Spring test of emergency system planned
Posted on: 3/5/2015; Updated on: 3/5/2015By UofSC Staff
The University of South Carolina’s emergency management team will conduct its spring test of the Carolina Alert Emergency Notification System sometime between Monday (March 9) and Friday (March 13).
Last semester’s test was conducted at a specific date and time, but the upcoming test will be unannounced. The communication vehicles used in this test include: Carolina Alert website, Facebook, Twitter, RSS feed, text messages, email, indoor and outdoor warning sirens, television message crawler and AlertFM.
Even though the university will test 10 different communication devices during the exercise, in an actual emergency, text messages – along with sirens and other disruptive media – are used only if there is a threat to campus that requires people to change their behavior (seek shelter, evacuate, etc.)
In situations where an imminent threat does not exist or an immediate change in behavior is not required -- crime alerts, long range weather events and situations that have already been contained -- the community is notified through the Carolina Alert website, Facebook and Twitter. Other select communication vehicles also may be used. Those notifications can be sent directly to mobile phones by following Carolina Alert on Twitter and adjusting account settings to have tweets sent directly to mobile devices.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to log into my.sc.edu or VIP before the test to update their contact information, as well as join the Carolina Alert Facebook and Twitter groups.
Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about