WWU to test Western Alert notification system Wednesday, Oct. 15

Western Washington University plans to test its emergency notification system known as Western Alert at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Western Alert is a group of ways to reach students, faculty and staff with important safety information. The following Western Alert elements will be tested on Oct. 15:

• Test voice messages over the campus fire alarm system (building enunciation).
• Sounding Big Ole steam whistle for outdoor alert – a signal to seek information.
• 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 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 360-650-3774 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.