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 summer’s activities are set for June 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 Wednesday, June 12. This communications system rapidly provides emergency information to students, faculty, and staff, through a variety of methods including emergency message boards, email, and voice and text messages

“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 with you via cellphone alerts if we don’t have your current number. Please take a few minutes to check your ACC Emergency Alert contact info before the system test on Wednesday.”

To provide or verify your cellphone information, log in to Online Services and click 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, ACC Emergency Alert information, and emergency notifications.