Before

  • Understand how different utility failures may affect your area of work or study.
  • Identify critical electronics and ensure they are connected to emergency power if available.
  • Identify workarounds for various types of IT outages.

During

  • In the event of a power failure:
    • Establish if the power failure is local (a single building or less). If it is local, call E&O (DUHS; 919-684-3232) or FMD (University; 919-684-2122).
    • Use flashlights, never candles.
    • Ensure that critical electronics are connected to emergency power if possible.
    • Relocate to a building with power if possible. For clinical staff, follow your department’s power failure procedures to ensure continuity of patient care.
    • Inspect critical electronics on emergency power regularly during the outage.
  • In the event of a water failure:
    • Do not use city water if possible.
    • Follow all boil water advisories issued by the local water agency or Duke University officials.
    • Duke Health officials will provide instructions for water usage in healthcare areas.
  • In the event of a steam failure:
    • Check any devices that rely on university-provided steam.
    • Do not use any open flames as heat sources.
  • In the event of an information technology failure:
    • Check the OIT Status page to determine the scope of the outage.
    • Attempt to use workarounds to avoid the particular application issue, if only a single tool is affected.
  • In the event of a sewer failure:
    • Do not use or flush toilets.
    • Do not use or consume city water if possible.
    • Close nearby public bathrooms.

After

  • For a power failure:
    • Check all electrical equipment for damages.
    • Throw away any perishable food that has exceeded 40° F or appears spoiled.
  • For a water failure:
    • Do not use city water if possible.
    • Follow all boil water advisories issued by the local water agency or University Officials.
  • For a steam failure:
    • Check any devices that rely on university-provided steam to ensure that normal function has been restored.
  • For an information technology failure:
    • Ensure normal functioning of IT systems has been re-established.
  • For a sewer failure:
    • Check bathrooms to ensure that normal function has been restored.

Additional Resources