Emergency planning and preparedness

Faculty, staff, students and visitors who may have difficulty exiting during a building evacuation are encouraged to consider these options in advance of spending time at a university location to prepare for building emergencies and evacuations, including fire drills. 

Planning ahead 

Individuals who require evacuation assistance are encouraged to plan in advance of an emergency. Developing a personal evacuation strategy, in coordination with University personnel, in advance can improve safety and reduce uncertainty during an emergency.  

Consider the buildings and floors individuals regularly occupy on campus and identify evacuation routes, areas of refuge or designated waiting areas (if applicable), and determining preferred methods of assistance before an emergency occurs. 

Individualized Emergency Evacuation Plan  

An Individualized Emergency Evacuation Plan (IEEP) is a personalized evacuation strategy designed to address an individual’s specific needs during an emergency.  Participation in the IEEP process is voluntary and may be developed independently by the individual or in consultation with campus partners.  

An IEEP may include, but is not limited to, elements such as: 

• evacuation strategies based on the individual’s typical campus locations 
• identification of areas of refuge, where applicable 
• procedures for communicating with building personnel during an emergency 
• a method for notifying emergency response personnel if assistance is needed 
• roles and responsibilities of involved parties. 

Individuals who would like assistance in developing or reviewing an IEEP are encouraged to submit an IEEP Request Form to begin the process. Upon submission, the designated campus unit will coordinate with the Office of Institutional Accessibility (OIA), Fire Safety & Emergency Planning (FSEP), and other relevant campus partners, as appropriate, to provide guidance and support.  

Students residing in USC Housing who would like assistance reviewing evacuation procedures specific to their residential building should contact USC Residential Education. Residential Education staff, including the Residential Assistant (RA), will provide guidance and coordinate with OIA and FSEP, as appropriate. 

Department of Public Safety 

Emergency (UPC & HSC): (213) 740-4321 
Non-Emergency: (213) 740-6000 
Website: Department of Public Safety  

Fire Safety and Emergency Planning 

Emergency: (213) 740-9233 
Website: Fire Safety and Emergency Planning  

Office of Institutional Accessibility 

Email: accessibility@usc.edu 
Website: Office of Institutional Accessibility  

Office of Residential Education  

Phone: (213) 740–2080 
Website: Residential Education at USC