September is National Preparedness Month – a nationwide campaign that reminds us that being ready for the unexpected is one of the best ways to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our campus community. Throughout September, a different topic will be highlighted each week to help readers get ready. It starts with the fundamentals: personal and campus preparedness.
Personal preparedness
- Everyone: Have a plan before an emergency happens. Know how you’ll communicate, where you’ll go and what resources you’ll need. Build a kit with basic supplies available at home, in your car and/or at work.
- On-Campus Residents: Coordinate with roommates, Residence Life staff and family. Identify safe meeting spots outside your residence and buildings you frequent on campus. Be familiar with evacuation routes. The RAVE Guardian app provides easy, on-the-go access to campus emergency procedures.
- Off-Campus Students: Create a plan that fits your location. Identify alternate travel routes, understand local hazards (such as severe weather or wildfires), and establish reliable ways to check in with family and classmates if separated.
- Faculty and Staff: Review evacuation routes and assembly points in your building(s). Know your building coordinator, a key resource before and during incidents. Boise State Building Coordinators and their alternates are the point of contact for the building. Building Coordinators work with building occupants to assist in identifying and resolving maintenance and repair issues and building-specific emergencies. The Faculty Emergency Preparedness Guide, the RAVE Guardian app, and the Department of Public Safety website offer helpful tools and checklists.
Campus preparedness: Behind the scenes, around the clock
Boise State’s Department of Public Safety is here 24/7 to help make sure our campus stays safe, informed and prepared.
This collaborative team has five core areas:
- Security, Police and Event Services
- Parking and Transportation
- Threat Assessment and Public Safety Systems
- Emergency Management
- Finance and Administration
Together, we manage everything from daily patrols and parking logistics to large-scale event safety and emergency response planning. We also partner with departments across campus to ensure every Bronco has access to resources and reliable information before, during and after an incident.
Our mission is simple: help you feel safe, supported, and ready—every day. Want to learn more? Visit the Department of Public Safety website.