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.
‘Active threat’ training today, April 20
This morning, SIU Carbondale is conducting “active threat” training at various campus locations to assess and improve how we respond to emergencies. The most affected areas include Bowyer Hall and the Agriculture Building. People who are most involved have already been contacted.
We conduct exercises annually, but this year’s drill involves more people and is more visible. We have been planning for it since last fall. We understand some people may find the sight of armed officers or barricaded roads unnerving, but recent headlines serve as a grim reminder of why we need to test and refine our response.
To avoid causing distress, we have communicated in advance with our faculty, staff, students and families through multiple newsletter articles, emails and posters, and we have notified the local news media. Students experiencing distress can receive assistance by calling Counseling and Psychological Services CAPS at 618-453-5371; employees can receive assistance from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
If this were a real emergency, students, faculty and staff would receive instructions to “Run. Hide. Fight.” To learn more, visit the Active Shooter page on the Emergency Preparedness website.
To learn more about what to do in various situations, visit the Emergency Preparedness website.