SIU Emergency Notification
SIU Emergency Notification system
SIU uses multiple systems of emergency communication to distribute news and instructions during an emergency, including:
Before an emergency, please make yourself aware of all of the distribution methods (listed below).
Internet
During an emergency, this page will contain information, instructions and contacts regarding the situation.
Text Messaging and Email
The Rave Mobile Safety alert system is used to send emergency text messages to cellphones and to campus email addresses of students, faculty and staff. The message may alert you to an emergency situation, including university closures, asking you to take action or both. The system provides some weather warnings, including severe thunderstorm, tornado, flash flood and winter storm. Because the messages are short, you may need to go to another source of university emergency information for more details.
For Students
- To receive emergency text messages, students must have current contact information in SalukiNet. (View instructions)
- Students will receive alerts via email as long as they have claimed their account and created an '@siu.edu' email address.
For Faculty and Staff
- Members of faculty and staff must provide a current cellphone number through SalukiNet to receive emergency text messages. (View instructions)
- Faculty/staff SIU email addresses are automatically entered into the alert system. If you forward your SIU email account to another, you may need to white list it so it does not get flagged as spam.
Radio
A selected network of locations and personnel on campus is set up to receive SIU Alerts from the Department of Public Safety and in turn, notify the occupants of their building of the emergency. These messages are communicated through a radio notification system that can reach the Southern Illinois Airport and Touch of Nature. More than 200 scanners were provided to campus personnel for the network.
You can listen to the SIU emergency broadcasts on 453.800 MHz.
Loudspeakers
Loudspeakers exist in a number of buildings on campus, including:
- Recreation Center
- Student Center
- Brush Towers
- Student Health Center
- SIU Arena
During an emergency, a loudspeaker system may be used to convey SIU Alerts and/or other information. Please note there are also warning sirens for campus and the city of Carbondale. These are activated by the City of Carbondale Emergency Management Services.
Building Emergency Response Team (BERT)
A network of volunteer personnel is developed to assist with the creation of emergency response plans and procedures. These personnel work not only as a large team, but also as individual building teams to develop, implement, inform and test emergency procedures in all buildings on campus.
During an emergency, the BERT team will provide information relevant to your building, including evacuation, assembly and SIU Alerts. Take time to learn who the BERT leader is for your building. This information is on the BERT website and on Emergency Response Posters located in your building.
EOC planning "active threat exercise" for campus in April
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) takes a leadership role in ensuring that the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus remains a safe place to live, learn and work by preparing for and responding to emergencies. The Emergency Operations Center is comprised of members from the Department of Public Safety, faculty, University Housing, Student Health Services, University Communications and Marketing, and other key departments across campus. The EOC meets on a regular basis to assess the current environment, anticipate issues that affect public safety, plan and implement safety measures, and keep the campus community informed on how to stay safe.
Each year, the EOC conducts exercises with a simulated scenario to assess how several campus departments work together to respond to emergencies and to analyze strengths and assess areas for improvement. The exercises help the campus be better prepared in the event of an actual emergency.
Last fall, the EOC began planning for an exercise this spring designed to engage the campus in becoming better prepared. Safety preparedness is an essential part of the school emergency plan so that students and staff can act to maximize safety in the event of a school emergency.
In many cases, active threats on campus can be unpredictable in nature and can evolve quickly, and recent national tragedies remind everyone that the risk is real. Safety planning will include a continuum of activities for students and staff and combine learning and practice drills. All active threat safety preparedness exercises will be designed to minimize the potential for causing or creating a traumatic experience for students and staff who are participating in the safety exercises.
Planning for the April exercise is underway. There will be additional details forthcoming on the date, time, the nature of the exercise and how the different groups on campus will be involved. Check back here to learn more and ensure you are signed up for alerts.