Proactively Enhancing Campus-Wide Emergency Notification
Overview
Location: St. Joseph, MO
Campus Type: City
Enrollment: 4,395
Faculty: 509
Campus Size: 723acres
Building Count: 21
Mindful of the increase in school shootings and other incidents, Missouri Western State University looked to enhance its emergency notification system. Predominantly a commuter campus, the University needed a comprehensive solution that would allow it to reach students, faculty, and personnel using various methods. Following the Alertus system installation, Missouri Western implemented a suspicious package emergency scenario test; not long after, the University experienced its first real emergency in the form of a bomb threat, resulting in a campus-wide evacuation.
Mark Mabe, Director of Information Technology Services at Missouri Western State University, discusses the University’s unique challenges and solutions.
Challenge
Over the last several years, events have occurred on college campuses that prompted us to focus our attention on protecting our constituents on campus. It led us to realize what areas needed improvement and what opportunities we needed to take advantage of in the marketplace. We studied those opportunities and invested money, time, and personnel resources to enhance our emergency notification system (ENS).
Solution
We’re predominantly a commuter campus, so we have an extensive population cycling on and off campus daily. When enhancing our ENS, the delivery of notifications to faculty, staff, and students on and off campus needed to be considered. That’s why, along with Alertus, we implemented SMS alerts to reach them during an emergency, no matter where they are.
We focused on anchor technologies that would help build a strong foundation as we deployed a more comprehensive system. We were interested in reliable, dependable, and affordable technologies, and Alertus’ Alert Beacon fit the bill. In addition to the Alert Beacons, Missouri Western implemented other Alertus products. Including text-to-speech speakers, cable TV override, outdoor strobes and PA systems, and VoIP telephones. By implementing a wide range of notification mediums, we feel we have the most comprehensive emergency notification system in the United States.
Multiple Means of Communication
Redundant communication paths reduce errors and make disseminating information in an emergency easier. We have Alertus text-to-speech speakers tied directly into our Alert Beacons. The Alert Beacon sends the message to the annunciator, and the processor converts that text into speech which plays through the speaker. Through the Alert Beacons' audible and visual alerting, we can accommodate everyone across our campus during an emergency regardless of disability; everyone deserves the right to be notified.
Suspicious Package Emergency Scenario Test
Last fall, we conducted a test to imitate a suspicious package scenario. We made up a suspicious package, located it in a building, notified personnel across campus and in the building, and proceeded to simulate the emergency. After discovering the box, an individual called the campus police, who activated the Alertus System. Everyone in the building heard the Alertus text-to-speech message and immediately evacuated the building. The campus police entered, inspected the facility, and then gave the all-clear for students to re-enter.
If that had been an actual situation and Missouri Western didn’t have Alertus, we would’ve only had a call tree and sirens. Additionally, we would’ve had the two campus police members working that day to get the message out, control crowds, clear the building, and secure the package. Not only would it have been inefficient, but it could also have been disastrous.
Bomb Threat, Campus Evacuation
One day, I was sitting in my office, and the Alertus system fired up. As soon as I heard the Alert Beacons sound in the hallway, I called the campus police to ensure it was an emergency. They told me there was a bomb threat in an unspecified location on campus. I immediately hung up. We triggered the message to evacuate the building through the Alertus System, and everyone did as they were supposed. No one stayed back, no one doubted the alert, and all the buildings emptied.
Thank goodness we had the Alertus system in place.