What better reminder for new – and current – West Virginia University students, faculty and staff to sign up for the school’s emergency alert system than an earthquake!

Within hours of Tuesday’s 5.9 earthquake in Virginia, which was felt in Morgantown, almost 200 additional persons had signed up to receive the text alerts, bringing the total to almost 9,000.

The system is activated when there is an immediate threat to the campus community (Emergency Alert) or when weather conditions require a change in University scheduling (Weather Alert). Users can also add additional cell phones, for example spouse’s or parent’s, to their accounts.

“The system plays a key role in getting information out quickly to students and others on campus,” University Police Chief Bob Roberts said. “With the beginning of another academic year, it’s important to make sure as many people as possible have signed up and are familiar with the system.”

The system was used on Tuesday to alert the community that there had been an earthquake, but that there was no threat or damage on campus and that – for the few who had left buildings – it was safe to return as long as no alarms were sounding.

Last winter it was used to alert the community to class cancellations, and has also been activated on rare occasions for an armed robbery or shooting.

When activated, the system sends a text alert to the registered phone number (or email or both) identifying the emergency. An all-clear is also sent when the situation is resolved. In addition to text and e-mail, messages are displayed on the more than 70 InfoStations located throughout campus. It also displays on a cable channel viewable in residence halls.

The system will be tested at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29. Anyone subscriber who does not receive the alert should call the OIT Help Desk at 304-293-4444.

“Monday’s test will enable those new to the system to experience it, and others to become reacquainted,” Roberts said.

Users can sign up at http://emergency.wvu.edu/alert.

The service is provided by e2Campus, with technical support from University Relations/Web.

-WVU-

jb/08/24/11

CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6997

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