Source: Steve Galitzer, 785-532-5856, galitz@k-state.edu;
Website: http://www.k-state.edu/safety/alerts
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

UNIVERSITY'S EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO UNDERGO ROUTINE TEST OCT. 4

MANHATTAN -- At about 10:15 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4, Kansas State University will conduct a test of K-State Alerts, the university's emergency notification system.

Emergency notification channels to be tested include: text messaging, automated phone calls, e-mail to all K-State accounts and the new alert beacons in various buildings across the Manhattan campus.

K-State officials also now have the ability to post emergency information directly to the university's home page. This new feature also will be tested.

K-State Alerts is used when a dangerous condition exists on campus, such as an active shooter or university closure due to severe weather.

Steve Galitzer, director of environmental health and safety at K-State, said that K-State Alerts is tested twice a year to ensure that it will work during an actual emergency.

During the test, text messages, automated phone calls and e-mails will be sent out. In addition, the wall-mounted alert beacons will emit a loud siren, flash strobe lights and provide digital scrolling text for two full minutes. They cannot be turned off during the test.

To sign up to receive emergency notifications by text message or an automated phone call, students, faculty and staff with active K-State eIDs must enroll in K-State Alerts through the eProfile system. Eligible K-Staters can add contact information of parents, children and spouses when they sign up. The eProfile system is available at http://eid.k-state.edu.

For text messages, factors such as service provider, coverage area and total load on local communication towers can impact when and if users receive messages.

Those who already subscribe to text message and automated phone calls won't need to re-register, but officials recommend checking the website to make sure K-State has current phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Individuals who sign up for the service and do not receive the test alert or any other alerts should contact K-State's IT Help Desk at 800-865-6143 or 785-532-7722. Users are responsible for any messaging charges from their phone service providers and for keeping their emergency contact information up to date.

More information is available at http://www.k-state.edu/safety/alerts.