Spring 2008

(Download the .pdf version - Adobe Acrobat Reader needed)

Emergency system to add sirens, text messaging

Adding to its ability to communicate in an emergency, the university will install an early warning system capable of siren and voice alerts across the campus and has begun collecting cell phone numbers for the purpose of alerting the campus by text message.

Installation will begin soon, with a goal of completion by January. The warning system could be used in any number of ways – whether the emergency is weatherrelated, such as an approaching tornado, or is more specific to the campus.

Students, faculty and staff may register to have text messages with emergency information sent to their cell phones. If there is an emergency message issued by the university regarding class cancellations or delays due to weather or other emergency conditions, an alert will be sent to everyone who has registered their textenabled cell phones. Since the number of characters for such a message is limited, the message likely will direct recipients to the university’s home page. (Standard text messaging fees would apply. Sign-up is voluntary. The university will only send notification messages in the event of an emergency or to test the system.)

“We understand the need to get timely information to the campus in an emergency,” David Rainer, associate vice chancellor for environmental health and safety said. “We also know that even in the best of times there are barriers to getting a timely message out to 40,000 students, employees and campus visitors. Our goal is to create a range of communication options and redundancies that give us the best chance to reach the most people as quickly as possible. Text messaging and the early warning system are logical additions to our communications tools.”

The university currently communicates in an emergency through the Internet home page – www.ncsu.edu, e-mail, building liaisons, media reports – including campus media – and a campus hotline – 919.513.8888.

The Office of Parents & Families Services will send students’ families pertinent information about the emergency and any related changes to housing, dining, safety and class operations via several means, including sending announcements to the Parents & Families Association email list, recorded messages and automatic-email replies on the Parents’ HelpLine, and updates at www.ncsu.edu/for_parents.

“At NC State, we continually evaluate our emergency preparedness,” he said. “We hold drills with campus decisionmakers and with area emergency-response agencies that allow us to practice any number of scenarios. We also take steps to regularly communicate with students, employees and parents about campus safety measures.

“No crisis proceeds according to plan,” Rainer added. “By drilling and practicing, we give ourselves the opportunity to make decisions faster and to anticipate problems. Those are important advantages in an emergency.”

* Americana
* Bulletin
* The Nubian Message
* First Year College Parents' newsletter
* The State of Living & Learning
* Technician