Status

Currently, there is no emergency at Washington University. In the event of an emergency, this site will be regularly updated to provide information to the University community.

Resources > Washington University in St. Louis Emergency Notification System (WUSTL-ENS) Q&A

What is WUSTL-ENS?

WUSTL-ENS (Washington University in St. Louis emergency notification system) is the university's multi-faceted emergency notification system for alerting students, faculty, staff and other members of our community in an emergency. WUSTL-ENS is comprised of a network of communications channels, including (but not limited to):

• The emergency web page … emergency.wustl.edu … will be the best source of the most current and accurate information, safety instructions, and educational materials in an emergency. It will be continually updated during an incident. The emergency web page is easily accessible directly and from a link on wustl.edu, the university's home page. In addition, many university and school web pages contain a clickable link using the "Where To Go in emergencies" icon. (Shown at right.)
• The university hotline … (314-935-9000/local and 888-234-2863/out- of-area) … will offer recorded updates on a regular basis.
• WUSTL Alerts will deliver urgent notification/warnings using voice mail, email and text messages to everyone in the student information (SIS) and human resources databases (HRMS) as well as parents and others who have provided their contact information. Only those who have provided their cell phone numbers will receive text and voice mail WUSTL Alerts emergency messages. The WUSTL Alerts system will be tested twice a year, and the timing of these tests will be announced in advance.
• All students, faculty and staff will receive a broad-cast email to their @wustl.edu address
• Campus sirens on the Danforth Campus will sound followed by announcements about the specific emergency. These signals will be relayed to buildings on the other WUSTL campuses.
• Emergency messages will appear on TV monitors in the Danforth University Center, screens on university computer labs, and some other buildings on the Danforth campus, message boards, and on local radio and TV stations and in WUSTL student media

How does WUSTL Alerts work?

In the event of a serious university-wide emergency, WUSTL students, faculty and staff will receive an emergency message providing basic information about the type of emergency, safety instructions and how/where to get additional information. Decisions to activate the WUSTL Alerts system are made on a situation- by -situation basis by key members of the University's Incident Assessment Team. WUSTL Alerts supports/strengthens other emergency information sources in WUSTL-ENS the university's comprehensive emergency notification system.

When will WUSTL Alerts be used?

The University has determined WUSTL Alerts will only be used for emergencies that pose an "immediate threat" to the campus community, in life-threatening situations, and when the safety of the members of our community could be in serious danger. In less catastrophic situations, the university may issue a "Crime Alert" which can be posted, mailed, faxed or emailed depending on the nature and scope of the circumstances.

What should I do when I get a WUSTL Alerts emergency message?

Follow the instructions in the WUSTL Alerts message and, if possible, check emergency.wustl.edu for additional information and instructions. (Before an emergency occurs, visit this web site to learn safety measures and instructions and be prepared for different emergency situations.) Check with others in your location to be sure they also received the message and, if not, inform them of the alert and the instructions. Do NOT go to the location of the incident, rather follow the instructions to "shelter in place" or "evacuate immediately" or "other instructions" until the "all clear" message is received.

Who is included in WUSTL Alerts?

Washington University students, faculty and staff with an @wustl.edu address will automatically receive emergency messages via email. To receive text and voice mail messages to cell phones, it is necessary to enter your cell phone in the student information system (SIS) or the human resources management system (HRMS). Faculty and staff may also enter their campus and/or home phone numbers (in addition to their cell phone number) in HRMS. Only those who have provided their cell phone number will receive WUSTL Alerts emergency text messages. Parents and others may register their cell phones and/or email to receive these messages by going to emergency.wustl.edu and following the instructions in the "parents, family and others" category.

How will I know when I receive a WUSTL Alerts emergency message?

WUSTL Alerts messages will come to you in a variety of ways: a voice message to your cell phone and/or home phone will show up on your caller ID as 314-935-9000, a text message to your cell phone will show up as 89361, and emergency e-mails will be from WUAlerts@wustl.edu.

What do I need to do to be sure I receive WUSTL Alerts messages in an emergency?

Go to emergency.wustl.edu and follow the instructions to be sure the university has your current contact information (email, campus phone, etc) and enter your cell phone number.

Will I receive a test message after I register my contact information?

No. You will not automatically receive a test message after you provide your contact information. The university plans tests of WUSTL Alerts at least twice a year. All tests of WUSTL Alerts will be announced in advance via the Record, Student Life and on emergency.wustl.edu.

How is my contact information updated?

Each member of the WUSTL community is responsible for making sure his/her contact information is accurate and current in the Student Information System (SIS) or the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

Does the university correct personal contact information when it is wrong?

No. It is the responsibility of each member of the community to ensure his/her information is correct. Contact information can be added or changed at any time.

Will my contact information be shared with anyone?

No, the information you provide is for emergency communications only.

Is there a charge for registering my contact information and/or receiving WUSTL Alerts emergency messages?

The university does not charge a fee for the WUSTL Alerts system. However, depending on your wireless carrier and your calling plan, you may be charged when you receive an WUSTL Alerts text message.

What if I forget to update my contact information or my cell phone number changes?

WUSTL Alerts can only send messages to the contact information in the SIS and HRMS systems. If you have not updated your information or have entered incorrect information into the system, the message will go to inaccurate contact points and you will not receive the WUSTL Alerts emergency messages.

Will I receive unsolicited messages (SPAM) on my cell phone or email account from WUSTL Alerts?

No, WUSTL Alerts is used only for the transmission of emergency messages and only authorized university personnel are permitted to send messages using WUSTL Alerts.

If I don’t have a text-messaging capable cell phone, does this mean I won’t get WUSTL Alerts emergency messages?

As long as the university has some accurate/current contact information for you, you should receive an WUSTL Alerts emergency message. WUSTL Alerts is designed to send messages through voicemail, email and text messaging. So if you don’t have text messaging capability, you should be able to receive these alerts through the other communication channels. WUSTL Alerts can send voice messages to campus/office phones, home phones (students/faculty only), and cell phones. If no one answers, and voice mail is an option on that particular phone, a voice mail message is left. WUSTL Alerts can only send text messages to cell phones that are text-messaging capable and have that option turned on.

If I switch cell phone providers but keep the same number, what do I have to do to remain in the WUSTL Alerts system?

It is not necessary to do anything if you switch cell phone providers as WUSTL Alerts is not carrier–dependent.

What if I have a personal email and I prefer to receive WUSTL Alerts emergency messages at that address rather than, or in addition to, my @wustl.edu address?

At this time, WUSTL Alerts can send messages only to @wustl.edu addresses.

Do I need to install software on my PDA or cell phone to receive WUSTL Alerts text messages or email?

No, assuming your mobile phone plan allows you to receive text messages. If you have questions about your ability to receive text messages, contact your service provider for this information. However, some Blackberry models require different browser settings in order to view and/or reply to the message. Listed below are details on browser configuration and what is needed to be able to confirm receipt of messages via Blackberry links: Instructions: Please go to Options>Advanced Options>Browser - make sure the default browser configuration is the Blackberry Browser and the default MDS browser configuration is also the Blackberry Browser. You may also want to go to the Browser Push menu pick and ensure "push", "mds push", and "wap push" are all enabled.

Why do I need to check my configuration?

Blackberry devices provide up to three browser configurations:

• WAP Browser: Connects to the network using a WAP gateway
• Blackberry Browser: Connects to the network using the Mobile Data Service of the Blackberry Enterprise Server
• Internet Browser: Connects to the network using the Blackberry Internet Service

Of the three, only the Blackberry Browser provides SSL capabilities, so it must be available to the Blackberry user in order to confirm emergency broadcasts. It must be the default browser for following links in e-mail. And the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) must be configured to allow Mobile Data Services (MDS) with SSL/TLS options, must itself have access to the emergency site over SSL, and have policies in place to permit the users to use it.

What should I do if other members of the university community receive a WUSTL Alerts emergency message and I do not?

Check your contact information in SIS or HRMS. Update any missing or incorrect information. If all your contact information is current and accurate and you still don’t receive emergency messages, contact Matt Arthur, director incident communications solutions, (arthur@wustl.edu).

Can my parents, spouse or other family members receive emergency messages through WUSTL Alerts?

Yes, currently WUSTL Alerts has the capability to do this. Parents, spouses, and others may register to receive emergency messages by going to emergency.wustl.edu and following the instructions to register their contact information in the "parents, family and others" category.

When will I be removed from WUSTL Alerts?

When you are no longer affiliated with the university as a student, faculty or staff member, you will automatically be dropped from WUSTL Alerts.

On what devices will I receive a WUSTL Alerts emergency message?

Depending on the situation, you will receive WUSTL Alerts emergency messages on all phone numbers (both cell and landlines) included in your contact information in HRMS or SIS. In addition, an email message will be sent to your @wustl.edu address. If you have a private phone not in Ternion, be sure to add that number to your HRMS or SIS account. WUSTL Alerts text messages can only be sent to text- capable phones listed in the system.

Will I receive all my WUSTL Alerts emergency messages at the same time?

You will receive messages at different times. The speed of delivery varies among individual cell phone carriers and email providers and some messages could be delayed. However, the university understands the limitations of single delivery systems and, therefore, uses multiple points of contact to achieve our goal to reach a critical mass of our community with the critical information as quickly as possible.

Where should I go to learn about WUSTL emergency preparedness?

The emergency web page, emergency.wustl.edu, is the best source of preparedness information for a wide variety of possible emergencies. All members of the community are encouraged to visit this site and learn how to be prepared and stay safe in an emergency.

If I have additional questions about WUSTL-ENS and/or WUSTL Alerts whom should I contact?

Contact Matt Arthur, director incident communications solutions, (arthur@wustl.edu). What if I have general questions about university emergency preparedness? Contact Mark Bagby, emergency preparedness coordinator, (bagbym@wustl.edu).

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