Following the test of the University’s UO Alert emergency text message notification system on Wednesday afternoon, University officials were pleased by the speed and effectiveness of the system.
The emergency alert test text was sent to 17,321 cell phones between 4:01 and 4:04 p.m. On average, it took about 30 seconds for the message to be delivered, with the longest delay being about 10 minutes. University Director of Emergency Management Program Andre LeDuc said 126 text messages were not delivered, which was most likely due to incorrect phone numbers being stored in the system.
“From everything we have seen thus far, it was a success. We were very impressed with the software and its ability to get the message out,” LeDuc said.
The next step for the UO Alert emergency notification system is more testing. During spring break, LeDuc hopes to test the “smart classroom” tool, which would alert students in more than 60 smart classrooms on campus. The rooms, which are primarily large lecture halls, are equipped to automatically receive emergency alerts. LeDuc plans to begin block system tests in the fall to see how well the various aspects of the system function in unison.
The system the University has chosen emphasizes integration. In addition to text message, Internet and smart classroom alerts, the Intrado First Responder system, also seen at Columbia University in New York, is integrated into the Community Emergency Notification System used by Lane County and the City of Eugene.
“CENS is tied into the 911 system for the community. It’s a pretty unique collaboration that not a lot of other counties or cities have,” LeDuc said. “We cross-train with central 911 so that they can launch on our behalf. We wanted to integrate with fire, EMS, and police.”
Linda Cook, Lane County emergency preparedness manager, explains that through this system, county and city officials can access the emergency information provided by the University.
“If the University has some type of emergency situation happen, our communication center could launch a message through their dispatch center,” Cook said.
If you were among the students who replied to the emergency text on Wednesday, don’t be offended that you didn’t hear back from anyone at the University. LeDuc explained that while it is possible to arrange for an automated voice message to send to people who reply to the emergency text, the University hasn’t set one up yet.
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