UAPD officers stand outside the UA Police Center

Ready UA: What to do in Case of an Armed Individual

The University of Alabama Police Department is trained to deal with armed individuals on campus and will respond immediately upon notification. Still, it’s important everyone plays a part in keeping UA safe. If you witness someone with a weapon, immediately move to a safe location and call or text 911 as quickly as you can. Stay calm, and provide as much information as you can about your location and the suspect.  

If an active shooter event occurs, quickly determine the best way to protect your own life.  

RUN — If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to leave the area. Help others escape if possible, and do not let individuals enter the area where the danger may be. 

HIDE — If there is no escape path, find a place to hide where the shooter is less likely to find you. Go into a room where you can close and lock the door or block the door with heavy furniture. Silence your cell phone and remain quiet. 

FIGHT — As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter by yelling, throwing items or improvising weapons, or acting as aggressively as possible. If you decide to fight, commit to your actions. 

To learn more about how to protect yourself during an active shooting incident, watch this video, which was produced by UAPD, the Student Government Association and the Center for Public Television. 

To make sure you will always receive information about emergency situations on campus, keep your contact information updated in myBama. Instructions on updating your contact information can be found on the Office of Emergency Management website 

You can also receive UA Alerts through the UA Safety app. Download it for free for iOS and Android devices.

For more information on what to do in case of emergencies on campus, visit ready.ua.edu and follow UA’s Office of Emergency Management on Twitter @UA_Safety. 

When is the next test of the UA Alert System?

Weather permitting, the University will test its emergency notification systems, including UA Alerts, the public address system and digital signage Wednesday, March 2, at 11:55 a.m.