Emergency Preparedness Week: Be Informed to be Prepared

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. 9-13.

“The safety of our students and employees is critical,” says Kristine Elderkin, ACC’s emergency management coordinator. “In an emergency, quick, decisive action saves lives. Emergency Preparedness Week is a great opportunity for everyone to make sure they are prepared.”

Emergency Preparedness Week activities include:

  • Emails with safety and preparedness tips
  • Building evacuation drills (locations and times are not announced in advance)
  • ACC Emergency Alert system test. This communications system sends automated emergency information to students, faculty, and staff through emergency message boards, email, and voice and text messages. ACC will test its Emergency Alert System on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

ACC has implemented a new system to simplify the process for receiving ACC Emergency Alerts. Signing up for alerts no longer is necessary: faculty, staff, and students simply verify their information in Online Services to make sure they receive notifications at their preferred number(s). (After logging in, click “ACC Emergency Alert” on the menu page.)

“ACC Emergency Alert is an important tool for sharing vital information,” says Elderkin. “Although students, faculty, and staff are sent alerts automatically, they should check their ACC Emergency Alert contact information before the system test to make sure the alerts go to the correct contact number.”

All ACCmail addresses will receive emergency notifications from “ACC Emergency Alert”; voice messages will come from an internal ACC phone number, (512-223-2222), and text messages will be from “@alert.austincc.edu.” The new notification system is powered by the RSAN (Roam Secure Alert Network) system, currently in use at several campuses statewide, including the University of Texas, Lone Star College, and El Paso Community College.

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

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