Test of UB Alert notifications to be held

Campus safety is a significant concern for many colleges and universities around the country.  Recent tragic events on campuses in Oregon, California and elsewhere have increased awareness about the need for emergency preparation and response.

At UB, all members of the university community are encouraged to go to the university’s emergency management website to review campus emergency procedures and sign up to receive UB Alert text messages.

The UB Alert notification system is activated during an emergency or incident that threatens the safety of the UB community or significantly disrupts university operations.

A university-wide test of the UB Alert system will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12. The test provides an opportunity for members of the university community to become more aware of UB’s emergency procedures and to sign up for UB Alert text messaging if they are not currently subscribed.

In the event of an actual emergency, a UB Alert message is emailed to all students, faculty and staff who have buffalo.edu accounts. A text alert is sent to the mobile phones of those who have signed up for the UB Alert text messaging service.

Alerts also are posted to UB’s main websites, including the homepage, and are shared in social media via the UB Alert Twitter account and UB’s Facebook page. All UB Alert messages direct the UB community to UB’s emergency website, which is updated with the latest information during an emergency. The UB Alert system also can post alert messages to digital signage in UB buildings and send voice alerts to emergency blue light phones on UB’s North and South campuses.

Emergency information is also available on UB’s campus radio station 1620AM or by calling 716-645-NEWS.

Weather, fire, serious crime or unexpected interruptions to university operations, such as a power outage, may prompt UB Alert notifications, said UB Police Chief Jerry Schoenle. The federal Clery Act requires the university to send timely warnings to the campus community regarding certain crimes — especially those that present an immediate danger — so that people can take steps to protect themselves.

UB Police, Schoenle said, conduct regular drills on active shooter, hostile intruder, search and rescue, and weather-related emergencies, among other scenarios.  Emergency response teams within University Life and Services also conduct regular drills on scenarios that would significantly impact UB’s student population, such as on-campus fires, active shooter and out-of-town bus accidents involving students. 

UB’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety regularly conducts emergency drills on hazard materials, lab biosafety and building evacuations. They also give tours to local emergency responders to familiarize them with on-campus buildings. University Communications performs weekly tests of the UB Alert system and regularly drills on crisis communications procedures.

These university units periodically conduct joint drills and often work closely together in an emergency.  A university-wide emergency oversight committee meets monthly to discuss procedures, debrief after incidents and take steps to improve university preparedness.

UB’s emergency website contains helpful information on emergency procedures and on how members of the university can best protect themselves during a fire or weather emergency, and in the event of an active shooter, a hostile intruder or bomb threat.