19,295 people reached for snow warning
The newly established emergency alert messaging system was used for the first time to inform students system-wide of USU campuses closing due to a blizzard warning.
The message reached 19,295 people on USU’s Logan campus via voice messages, e-mails and text messages. More than 12,000 messages were sent to regional campus students.
“This message alert system is a valuable tool for us,” Emergency Manager Judy Crockett said. “I have worked here for 24 years and just to see the changes from a calling tree to this is incredible.”
Crockett said USU ‘s emergency alert messaging system started to come into play four years ago. A suitable alert system was chosen, but no funding was available to pay for it. Last year, Student Services offered to pay for the system the first year.
“It is a slick system – easy to use,” Crockett said. “I log in on the Internet from anywhere, create the message and then it is sent out.”
Steve Mecham, public safety chief, said all messages worthy of being sent through the alert system are sent to the Public Safety Department. The department then converses with the Emergency Committee and they decide if the message should reach the entire campus and regional campuses.
“This is the first time we have been able to get information about overall safety and security so quickly,” Mecham said. “Students know that if they have signed up they will get the important information.”
Dave Cowley, Emergency Committee president, said, “I think it was successful. It gave us an opportunity to learn how we can improve in the future and how the system works in an actual situation.”
Although the alert system worked effectively, Crockett said one minor difficulty presented itself. When she was told to send the message, she thought it applied only to the Logan campus. She was told a couple hours later to send it to the regional campuses as well.
“To me, it just affected this campus, but I didn’t think of the long term,” Crockett said. “I guess it applied to other campuses because some classes are broadcast from the Logan campus.”
Not only did the message go through the emergency system, it went through the older calling-tree system.
USU PR senior Jesse Dredge said during a morning class his professor informed him of the alert and five minutes later Dredge received an e-mail and text message.
Some students called in and said they did not receive the message. They were then shown how to re-register for the message system. Along with registering online, students can follow the Emergency Department’s Facebook and Twitter account to receive messages.
“Students are afraid we are going to use the information to contact them to pay a parking ticket or tuition, but this is for emergencies only,” Crockett said.
To learn more about the USU Emergency Alert Messaging System and to register to receive notifications visit www.usu.edu/alert.
– kayla.hall@aggiemail.usu.edu