GW Unveils New Emergency Alert System

Two suspects were arrested on campus after a deadly Halloween last Tuesday morning. Concerned students spread the word to their friends, but the University's emergency communication system failed to let students know about the shootings around DC, the suspects' proximity to campus or the suspects' arrest on 24th and New Hampshire. The first official word from GW came hours later, via a tweet, and later an email explaining, “GWPD was notified of armed suspects on the I Street mall area. Both suspects have been caught by MPD.”

The next day, GW Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz sent out a message explaining that technical issues delayed the notification system. He also announced that a new system would be implemented to improve communication and notifications on campus. GW activated the new system Friday, incorporating GW’s Banner System, which already has students' email and phone numbers, and serves as the basis for sending communication and notifications in case of an emergency.

In a phone interview with WRGW,  Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell told WRGW that with the new alert system, students should look for texts and emails whenever a credible threat is identified on campus. Once an alert is sent out, students are to follow instructions and stay calm, he said. Responding to the delay in notification last Tuesday, Darnell cited server problems at Division of IT that prevented the alert from being sent. He stressed that while the new system cannot be 100 percent foolproof, thanks to multiple ways of sending out notifications, alerts will be sent out as quickly as possible.

Darnell recommends students follow a motto of, "If they see something, say something," and call UPD or 911. Students can keep up to date with campus advisories by going to http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/ and information about being prepared for an emergency can be found at http://www.gwu.edu/safety.

Students are invited to a Safety and Security Forum at the Jack Morton Auditorium this Thursday at 6:30 pm, where Mr. Darnell and other GW security personnel will be on hand to answer questions and listen to feedback. The forum will be broadcast live via webcast; further details will be released this afternoon.

On a related note, this Wednesday at 2 pm there will be a nationwide emergency alert system test. Throughout the country, and even in other countries, FEMA, in coordination with the FCC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be issuing a 30-second emergency broadcast through all radio and television channels as a first test of a nationwide emergency system.