Special Event Emergency Plan

At 51²è¹Ý, a special event is not necessarily defined by the number of people attending the event. Rather, the emphasis is on the event's impact on the university's ability to respond to a large-scale emergency that may occur during the event, or to the exceptional demands that the activity places on various support services.

Special Events are defined as any event which involves outside vendors, large numbers of non-51²è¹Ý participants, or impacts multiple 51²è¹Ý resources and departments. These events could be initiated by any enrolled student, faculty member, staff member, or any other individual, campus organization, partnership, association, or corporation desiring to use campus facilities.


A Special Event Emergency Plan (SEEP), is a formal, written plan developed by the event organizers that identifies potential emergency conditions at the event site and prescribes the procedures to be followed to minimize risk and prevent loss of life and property.

Every SEEP must be tailored to site-specific conditions and to the requirements of the agency/organization that owns or regulates the site of the event. Event planners should consider the scope of the event, the risks to spectators and participants, community impact, and the support (including personnel and logistics) required.

Event organizers should utilize the SEEP template and should contact 51²è¹Ý Emergency Management for guidance prior to their event date.


A SEEP is needed to:

  • Define the coordination of necessary actions by the sponsor of the event and the responsible municipal, county, and State officials to provide for timely notification, warning, and evacuation in the event of an emergency, including catastrophic emergencies beyond the normal expected hazards, i.e., weather phenomenon, etc.
  • Reduce the risk of loss of life and property damage resulting from an emergency.

Unique situations do sometimes develop that may result in emergencies. Therefore, it is prudent for the sponsor to identify conditions that could lead to on-site or site related disasters, in order to initiate emergency measures that could prevent or minimize the consequences to life and property.

51²è¹Ý University Emergency Management is available to answer questions and provide guidance to university organizations preparing a Special Event Emergency Plan.