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Housing and Residence Life
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Emergency & Crisis Information

Safety Around Campus

If you ever feel unsafe or have an emergency and need help around campus, locate one of the blue emergency boxes placed throughout the UNF campus and push the button; UPD will respond.

For additional information regarding emergency, crisis and safety please take a look at the procedures tab under your residence hall webpage located on the Housing and Residence Life webpage or visit UNF's UPD website.

Safe Ospreys App

The University uses a mobile safety app to communicate messages and alerts to the campus community: Safe Ospreys. By downloading the app, users will have access to the UNF Alert Feed for emergency notifications and  six safety feature buttons. Visit the University if North Florida's emergency information webpage to download the Safe Ospreys App and to view University emergency related information.

Fire & Facility Evacuation

Each housing area is equipped with a fire alarm system that is regularly inspected. Smoke detectors are located in every room. Scheduled fire drills are conducted once a semester. In case of smoke or fire, the alarm will activate and residents must evacuate the building.

At the start of each semester/term, Housing and Residence Life educates students about fire alarm procedures by conducting fire drills. At least once during the first week of each term, a Fire Drill for each building occupied by residents is scheduled. All reports of drills, false alarms and actual fire situations are available for review by the Fire Marshall during periodic inspections.

Fire Situation:

  • If an individual discovers a fire in the building, that person should immediately pull the closest fire alarm
  • If you hear or see the alarm in the building, you should walk to the closest emergency exit and exit the building.
  • Only use the stairwells, not the elevators, to exit the building.
  • Keep a safe distance from the building (i.e., across the street and away from traffic).
  • Do not re-enter the building until a building supervisor (marked by an orange vest) or UPD has given the all clear.

If you somehow become trapped somewhere in the building and cannot make it to an exit, please follow the procedures below:

  • If you are in your room, open your window, remove the screen (if applicable) and hold a towel or sheet outside of the window to notify personnel that you are in that room.
  • If you are unable to make it to your room, try to find the nearest emergency exit.
  • If you have the ability, call 911 to let them know your location.
  • If you know of someone else who is trapped in the building, notify a housing and residence life staff member or emergency personnel immediately.

If you have any questions regarding any of these procedures, please contact the Department of Housing & Residence Life at (904) 620-4663.

Fire Exit Maps:

Persons with disabilities can request assistance reading the fire exit maps by contacting the Department of Housing and Residence Life at housing@unf.edu or by phone at 904 620-4663.

Severe Weather and Natural Disasters

Severe weather includes thunderstorms, high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes. A weather watch indicates the possibility of severe weather. When a warning is issued, this means severe weather is likely and has been sighted in the local area.

If the UNF Crisis Management Team decides to evacuate a residence hall(s), the Senior Director of Housing and Residence Life is responsible for notification of evacuation to campus residents. Campus residents who have special needs and/or need transportation to designated shelters will be assisted by Housing and Residence Life staff. Housing and Residence Life staff will notify residents in the safest and fastest way possible as outlined under the communications section. Relatives of campus residents are not notified by the Central Housing Office. It is the responsibility of campus residents to notify relatives when it is possible and appropriate.

Missing Residential Student Policy

Housing and Residence Life takes resident safety very seriously. Please visit the University’s Missing Residential Student Policy for more information.