Most likely, non-emergency communications equipment and traditional mass notification systems are already in place at your institution. With some adjustments, these, combined with newly installed solutions, might be able to provide much of the coverage your institution needs during a disaster.
A large group of campus emergency managers from around the nation have developed the following prototype mass notification text messages. The samples listed below are used by UCLA.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the pros and cons of the more commonly used emergency alert systems. Deploying multiple modes will help to ensure the strengths of one solution compensate for the weaknesses of others. Also, be certain to account for the hearing and sight impaired.
Read Campus Safety magazine's April 2008 Mass Notification Study to find out what percentage of students are signing up to receive e-mail and text-message alerts.
Florida State University (FSU) uses the opt-out approach to sign up students for its emergency alert text messaging programand has an 85 percent participation rate.
A major social networking company has agreed to mirror UCLA’s Web site during emergencies. If all goes according to plan, this pilot program will prevent the university’s site from crashing due to an overload of traffic that often occurs when disasters strikes.
I’m always amazed at the number of armchair quarterbacks who are out there. You know the type: They never get involved in any organization or with any events, yet they are the first to complain and give advice when something happens that they don’t like.
Recent tragic events have shined a giant spotlight on college campuses’ crisis communication tools and their limitations. While it is extremely challenging to prepare for every crisis situation, multichannel communication tools significantly improve a campus’ ability to reach its community in the fastest, most efficient and effective method possible. As such, these tools must be a cornerstone of any prudent college or university crisis response plan.
In this webinar, attendees will learn the observable behaviors people exhibit as they head down a path of violence so we can help prevent the preventable.
This discussion will help participants analyze, understand, and assess their own program effectiveness.
