Emergency Preparedness Week allows ACC students, faculty, and staff to practice what they should do if an emergency or disaster strikes on campus. The events take place during the third week of each semester; this fall’s activities are set for Sept. 10-14.

“The safety of our students and employees is critical,” says Kristine Elderkin, ACC’s emergency management coordinator. “We encourage everyone to take steps to make sure they are prepared, and Emergency Preparedness Week is a great opportunity for that.”

Emergency Preparedness Week activities include:

• Emails with safety and preparedness tips
• Building evacuation drills (locations and times not announced in advance)
• Testing of the ACC Emergency Alert system on Thursday, Sept. 13. This communications system rapidly provides emergency information to students, faculty, and staff, through email to ACCmail accounts and voice and text messages to cellphones. You must register your information and provide confirmation in order to receive the phone and text alerts.

“ACC Emergency Alert is a very important tool that ensures you don’t miss out on vital information,” says Elderkin. “But we can’t communicate via cellphone alerts if you don’t sign up. Please take a few minutes to get registered before the system test on Thursday.”

To provide your cellphone information, log in to Online Services and add your number at the ACC Emergency Alert link on the menu page. It takes up to 24 hours to receive a text message confirmation – you must respond “Y” to complete the registration.

“More than 17,500 people who signed up to receive ACC Emergency Alert text messages never sent in their confirmation,” says Elderkin. “If people don’t send in the confirmation, we can’t provide that communication in an emergency.”

Not sure you are confirmed? Text “Y” to 68453 as soon as possible.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit austincc.edu/emergency. The webpage includes safety videos, emergency procedures, links to sign up for ACC Emergency Alert, and emergency notifications.