Crisis communications exercise slated

By Communications staff, Washington State University

 
PULLMAN – A crisis communications exercise is scheduled to be initiated at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, on the Pullman campus.
 
During the exercise, most of WSU’s emergency communications tools will be activated and tested, including the Campus Outdoor Warning System (COWS) that consists of siren/PA units across the campus, and the Crisis Communication System (CCS) that will contact those registered for the system directly by cell phones (both text and voice), landline phones (voice) and e-mails.
 
Confirming
CCS Messages
 
When you receive a direct cell or landline message from the Crisis Communication System (a direct message is one that you answer directly when your phone rings) or if you get an email message, you are provided instructions to confirm receipt of the message.  Doing so helps us monitor the effectiveness of the system in contacting students, faculty and staff, so please take the time to confirm receipt. 
 
NOTE: If you were unable to answer a cell or landline  message directly and it automatically goes to your voicemail, you will not be provided instructions at the end of the message on how to confirm receipt.  Messages that go to voicemail cannot be confirmed in the system.  DO NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS! 
 
You do not have to do anything if your message goes to voicemail and you do not need to contact us and let us know you were unable to confirm the message. 

“It’s important to activate the various crisis communications tools WSU has a couple of times a year to make sure they are working properly and are ready to go in case of a real emergency,” said Chris Tapfer, WSU emergency management coordinator.

 
For the COWS test, the siren system will be activated, followed by a brief recorded message indicating a test is in progress. A live PA message indicating the same will follow. Everyone registered on the CCS system, via the online myWSU portal, will be contacted in accordance with the communications preferences they have specified.
 
Students, faculty and staff contacted via the CCS are asked to be sure to follow instructions contained in the message, particularly those directing them to confirm receipt of the message. Confirming the reception of all emergency messages is vitally important to the efficient operation of the CCS alert system. The system is designed to continue issuing the emergency message to individual recipients until a confirmation reply is received.
 
“We want the campus community to know what to expect if we need to activate our crisis communications tools in a real emergency, as well as what they need to do to respond,” said Tapfer.
 
Those who are not currently registered and wish to receive information via the CCS system can register at the myWSU portal, ONLINE @my.wsu.edu, by using your WSU ID and password, then clicking on the “Register” link in the “Emergency Notices” section in the right hand column, and filling the appropriate fields.
 

For questions or comments, please  send an email to emergencymanagement@wsu.edu  Your questions will be answered as soon as possible. 

 

The Oct. 8 emergency exercise should not be considered a substitute for the regular practice of emergency communications exercises or drills by individual WSU units. All WSU units are encouraged to voluntarily activate and test their own internal emergency communications systems and plans at least once a year.These plans can address fire drills, building evacuations, lockdowns, shelter-in-place or other responses to emergencies. For assistance in planning such activities, contact Tapfer at the WSU Office of Emergency Management, 335-7471.

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