Spring Break
Participation in emergency alert system growing, URI officials hope for more
Robert Preliasco
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: News
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Acciardo said there will be a new campaign before the end of this semester that will include mailings to parents. Even though parents are not eligible to register for the alerts, URI officials hope that they will urge their children to sign up.
One thing that will not be seen is a test of the system.
"We don't want to diminish the value of communications that come through that tool," Wyman said. He said that he wants URI students and employees to receive messages only during an actual emergency, so that they don't ignore a serious message because they are used to receiving tests.
Wyman added that the first large-scale "test" of the system will be on the first day that classes are cancelled because of snow. He added that this event will also probably encourage more people to sign up after they see how convenient it would be to receive notification.
The EmergencyAlert has been tested on the small scale using the cell phone numbers of some of the administrators involved with the system. Wyman said that after the test message was delivered to MIR3, the firm that provides the technology behind the system, the phones of the people involved in the test received the message in a matter of seconds.
"We've seen the system and we understand it's a relatively simple system to use, but the capabilities of the system are quite remarkable," Wyman said.
One thing that will not be seen is a test of the system.
"We don't want to diminish the value of communications that come through that tool," Wyman said. He said that he wants URI students and employees to receive messages only during an actual emergency, so that they don't ignore a serious message because they are used to receiving tests.
Wyman added that the first large-scale "test" of the system will be on the first day that classes are cancelled because of snow. He added that this event will also probably encourage more people to sign up after they see how convenient it would be to receive notification.
The EmergencyAlert has been tested on the small scale using the cell phone numbers of some of the administrators involved with the system. Wyman said that after the test message was delivered to MIR3, the firm that provides the technology behind the system, the phones of the people involved in the test received the message in a matter of seconds.
"We've seen the system and we understand it's a relatively simple system to use, but the capabilities of the system are quite remarkable," Wyman said.
