Emergency Guide – Hammond

Purdue University Northwest has current emergency response procedures and communication plans in place. Should an emergency occur on or near the campus, the Campus Emergency Resource Team (CERT) is prepared to put emergency plans into action to protect the campus community. The PNW website and other media outlets will be used to keep you informed in the event of an emergency situation.

See our 2020/2021 Guide

219-989-2222 – Emergency Number – From any on-campus telephone
24-Hour Police Department

For any campus emergency on the Hammond Campus:

• Report emergency immediately by dialing 219-989-2222 for Campus Police from any on-campus telephone.
• Cell phone users should dial 219-989-2222 for campus emergencies. We suggest you program this number in your cell phone. Report location, nature, and details of the emergency.
• Give your name and phone number.
• Be a good witness: Don’t place yourself in danger.

Emergency Phones

Emergency phones connected directly to the Campus Police are located in:

Download a copy of the Exterior Emergency Phone Locations (PDF).

The Campus Emergency “Blue Light Phones” are located near building entrances or parking lots as follows:

House phones are also located inside various buildings across the Purdue Northwest Hammond campus.

Fire Emergency Evacuations

Know the location of fire alarms, extinguishers and evacuations routes and exits in the area you work or live.  Follow evacuation routes and exits on available route maps.  If none are located in your immediate, evacuate to the closest exit in your building or floor.

• Activate Alarm.  Upon discovering a fire, explosion or smoke in the building close the door to the room where the fire is located and immediately activate the fire alarm system.
• Call for Help.  After sounding the alarm, call 911, if time permits.  Identify yourself and the location of the fire (floor and room number is possible).
• Warn Others.
• Evacuate Immediately. Taking your belongings with you, follow the evacuation route for fire, posted by all elevators, stairways, in classrooms and labs.  Do Not re-enter the building until instructed to do so.
• Do Not Use Elevators During a Fire Emergency.
• Advise firefighters on the scene if you suspect someone may be trapped.

Persons With Disabilities

Persons with disabilities should be assisted from the building by other persons in the immediate area.  Disabled persons not receiving assistance are to report to the designated “Evacuation standby Area”.  The transport areas are posted at the passenger elevators in each building.  Police and Fire personnel will respond to these areas to assist in the building evacuation.

1. Lawshe Hall: If you are on the second or third floor, go to the north stairway.
2. Porter Hall: If you are on the second floor, go to the north stairway.
3. Gyte : If you are on the first floor, exit through the south wheelchair ramp. If you are on the second floor, go to the northeast stairway.  If you are on the ground floor, evacuate to the wheelchair ramp .
4. Potter Building: If you are on the second or third floor, go to the southwest stairway.
5. Anderson Building: If you are on the second or third floor, go to the northwest stairway.
6. Student Union & Library: If you are on the second or third floor, go tothe northwest stairway.
7. Powers Building: If you are on the second floor, go to the southeast stairway.
8. CLO Building: If you are on the second or third floor, go to the southeast stairway.
9. University Village: If you are on the second, third or fourth floor, go to the northeast or northwest stairway.
10. Academic Learning Center: If you are on the second floor, go to the north stairway

Tornado Warning Procedure

A tornado warning means a funnel cloud has been observed in the vicinity and building occupants should seek shelter.

When a warning is received, an external alert siren will be sounded by the local police department. An alert will consist of a THREE-MINUTE WARNING on the external siren and activation of the internal Emergency Public Address System speakers. An announcement that there is a tornado warning for our area will be heard inside buildings. When the alert is given, all classes and campus operations will CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

All students, faculty and staff should proceed to the following areas:

Storm Safe Areas

• Anderson Building – main hallway ground floor, restrooms (158-160), room 148
• Community Services Building – Basement
• CLO Building – Main hallways on ground floor, center hallways, rooms 132,  135, 137, 139 and restrooms(193-195)
• Fitness & Recreation Center – main hallway (by fitness center), Locker rooms and restrooms (153-163)
• Gyte Building – ground floor hallway and restrooms (25A-29A)
• HTM/Challenger Center – Main floor rooms, 121, 125, 126, 127,132, 133 and restrooms (128-129)
• Lawshe Hall – Lecture Room (O-131) and ground floor restrooms (102A-160A)
• Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building – stairwells, ground floor, interior hallways
• Porter Hall – East/West hallway ground floor and restrooms (111-115)
• Potter Building – main hallway on ground floor, restrooms (116-118) and P-112
• Powers Building – Powers 108, 120, 121 and restrooms (101-104)
• Student Housing – Main hallways on ground floor
• Student Union & Library Building – cafeteria and SULB-100 (student lounge)
• University Services – S-21,25 (locker rooms)
• University Police Building – Men’s locker room(101)

Campus Police will monitor information sources to determine when to issue the ALL CLEAR. As soon as the ALL CLEAR status is confirmed, an ALL CLEAR announcement will be made in each building. It is strongly recommended that everyone remain in designated shelter areas until Campus Police announce the ALL CLEAR.

Weather Emergencies

Heavy Snowfall – Purdue University Northwest makes every attempt to remain open during the snowy winter months. However, it may be necessary to close the University due to severe weather conditions.

1. Email – A school closing email will be sent to your PNW email address. Please be aware that in the event of a power outage, university computer servers will be inoperable.
2. On the web – School closings will be posted directly on the PNW Home Page.
3. Radio – The area radio stations listed below will be notified by 6 a.m. if the campus is to be closed that day. If you do not hear that PNW Hammond Campus is closed when the stations make their early morning announcements, you can assume that the campus will be open. The stations are asked to repeat the closing announcement during the day.
4. Text– An emergency text will be sent out to all “Alert Me” subscribers.

Radio Station Information

Hammond radio station (WJOB-AM 1230),

Emergency Text Message System (Alert Me!) Available at PNW

PNW offers a voluntary emergency text message system to all students and university employees. A university-issued username is needed in order to subscribe. This service will be used exclusively for closing announcements and campus emergency alerts.

Text messaging adds another important layer to the university’s emergency notification processes. All members of the campus community who own text-enabled electronic devices are strongly encouraged to participate.

Person Trapped in Elevator

• An emergency telephone is located in the control panel of each elevator. If the elevator stops or the door won’t open, pick up the handset. The telephone is a direct line to Campus Police. You do not need to dial any number. You will be given instructions on what to do at the time.
• If the telephone does not work, push the emergency alarm located on the control panel. Do not attempt to leave the elevator via the emergency hatch.
• Campus Police and Physical Plant personnel are the only persons authorized to restart an elevator or remove persons from an elevator. If you have any questions regarding emergency procedures please call the Campus Police at 219-989-2222.