WWU to Test Western Alert Notification System Thursday, Oct. 15

Western Washington University plans to test its emergency notification system known as Western Alert at 9:40 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.

At the same time as the Western Alert test, a small pilot group of faculty, staff and students will be participating in a test lockdown drill on campus.

Western Alert is a group of ways to reach students, faculty and staff with important safety information. The alert system typically is tested twice a year – in the fall and spring. The following Western Alert elements will be tested on Oct. 15:

  • Desktop notification on installed computers throughout campus, including offices, classrooms and computer labs where a test message will be broadcast.  Users need to only click on the green “Acknowledge” button to make the test message disappear.
  • Test voice messages over the campus fire alarm system (building enunciation).
  • Sending text messages to everyone who has registered in Web4U at MyWestern.
  • Test emails to students, faculty and staff.
  • Posting a Western Alert message on the emergency communication webpage, emergency.wwu.edu and university homepage.
  • Posting a message on Western’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

On Oct. 15, a test voice message (building enunciation) will be repeated several times in buildings as well as some outside speakers at: the university tennis courts, the south campus oval at the Communications Facility, and at the Old Main lawn.  Amber fire alarm strobes also will flash in the main corridors of academic buildings and bathrooms.

A critical element of Western Alert, a text message is one of the most reliable ways to quickly provide emergency information.  Even if users do not regularly text on their cell phones, most phones are capable of receiving text information.  Western students, faculty and staff who have not yet registered to receive Western Alerts via text message are asked to update their personal information via the Web4U application.  Employees may also call the Human Resources Department at 650-3774 for assistance in signing up.

To date, 94 percent of WWU students, 64 percent of staff and 57 percent of faculty members have provided their cell phone numbers to Web4U to receive emergency text messages. 

Concurrent with the Western Alert test, a small pilot group will be participating in a lockdown drill to practice response actions in the unlikely event of an act of violence on campus.  Participants are receiving advance guidance. Feedback from participants will be gathered to further improve on an enhanced drill next spring.

People on campus may see a few offices and classrooms practicing lockdown procedures; please know this is only a drill.

Representatives from the Counseling Center (650-3164) and state Employee Assistance Program will be available during and after the drill to provide support as needed to participating students and employees.  Please contact them directly for assistance.

With the addition of newer Western Alert elements such as outdoor speakers, building enunciation and desktop computer notification, the Big Ole steam whistle will no longer be used in Western Alerts.

For more information, visit Western’s Safety and Emergency Information webpage.