UH Schedules Another Emergency Alert by Text But Is Silent on Testing Other Crisis Channels

The University of Hawaii has a test planned of its Emergency Notification System that uses text messaging in a few days. We've become more accepting of TM as a way to communicate in a crisis since earlier posts here, now that we're doing quite a bit of texting. But as suggested here many times, a campus emergency notification can't end with text messaging, especially since there’s some evidence that students on other campuses haven't been all that enthused about signing up for emergency alerts.

The University of Hawaii “Guideline for Emergency Communication Policy and Procedure” alludes to “alternate methods of communications” that can be employed, but note how they’re mentioned:

“In the event of a power outage at the receiver end (when electronic methods are used), this system will be disabled and alternate methods of communication used.”

This suggests the alternate methods aren’t intended for use in the absence of a power outage. Try reading the procedure yourself and see what you think.

Going Full Court Press

We still believe what we wrote here on October 26, 2007 should be the guideline for UH's emergency alert system:

Any threat to the security of the campus community warranting an alert to students and faculty will be disseminated by all available means – text messaging, emails, loudspeakers in buildings and in the campus’s exterior spaces, and broadcasts over KTUH and the commercial stations.

Why WOULDN’T the University use all available means to send an emergency message? It's a slam-dunk certainty that the Emergency Notification System (using group telephone and email) won’t reach everyone. The campus radio station, in-building loud speakers, roving campus patrols with speakers and every other method must be used each and every time there’s a need to communicate about an on-campus crisis.

We just can't imagine it any other way. In fact, Tuesday’s test quite rightly should include ALL of those channels.

What we’d like to know – and will attempt to find out – is how many students and faculty are signed up for the emergency alert system using cell phones. Presuming it’s less than 100 percent, the University needs to take another hard look at its readiness to communicate with all audiences in an emergency.

Just as importantly, it must rid of itself of a mindset that seems fixated on TM and cell phone alerts.