Arial view of the UVM campus

The UVM Department of Emergency Management is responsible for leading and/or coordinating the mitigation, preparation for, response to and recovery from incidents, emergencies and disasters affecting the university, and safeguarding the campus community through the university's fire and life safety program.

UVM Emergency Management's Role

The Department of Emergency Management provides professional staff trained in incident management who coordinate emergency and disaster response with UVM personnel and local, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations.  UVM Emergency Management is responsible for monitoring weather conditions, activities, operations, events and emergencies to provide the UVM Emergency Operations Group with situational awareness and direction.  UVM Emergency Management plans for emergencies in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines and based on best practices in emergency management. 

The Department of Emergency Management is also home to UVM's elite Fire and Life Safety program.  The University Fire Marshal oversees training, construction, code compliance, fire protection systems, event safety and all of the challenges of a premier research institution and residential campus.

  • Davis Center

    Campus preparedness

    The Department of Emergency Management works with campus organizations to ensure they are prepared to handle emergencies.  We assist in the development of emergency plans, standard emergency response protocols, and continuity of operations plans.  We develop emergency plans for campus events along with our public safety partners including UVM Police Services, UVM Rescue, Burlington Fire Department, South Burlington Fire Department and Colchester Fire Department. UVM Emergency Management works with other emergency management agencies and volunteer disaster response organizations at the local, state, and federal levels.  Regular training and exercising ensures UVM Emergency Management and the campus are ready to respond to all emergencies. 

History of the Department of Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was created in the Fall of 2015 with the hiring of a full time Emergency Planning and Institutional Continuity Coordinator.  Prior to the existence of The Office of Emergency Management, campus emergency management activities were managed entirely by a diverse group of UVM professionals who formed the Emergency Operations Group (EOG.)  This group accomplished a substantial amount of work considering that each member served the EOG as an additonal duty to their normal UVM roles.  The EOG continues to serve as the governing body for emergency management and provides guidance and support to the University during emergencies by staffing the UVM Emergency Operations Center.  

In April 2023 the Fire and Life Safety program was moved from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety and integrated into Emergency Management. The OEM became the Department of Emergency Management with a Director and the University Fire Marshal serving as the Deputy Emergency Management Director.

Contact us:

 

Emergency Management Director

Non-Emergency: 802-656-4363 (office)
24/7 UVM Police: 802-656-3473
Email: emergency@uvm.edu

 

University Fire Marshal/Deputy Emergency Management Director

Non-Emergency: 802-656-8249 (office)
Email:  firesafe@uvm.edu