Select Page

Templates for Safety and Emergency Messages

Inclement Weather: Homepage and UW Oshkosh Today

If there’s inclement weather, but campus is OPEN:
There is a <WINTER STORM / ICE STORM / HEAVY WINDS / TORNADO> advisory for the Oshkosh area. However, the University is open today, <DATE>. Students and University employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel. <TIME STAMP>

If there’s inclement weather, and campus is CLOSED ALL DAY:
There is a <WINTER STORM / ICE STORM / HEAVY WINDS / TORNADO> advisory for the Oshkosh area. All classes at the University are cancelled for today, <DATE>. The University remains open; however, employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel. <TIME STAMP>

If there’s inclement weather, and campus is CLOSED PART OF THE DAY:
There is a <WINTER STORM / ICE STORM / HEAVY WINDS / TORNADO> advisory for the Oshkosh area. All classes at the University are cancelled as of <TIME> today, <DATE>. The University remains open; however, employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel. <TIME STAMP>

If there’s building damage to campus, and campus is OPEN:
Several buildings have been affected by the <WINTER STORM / ICE STORM / HEAVY WINDS / TORNADO / FLOODING / SEVERE WEATHER>. However, the University remains open. Students and employees are encouraged to monitor the weather and road conditions in their area prior to traveling to work. For specific information regarding your building, call Facilities Maintenance at (920) 424-3466. Updates regarding the building conditions will continue to be provided on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Inclement Weather hotline at (920) 424-0000 and www.uwosh.edu.

 

Inclement Weather: Email

If there’s inclement weather, but campus is OPEN:
There is a winter storm warning for the Oshkosh area (or region); however, the University remains open. University employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling due to the weather are encouraged to exercise caution.

Students experiencing weather-related transportation difficulties should attempt to contact their course instructors prior to when the class is scheduled to meet.

The judgment about whether to travel to or from campus rests with the individual. Driving conditions may vary across the region served by our campus and thus, individuals need to take their own local conditions into account. Employees should work with their supervisor to make these arrangements.

For information about campus events, please contact the event organizers directly.

The University monitors weather conditions on an ongoing basis. If conditions change, or if you have questions, please call the UW Oshkosh Weather Line at (920) 424-0000 or visit uwosh.edu.

Additionally, updates are provided to local radio and television stations for closing notices specific to UW Oshkosh. 

 

If there’s inclement weather, and campus is CLOSED ALL DAY:
All classes at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh have been canceled for <DATE> due to hazardous weather conditions.

For information about campus events, please contact the event organizers directly.

The University monitors weather conditions on an ongoing basis. For updates, please call the UW Oshkosh Weather Line at (920) 424-0000 or visit uwosh.edu.

Additionally, updates are provided to local radio and television stations for closing notices specific to UW Oshkosh.

 

University Classes Canceled Mid-Day
As of <X:XX a.m./p.m.>, all classes at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be canceled due to hazardous weather conditions.

University employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling due to the weather are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel.

The judgment about whether or not to leave campus rests with the individual. Driving conditions may vary across the region served by our campus and thus, individuals need to take their own local conditions into account. Employees should work with their supervisor to make these arrangements.

For information about campus events, please contact the event organizers directly.

The University monitors weather conditions on an ongoing basis. If conditions change, or if you have questions, please call the UW Oshkosh Weather Line at (920) 424-0000 or visit uwosh.edu.

Additionally, updates are provided to local radio and television stations for closing notices specific to UW Oshkosh.

 

Early Classes Canceled, Later Classes Still Scheduled
Morning classes at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be canceled due to hazardous weather conditions. Classes will resume at <X:XX a.m./p.m.>.

University employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling due to the weather are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel.

Students experiencing weather-related transportation difficulties should attempt to contact their course instructors prior to when the class is scheduled to meet.

The judgment about whether or not to leave campus rests with the individual. Driving conditions may vary across the region served by our campus and thus, individuals need to take their own local conditions into account. Employees should work with their supervisor to make these arrangements.

For information about campus events, please contact the event organizers directly.

The University monitors weather conditions on an ongoing basis. If conditions change, or if you have questions, please call the UW Oshkosh Weather Line at (920) 424-0000 or visit uwosh.edu.

Additionally, updates are provided to local radio and television stations for closing notices specific to UW Oshkosh.

 

Inclement Weather: Weather Line

Default Message
“This is the UW Oshkosh Weather Line. If weather conditions require a cancellation or suspension of University classes, that information will be immediately recorded here. This means that if you are not hearing a specific time-dated recorded message, that all classes will be held as scheduled.”

“We monitor weather conditions on an ongoing basis. If conditions change, or if you have questions whether classes have been suspended, please call this number again to hear if an updated message is provided.”

 

Severe Weather But No Canceled Classes
“This is the UW Oshkosh Weather Line. It is <TIME> on <DATE>. The university is open today; however, students and university employees who feel they might have difficulty traveling due to the conditions are encouraged to exercise caution and limit travel.”

“We monitor weather conditions on an ongoing basis, and this Weather Line will be updated as conditions change. If you have questions whether classes have been suspended, please call this number again to hear if an updated message has been provided.”

“For more information regarding weather conditions and the cancellation or suspension of university classes visit, www.uwosh.edu.”

This message may need to be periodically re-recorded during the day, to assure callers that the situation is under control. The default message should be recorded after this message is no longer appropriate.

 

Cancelation or Suspension of Classes
“This is the UW Oshkosh Weather Line. It is <TIME> on <DATE>. A decision has been made to cancel classes as of <TIME, DATE>. While classes are cancelled, the university remains open for business. As of this time, we are projecting that classes will resume tomorrow.”

 

Delayed Opening
“This is the UW Oshkosh Weather Line. It is <TIME> on <DATE>. A decision has been made to cancel classes as of <TIME, DATE>. While classes are cancelled, the university remains open for business. As of this time, we are projecting that classes will resume at <TIME>.

 

Early Closing
“This is the UW Oshkosh Weather Line. At <TIME> a decision was made to suspend the afternoon and evening classes as of <TIME>. While the scheduled classes have been suspended, the university remains open for business.”

 

Emergency: Update

These sample messages simply provide a framework and can be used and modified as needed during a crisis situation. When posted to the website, these updates should be prefaced with the date and time. Prior to release, message should be coordinated with the Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Information Center.
Incident underway, limited info available
There has been a report of XXXXX on campus. Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear. Avoid the XXXX area and all buildings in that vicinity.

 

Incident confirmed, campus closed
It has been confirmed that there has been a XXXXX on campus. The campus is closed, and classes are canceled for the remainder of the day, tonight and tomorrow (DATE). People are urged not to come to campus. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

 

Incident area secured
Campus police report that the scene is secure. Only essential personnel should remain on campus.

Campus police report the immediate danger has passed. The campus is closed for tonight and tomorrow and all classes are cancelled.

 

More information is available
UW Oshkosh is aware that an [accident/incident] involving [type of incident] occurred at approximately [time] in the vicinity of [general location][Agency personnel] are responding, and we will have additional information available as we are able to confirm it. The University will hold a briefing at [location], and UWO officials will notify the press at least 30 minutes prior to the briefing. At this time, the briefing is the only place where officials authorized to speak about the [accident/incident] and confirmed information will be available. Thank you.

 

Media staging area report
A media staging area is available at XXXXX, ADDRESS.

Campus Services Center: 648 Witzel Avenue
Winnebago County Emergency Management Center: 4311 Jackson St.
City Emergency Center: 421 Jackson St.

 

SAMPLE: Chancellor’s statement
Today a tragedy has occurred at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this event as well as to those responding, our students, faculty, staff and police, fire and emergency personnel. We have resources in place for our campus community and are working together with the City of Oshkosh and Winnebago County to ensure a comprehensive response to this tragedy. Rest assured that everyone is doing everything in their power to keep our community safe as we meet the needs of those directly impacted as well as their families.

 

For more information
For more information, visit uwosh.edu/emergency.