EHS / Emergency Management / FSU ALERT Emergency Notification System
FSU ALERT is Florida State University's emergency notification system. If there is a condition which threatens the health and safety of persons on campus, university officials will warn the campus community using one or more of the following methods:
Primary:
- www.fsu.edu Home Page
- alerts.fsu.edu Alerts Page
- Outdoor Sirens
- Indoor Sirens
- SMS Text Messages
- Blue-Light Safety Phones
- (850) 644-INFO Hotline
- Reverse-Dialing
- Desktop Alerts
Secondary:
- Voice-mail Message
- RSS Feeds
- Network Login Portals
- Myspace
- FSU Mobile App for
iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Palm, and Android devices - Digital Displays
- Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
Tertiary:
- NOAA Weather Radios
- Two-way Radios
- Variable Message Boards
- Electronic Card-swipe Door Access
- Seminole Cablevision - Information Channel 19
- Television Media
- Radio Media
- Newspaper Media
- Online Media Websites
- Vehicle Public Address Speakers
- Family Connection E-mail List Serve
- FSU Emergency People Locator
- Word of Mouth
FSU ALERT is governed by Florida State University Policy,
OP-G-9.1.3 Emergency Notification and Warning.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Click HERE.
PRIMARY:
www.fsu.edu Front Page: During an emergency at Florida State University, the main university Web Site, www.fsu.edu, will include prominent links to the Alerts Page. Look for one of the following.
alerts.fsu.edu Alerts Page: Everything points here. This is the official source for the most up to date emergency information and announcements. Within minutes, emergency and administration officials will post details regarding the emergency, protective action recommendations, and official announcements regarding cancellations, closures, etc. This page is available 24/7/365 with the latest information about any potential threats, and links to preparedness information.
Outdoor Warning Sirens: FSU has three Outdoor Sirens that cover the Main Campus in Tallahassee, as well as four sirens that cover Innovation Park, Southwest Campus, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and Alumni Village. Click HERE to read more about our siren system and to play samples of what they sound like.
Indoor Sirens: Thirty-six (36) buildings on campus are now equipped with Indoor Sirens, tone and voice alert capabilities. These systems are directly tied to the Outdoor Warning Sirens. As the sirens sound outside, an equivalent message is simultaneously played indoors of these buildings via the fire alarm or other public address system. Click HERE to read more about our indoor siren system.
SMS Text Messages: By registering your cell phone number with the university you will receive emergency text messages alerting you to a current or imminent threat. FSU encourages you to select a unique ringtone on your cell phone for FSU ALERT messages; which will always be sent from of the two same numbers - 23177 or 63079.
- FSU Students: Use Blackboard to register, confirm your registration, or to unsubscribe. Click HERE for details.
- FSU Employees: Use OMNI to register, confirm your registration, or to unsubscribe. Click HERE for details.
- Others: Non-FSUID persons with a legitimate need to receive FSU ALERT Text Messages may APPLY HERE.
E-mail: FSU can quickly alert students, faculty, and staff of emergency conditions by sending an e-mail to your official fsu.edu e-mail address. Don't use your FSU e-mail address often? That's OK. Go to the FSUID Web site to enable e-mail forwarding to a different account. Parents and Families may register to receive emergency e-mails from the FSU Family Connection. All other Non-FSUID persons with a legitimate need to receive FSU ALERT e-mails may APPLY HERE.
Blue-Light Safety Phones: The same blue light system that allows you to contact FSU Police from approximately 400 locations on campus may also be used to alert you during an emergency. As a visual indicator, all the blue strobe lights can be set to blink simultaneously. If you see multiple blue lights flashing, check the Alerts Page to see if a current emergency message is in effect.
(850) 644-INFO Hotline: If you are unable to access the Web, official emergency information may also be accessed by calling (850) 644-4636. Please keep in mind that this recording may take several minutes to update.
Reverse-Dialing: Commonly referred to as "Reverse-911," the University has limited capability to call telephones with a recorded message. Due to current capacity limits, only key university administrators, community first responders and visually-impaired students will receive reverse-dialed voice calls.
Computer Desktop Alerts: Technology Enhanced Classrooms and student computer labs administered by the Office of Technology Integration can be targeted with emergency information pop-up windows on the screens of every computer. This feature will soon expand to include other networks on campus as well.
SECONDARY:
Voice-mail Message: Voice-mail enabled campus telephones, such as in employee offices, may receive an emergency message in their inbox. Due to limitations with our current system, the 'message waiting' indicator light will not be illuminated.
RSS Feeds: Real Simple Syndication is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format. RSS feeds can be read using software called an "RSS reader", "feed reader", or "aggregator", which can be web-based, desktop-based, mobile device or any computerized Internet-connected device. NOTE: Each reader updates at a different rate (e.g. every 15 minutes, once per hour, every couple hours, etc.) For the most current information during an actual emergency, navigate to alerts.fsu.edu. Consult your software provider for details.
Network Login Pages: Two Web sites that most every student, faculty, or staff members visit on a regular basis are BlackBoard and/or OMNI. Emergency information may be posted on the login screens and throughout these Web Sites.
Facebook: FSU ALERT also has a presence on the popular social networking website, Facebook. This will provide Facebook users in the FSU network the opportunity to obtain official emergency information in their news feeds, view pertinent links, videos, photos, as well as interact by participating in interactive discussions and polls. The Page Click HERE to go to the FSU ALERT page on Facebook, and "become a fan" in order to receive notices.
Myspace: FSU ALERT also has a presence on the popular social networking website, Myspace. Click HERE to go to the FSU ALERT Myspace profile and "add as a friend". NOTE: Myspace updates approximately every 15 minutes. For the most current information during an actual emergency, navigate to alerts.fsu.edu.
Twitter: FSU ALERT also has a presence on the popular social networking website, Twitter. Click HERE to go to the FSU ALERT Twitter profile and "follow" to receive emergency information and preparedness tip tweets.
17. FSU Mobile App: Download the FREE FSU Mobile app for your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Palm or Android device HERE. Get FSU ALERT messages by going to NEWS > ALERTS. NOTE: FSU Mobile updates approximately every 15 minutes. For the most current information during an actual emergency, navigate to alerts.fsu.edu.
Digital Displays: FSU ALERT will soon intergrate with the various digital display systems scattered throughout campus. Examples include the LED signs on the parking garages and LCD screens in the College of Business. Once online, a complete listing of integrated systems will be published.
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Message: An XML-based data format for exchanging public warnings and emergencies between alerting technologies. CAP allows a warning message to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning systems to many applications.
Full and Partial FSU ALERT Activations: http://rss.blackboardconnect.com/140076/fsualerts/feed.xml
Information-Only and Public Service Announcements: http://java.apps.fsu.edu/roller/fsualert/feed/entries/rss
Weather Advisories and Warnings:http://fsualert.posterous.com/
Full and Partial FSU ALERT Activations: http://cap.blackboardconnect.com/140076/fsualert/feed.xml
TERTIARY:
NOAA Weather Radios: FSU has nearly 100 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) programmable weather radios distributed throughout campus in residence halls and other key central locations. In the event of severe weather, these radios will automatically sound with the appropriate warning message.
Two-Way Radios: Employees on campus who utilize two-way radios for routine business (for example, Police, Facilities, Housing) will also receive alerts and warnings via their radios from their home office.
Variable Message Boards: These are the boards you are used to seeing along the roadside, which alert you to construction ahead. FSU has several of these boards which can be deployed toward campus entrances to notify inbound drivers of any emergency conditions, such as road closures, which may exist.
Electronic Card-swipe Door Access: The doors on campus which are electronically controlled with the university's access control system can be locked or unlocked with a push of the button by university officials when deemed necessary. For example, during a Tornado Warning, exterior building doors may be automatically unlocked to allow people to seek shelter inside. Likewise, these doors can be simultaneously locked.
Seminole Cablevision - Information Channel 19: FSU Office of Telecommunications operates the campus cable television system, Seminole Cablevision, including all of the on-campus residence halls. Channel 19 is the OTC Information Channel. During an emergency, text messages can be displayed on this channel with additional information.
Television Media: Depending on the nature and severity of the emergency, local television news stations may carry live breaking news or periodic updates regarding an emergency on campus.
- WCTV (CBS)
- Antenna: 6.1
- CenturyLink prism: 6
- Comcast Xfinity: 9, 433 (HD)
- DirectTV: 6
- Dish Network: 6
- Seminole Cable Vision: 9
- WTXL (ABC)
- Antenna: 27.1
- CenturyLink prism: 7
- Comcast Xfinity: 7, 431 (HD)
- DirectTV: 27
- Dish Network: 27
- Seminole Cable Vision: 7
Radio Media: Depending on the nature and severity of the emergency, local radio news stations may carry live breaking news or periodic updates regarding an emergency on campus.
- 88.9FM - WFSU
- 89.7FM - WVFS
- 100.7FM - WFLA
Newspaper Media: Although technically not a breaking news medium, the printed newspapers may include pertinent information in the days following a major incident or emergency.
- Tallahassee Democrat
- FSView & Florida Flambeau
Online Media Websites: Several local media outlets also maintain web sites online which are regularly updated with breaking news and recent articles.
Vehicle Public Address Systems: In cases where an isolated or targeted message may be required, university vehicles equipped with public address speakers (i.e. FSU Police) may be utilized.
Family Connection E-mail List Serve: Parents and Family members will be advised of major emergency situations on FSU's Campus via the Family Connection E-mail List Serve managed by the Dean of Students office. Click here to register.
FSU Emergency People Locator: Following an emergency, its is common for traditional communication methods such as telephones and mobile telephones to fail or become overwhelmed. The FSU ALERT People Locator web page allows students, faculty, and staff to post their current status and emergency instructions for their family members to look up. Try it now.
Word of Mouth: We cannot discount the power of the human voice to spread news and emergency information. University officials, such as FSU Police officers, deans, professors, and other faculty and staff members may be in a position to make emergency notifications. For example, residence hall advisors may go knocking door-to-door to inform you about and emergency and give you instructions. Please follow all lawful orders given to you by a university official.
Likewise, we cannot dismiss the ability for anyone to relay emergency information and instructions. However, if you're not hearing it from an official university source, please verify all information by visiting alerts.fsu.edu.