Activities planned for this semester will help members of the UCF community plan for disasters and protect themselves and their property.

The March 12 region-wide emergency exercise that will bring first responders from across Central Florida to UCF to work through a simulated crisis is among this spring’s highlights.

Led by UCF’s Office of Emergency Management, the exercise will allow police officers, firefighters and other agencies to practice critical response and test new techniques that are crucial in keeping the community safe.

Since the exercise will take place during Spring Break, classes will not be impacted.

Additional highlights include:

-January: Starting this month, students, faculty and staff members can take the active shooter preparedness course “Shots Fired: When Lightning Strikes” online.

The course has been taught to thousands in person since 2009 in classes led by representatives from UCF Police and Emergency Management.

-February: UCF Police will engrave laptops, tablets, bicycles, skateboards and other valuables for free as part of the nationally recognized Operation ID program.

In the event an item is lost or stolen, UCF Police and other law enforcement agencies can use the driver’s license number engraved on the item to track it down and return it to its rightful owner.

Engraving will take place Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Library and Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Library and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. near the Hercules Community Room.

Students also can register other property information, including an item’s make, model and serial number, with UCF Police. All of the registration information is available only to law enforcement agencies.

Property registration is free and can be done online at any time by visiting the property registry.

-March: KNIGHTSHARE, UCF’s annual week dedicated to emergency preparation, response and recovery, will return to campus March 16-20.

The week will include classes and training about disaster readiness and crisis response.

On Wednesday, March 18, local, state and federal emergency responders during a daylong expo on Memory Mall will answer questions and show off the vehicles and equipment they use to keep the community safe.

-April: UCF Police will teach women how to identify suspicious situations and protect themselves from harm during a basic self-defense course.

The class, which is offered monthly, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Police Department.

Registration is available at police.ucf.edu/womens-self-defense.

For more safety tips or additional information about emergency preparedness, visit the UCF Police and Office of Emergency Management websitest: UCF Police and Emergency and Safety Resources.