University updates Alert Carolina messaging

As part of the recommendations from a third-party’s after-action report on the Aug. 28, 2023, campus shooting incident, the University is updating its messages from the Alert Carolina emergency notification system.  

Alert Carolina is the University’s primary method of communicating information during an emergency or dangerous situation on campus. While there are four types of Alert Carolina messages (emergency warning, adverse conditions, crime alerts and informational), the changes resulting from CNA Corporation’s after-action report focus on the emergency warning messages sent when there is a confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation that involves an immediate threat to health or safety on campus. These include tornado warnings, fire/hazmat incidents, and armed and dangerous persons on campus. 

Designed to give clearer information during an emergency, these wording changes will be implemented in email, text and social media messaging when an emergency arises.  

Communication channels and frequency

Text messages will be the quickest way to be alerted of an emergency, but all students, faculty and staff will receive an email and may hear a siren if they are outside in proximity to campus.  To receive Alert Carolina text messages from the University, UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates with an Onyen can register their cell phone on the Onyen Services page.  

Once an emergency warning message has been sent, the University will send routine updates through Alert Carolina, using text message, social media, email and Carolina Ready Safety App notifications. Updates may also be shared on UNC Police’s X and Facebook pages and Carolina’s X, Facebook and Instagram stories. Silencing and turning off vibrations on a mobile phone can help keep individuals and those around them safe.  

“What was clear from the campus community and indicated in the report is an interest in more frequent updates and additional information and details,” said Darrell Jeter, Carolina’s director of emergency management and planning. 

Anyone can download the Carolina Ready Safety App to receive the same Alert Carolina messages through push notifications during an emergency. The app also includes useful tools for staying safe on campus, emergency response guides, campus maps and a variety of health and wellness resources. 

Emergency warning messages

Emergency warning messages are issued when there is a confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to health or safety on campus. The first message will provide general information about the emergency and basic actions individuals should take to keep themselves safe. Once the first message has been sent, the University will issue routine updates until a final “all clear” message has been sent.  

While the CNA Corporation’s after-action report focused on the messaging related to the armed and dangerous person alerts, the University is updating the messaging used in every emergency warning message.  

Armed and dangerous person

To align with the Active Shooter and Critical Incident Response training offered by UNC Police, Alert Carolina emergency warning armed and dangerous messages will share language on how to “run from a threat, hide if you can’t, and fight if you must.”   

In previous messages, community members were encouraged to go inside, avoid windows and stay until further notice. Providing more actionable language, emails and texts will help the community find the safest option in an emergency.  

• Run from the threat. If you believe you can safely and quickly leave campus, do so.  If you are off campus, do not come to campus. 
• Hide if you can’t safely evacuate or are unsure of the location of the threat. Secure yourself in a room and create barriers between you and the threat. With the updated frequency of messaging, mobile devices should be silenced, too.
• Fight if you must. If you are confronted by an assailant and there are no other options to safely escape, attempt to disrupt or incapacitate them using anything you can.

When an armed and dangerous person message is sent, all University operations should cease until an “all clear” is issued.  

“During an active assailant incident, it is important to assess your surroundings and use your judgment to determine which action is the best option for your situation,” said Jeter.  

Fire/hazmat messaging

Campus Safety will send a fire/hazmat message when there is a major fire or hazardous materials incident outside on campus. When this message is received, individuals on campus should go inside immediately, close all windows and doors, and stay inside until further notice.  

All outdoor University operations should cease until an update or “all clear” is issued. Routine updates providing further information will be sent until the “all clear” is issued.  

Tornado warning messaging

Tornado warning messages are sent when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. Individuals should seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a building as soon as possible, avoiding windows and doors.  

All University operations should cease until the warning has passed and an “all clear” has been issued.  

Siren messaging

The messages broadcast from the University’s outdoor emergency sirens will soon be updated to provide actions specific to the type of emergency.  

• Armed and dangerous messages will urge individuals to seek a safe, secure location.
• Fire/hazmat messages will urge individuals to go inside.
• Tornado warning messages will urge individuals to take cover.

“All clear”

When the situation is resolved, individuals will receive messaging and hear the siren update. The “all clear” message will now state that the emergency has been resolved, and that the University is assessing any impacts and how to restart operations. Additional messages may be sent to provide more information or to announce a change in the University’s operating condition.      

“Alert Carolina is a critical tool for communicating safety information to the Carolina community and is continually evolving to meet the needs of our campus,” said Jeter. “These changes reflect the ongoing process of making Alert Carolina the best it can be. We’ll continue to provide information to campus as we make further improvements to the tool.”