chemicals, biological agents, infectious materials, radiological materials).

Facility issue

Contact your facility manager if there is an elevator failure, or issues with heating or cooling, power shutoff, gas smell, or plumbing leak (flooding). Contact UW Facilities on the Seattle campus.

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Fire

1. Pull the fire alarm and call 9-1-1.

2. Evacuate the building and go to the evacuation assembly point.

3. Report all fires.

Hazardous air

Check the UW Alert blog when the outdoor air quality is unhealthy due to wildfire smoke or other factors. Take the required precautions if you are working outdoors during a wildfire smoke event.

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Hazardous material spill or release

If you witness a spill that endangers people or could lead to a fire, pull the nearest fire alarm and call 9-1-1.  

Follow the instructions on the Exposure Response Poster if an exposure to hazardous materials has occurred. 

Heat

Take required precautions when working outdoors in heat at or above an action temperature.

Inclement weather

In the event of snow, ice, high winds or other weather-related event, campus leadership will assess conditions and decide whether to suspend, delay, or modify operations. 

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Medical emergency

Call 9-1-1 if a medical emergency occurs.

Click the button below to locate the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) in King County.

Power outage

Visit the UW Alert Blog, tune to KOMO 1000 AM, or call UW 206-547-INFO to get information about the situation. 

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Relationship violence

If you (or someone else) are experiencing hazing, stalking, sexual assault, or threats, SafeCampus can provide support.

Suspicious mail or package

Report any suspicious packages immediately to police.

Don't touch or move it. Evacuate the area.

Contact UW Police on the Seattle campus.

REPORT INCIDENTS

UW personnel are required to submit an incident report to Environmental Health & Safety for any work-related event that results in an injury, illness, exposure to hazardous materials, or fire, regardless of the work location. UW personnel are highly encouraged to submit reports of work-related near-miss events. 

Visit the Incident Reporting page for more information.

Areas with hazardous materials

View the UW Emergency Procedures Flipchart for Areas with Hazardous Materials.

CONTACTS

SEATTLE CAMPUS

UW Police

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-Emergency: 206-685-8973 (UWPD) or report online

Non-emergency email: uwpolice@uw.edu

Address: 3939 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105

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UW BOTHELL

Campus Safety

Police/Fire/Medical emergency : Dial 9-1-1
Bothell Police Non-Emergency: 425-486-1254
Campus Safety Office: 425-352-5359

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UW TACOMA

Campus Safety & Security

Emergencies: Call 9-1-1 or Text to 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 253-692-4416 or uwtsafe@uw.edu

Office: Dougan 180

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Campus facility contacts

UW Facilities Customer Care

careteam@uw.edu 

206-685-1900

Facilities Services Helpdesk

uwffs@uw.edu 

425-352-5466

Integrated Facilities Management

facility@uw.edu

253-692-5700

Medical facility contacts

  • UWMC Operations & Maintenance: Call 206.598.4911
  • UWMC Safety: Call 206.598.4639
  • HMC Engineering: Call 206.744.3191
  • HMC Safety: Call 206.744.7244

Planning for emergencies

Visit the Safety Planning page for information and resources to plan and prepare for emergencies.