UC Davis WarnMe
An emergency notification service
UC Davis uses UC Davis WarnMe, an emergency notification service, to provide faculty, staff and students at all its locations with timely information during emergencies. For the system to be effective, students and employees register with the service by providing their UC Davis work and personal contact information to the service.
Overview
- What is UC Davis WarnMe?
- UC Davis WarnMe is an emergency alert service that provides faculty, staff and students with timely information and instructions during emergencies or other urgent situations that may directly affect their well-being. UC Davis WarnMe, which serves all of UC Davis (including the Davis and Sacramento campuses and other facilities), can send messages to the university community by e-mail, telephone, cell phone, and text messaging.
- Why does UC Davis have an emergency notification service?
- The safety of the university community is a top priority at UC Davis. Recent events, such as the tragedy at Virginia Tech in 2007 and the shootings at Northern Illinois University in 2008, have shown the need for the timely dissemination of information in emergencies such as natural disasters and acts of violence. UC Davis WarnMe helps meet the need for urgent communication across our expansive university community.
- Who can use this service?
- UC Davis WarnMe is for UC Davis students and employees; you must have a UC Davis loginID and Kerberos password. The purpose of UC Davis WarnMe is to provide life-saving information to those who might be in harm’s way. At this time, family members may not enroll.
- Why do you want me to provide my personal contact information?
- We want to be able to reach you in a timely way with emergency information. UC Davis WarnMe uses employees’ work contact information as published in the university’s online directory and includes students’ official UC Davis e-mail addresses. But because we can’t know now when an emergency will happen, where you will be or what communication systems will be operational, we urge you to provide these additional ways to contact you.
Entering and updating contact information
- How do I enter my personal contact information?
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Beginning in late September 2008 you will be able to enter your personal emergency contact information at a special UC Davis WarnMe site. After you log in with your UC Davis loginID and Kerberos password, you'll be able to enter or update your contact information, such as a home phone number and personal cell number.
Because of its different registration process, the School of Medicine will enter contact information on behalf of its students.
This personal information is not included in the official university online or printed directories.
- How do you keep the contact information up to date?
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Students and employees can make updates at any time, and UC Davis also prompts them to enter and update their information.
Each quarter when students register for classes, the Student Information System, or SISWEB, will ask them to enter or update their contact information.
At specified times during the year, employees will also be asked to update their contact information. Department heads are responsible for ensuring their employees keep their work contact information up to date.
Each night, UC Davis WarnMe uploads the contact information, with any updates, from the databases.
Protection of personal contact information
- Will the privacy of my personal information be protected?
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Yes. The vendor is required to comply with state and federal privacy laws and the university information security policy. In addition, the vendor must safeguard university data, return or destroy the data after the agreement ends, and report any unauthorized access to university electronic information. The vendor uses state-of-the-art security features to protect the UC Davis information.
Although employees’ office phone numbers or work cell phones may be published in the UC Davis online directory, personal information of employees and students — such as a home telephone number — will not be displayed.
- Do I have to provide my personal contact information?
- No. But it limits our ability to reach you with important information in an emergency.
Employees’ work contact information
- Why do employees need to keep their directory listings up to date?
- Accurate contact information is key to the effectiveness of UC Davis WarnMe. We simply can't reach you without it.
- As an employee, how do I update my directory information?
- It's simple. Go to https://listings.ucdavis.edu/update. After you log in with your UC Davis loginID and Kerberos password, you'll be able to update your contact information. This information will be included in the university's official online directory.
- What if I don't have access to a computer or cell phone at my job?
- For employees who do not have access to phones and e-mail, it is vital that their managers and supervisors immediately alert them to emergency situations and provide instructions.
How UC Davis WarnMe works
- How does the service work?
- In an emergency, a designated UC Davis official will use the Web or a telephone to access WarnMe. The official can opt to send a message to all of the university community or affected groups in a variety of formats — including e-mail, work phone, cell phone, home phone and/or text messaging. To deliver the message, WarnMe draws on contact information that students and employees have supplied to the service.
- How does UC Davis WarnMe work with other emergency communication methods?
- The university has an emergency management program to protect lives and property and to continue necessary critical functions. WarnMe, meant to provide an initial warning, is part of that program and will complement other communication methods. For example, it may direct recipients to visit the university home page or tune to KFBK 1530 AM radio in Sacramento for more information or updates.
- How robust will the system be in an emergency?
- By its nature, an emergency can tax or disrupt communication systems. One of the strengths of UC Davis WarnMe is that it uses various methods — e-mail, telephones and text messaging — to get emergency alerts out. It also draws on the vendor’s equipment outside of the region in three different locations.
- What if it doesn’t work?
- The notification system is one means of communications available to the university. Other methods include the UC Davis Web site, the recorded emergency status line (530) 752-4000, emergency radio partner KFBK AM 1530 and other media, police bull horns and sirens, building safety officers, and standard telephone and bulk e-mail messages delivered through the university’s own system.
When UC Davis WarnMe is used
- What makes a situation an emergency?
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WarnMe is activated for emergency or urgent situations only. By policy, an emergency is defined as an event, expected or unexpected, that threatens life or safety and requires immediate action. An urgent situation is an incident or condition that, while it does not pose an immediate threat to life or safety, is one in which timely information or instructions may directly affect the well-being of members of the university community.
For example, the university community will be warned and instructed what to do if:
- Someone with a gun is threatening the campus
- A major chemical spill requires action
- Police believe a bomb threat requires precautions
- Warnings would be helpful in other significant emergencies on or near campus.
- Who decides when to send a message?
- Authority to activate UC Davis WarnMe rests with the fire and police chiefs, UC Davis’ public safety dispatch, and a limited number of specified senior officials on the Davis campus and at the UC Davis Health System in Sacramento.
- Is WarnMe used to send other university messages or marketing?
- No. UC Davis wants you to know that when you receive a message through this service it is important information meant to protect your safety and well-being.
Messages
- How will UC Davis WarnMe messages be delivered?
- Messages will be sent in written text (text messages and e-mail) and through spoken voice (phone services), depending on the devices you have registered.
- What will a message be like?
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UC Davis WarnMe messages will begin with the words “emergency”, “urgent” or “important”. Tests of the system will begin with the word “test”.
When the message reads “emergency”, it will usually mean that there is an immediate threat to life and safety and that you need to take some action, such as lock your door and stay where you are, keep away from a dangerous area, evacuate the campus, or some other instruction, depending on the incident.
“Urgent” and “important” messages will be used when information and instructions are helpful but individual action may not be immediately required. An example would be: “Urgent: Shooting reported south of campus. No students or employees involved. Suspect in custody”.
The messages will all be very brief. In a developing or fast-changing situation, the initial message may be very general, such as “Emergency: Police are responding to reports of a threatening situation. Stay in place until further notice.” As more details are known, updates will be sent, as will more detailed instructions on what to do.
For example, in the event of an earthquake, a message would advise recipients to evacuate to an open area and await further directions. Subsequent messages might tell people to go to a specific location for assistance getting home or contacting their families. Messages may also direct you to other sources of information, such as the university home page or our designated emergency radio partner, KFBK AM 1530 in Sacramento.
- Where else will I be able to get more information during an emergency?
- As additional information becomes available, it will be provided. For example, it may be posted to the university’s home page, distributed by the news media or sent in standard bulk e-mail or broadcast voice-mail messages.
- How often will I receive messages?
- It won't be very often. The system is reserved for emergencies and urgent situations, so the use of the system will be infrequent. However, during an emergency, you could receive multiple messages, including the initial message, ongoing updates and then an all-clear message once the emergency has passed. The system will also be tested at least once a year.
- What should I do if I receive a message?
- If you receive a message, listen to it or read it carefully and follow any directions without delay. The information is provided for your protection.
Testing
- Why test UC Davis WarnMe?
- The university tests UC Davis WarnMe at least once a year to help ensure that the notification service will operate properly in an emergency. The university also wants members of the community to be familiar with the service and encourage them to provide and update contact information.
- What should I do if I get a test message?
- Don't be alarmed. The test message will indicate that it is just that — a test message. You'll help us by following any directions, which may ask you to confirm receipt of the message.
- How will I know the difference between a test message and a real emergency alert?
- The text of any test message will indicate the message is part of a test.
For more information
- How can I get more information about WarnMe or its testing?
- Contact the UC Davis WarnMe administrators and project team at .
- Where can I find more information about campus safety and emergency management?
- Please visit our Web site on Campus Safety and Managing Emergencies.