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Potential Hazards

Last updated March 19

We work hard to maintain a campus where Pitt students, faculty, and staff feel safe and secure. Despite our best efforts, there are a number of hazards which could affect the University of Pittsburgh and the surrounding community.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with potential hazards that could occur at Pitt and how you can prepare for them. A general list of hazards can be found below and in the right-hand menu.

For a condensed version of this information, refer to our Emergency Quick Guide. We encourage you to print or save a copy of this guide to have on hand in case of an emergency.

911 dialed on iPhone

Act of Violence

View general guidelines for responding to an act of violence directed towards University of Pittsburgh students, staff and faculty. We've also created a quick reference poster for sharing.
Doctor holding folder with Zika information

Disease

Find important information on meningitis and the zika virus.
Women taking cover under desk

Earthquake

Pennsylvania experiences a relatively low level of earthquake activity, but they are possible. In fact, the largest earthquake recorded in Pennsylvania, known as the Pymatuning Earthquake, occurred less than 100 miles away from Pittsburgh in September of 1998. Pennsylvania is also subject to the effects of earthquakes that occur in other states.
Firefighter putting out a fire

Fire

View fire and emergency evacuation procedures, prevention tips, and notes on fire safety.
Person wearing lab coat holding a blue biohazard bucket

Hazardous Materials

Learn about hazardous materials and what to do if you come in contact with them.
Lightning bolts in the sky

Lightning

View facts about lightning. The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is indoors. If outside during a thunderstorm, do NOT lie down or seek shelter under a tree. Try to get indoors. If you can’t, crouch down and tuck your head in with your hands over your ears. Crouching down is the best combination of staying low while making as little contact with the ground as possible.
Emergency entrance at a hospital

Mental Health Emergency

Find a list of warning signs and resources for mental health emergencies.
Mailbox with red flag up

Suspicious Mail/Package

Learn how to recognize suspicious mail and packages.
Dark clouds with lightning in the distance

Thunderstorm

Find thunderstorm safety tips and learn about the dangers associated with thunderstorms including lightning, strong winds, hail, and flash flooding.
Tornado and lightning bolt in the sky

Tornado

Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms and can occur with very little warning. Pennsylvania is not located in "Tornado Alley," however that does not mean tornadoes don't occur here. In fact, every U.S. state is at risk. Learn about the environmental signs of a developing tornado.
Pitt sign covered in snow

Winter Weather

A winter storm can range from freezing rain and ice, to moderate snowfall over a few hours, to a blizzard that lasts for several days. View Pitt's policy for extreme weather conditions.