Virginia Tech to test VT Alerts system for all locations on Feb. 22

Virginia Tech strives to enhance safety and security for all those who learn and work at the university. Providing the university community with timely access to critical safety and crime information is just one example of how Virginia Tech achieves this mission. It is also required under the Clery Act.

VT Alerts is used to communicate critical information with the Virginia Tech community in the event of an emergency on or near Virginia Tech campus locations. VT Alerts are issued when there is a need for community members to take immediate protective action from an immediate threat to the safety or health of the university community; during university closures; or during system-wide tests in the fall and spring semesters.

When a VT Alert is sent out, information is distributed to the community over several channels and platforms, including text messages, phone calls, emails, vt.edu, the Virginia Tech status page, and social media updates. In addition, on the Blacksburg campus, fire alarm annunciators, electronic message boards, emails to vt.edu email addresses, desktop alerts, and outdoor sirens are used. Family members of Virginia Tech students and employees who subscribe to VT Alerts will receive text messages.

VT Alerts are issued:

• When there is a need for community members to take immediate protective action in the event of an immediate significant danger to the safety or health of the university community. (e.g. severe weather, explosion, hazardous materials spill or leak, building structural damage, or active police response);
• During university closures and periods of significant operational impacts; and/or
• During system-wide tests in the fall and spring semesters.

VT Alerts use multiple channels across multiple platforms to provide intentional redundancy in messaging. VT Alerts are issued when a dangerous or threatening situation is confirmed, and there is a need to take immediate action.

The time it takes for a person to receive a VT Alert message is determined by several factors, including the time to report and confirm an incident, the means by which you receive it (i.e., channel), your personal device settings and network connection, your location, and the total volume of messages per channel. This is why multiple channels are used.

The majority of text messages, message boards, and fire alarm annunciators are delivered within a minute or two, and official social media accounts will post the message in seconds. Phone calls and emails can take longer. Use of multiple channels helps people receive critical information more quickly.

VT Alerts include a regional identifier to assist subscribers in differentiating messages based on location. Available regions and their associated regional identifiers (3-letter codes) include:

• Blacksburg (NRV): Virginia Tech main campus, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine;
• Greater Washington, D.C. Metro Region (NCR): Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, Va.; Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va.; Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center; Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center; Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory in Manassas, Va.; Virginia Tech Research Center – Arlington;
• Richmond (RVA): Virginia Tech Richmond Center;
• Hampton Roads (HR): Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Center, Virginia Beach; Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Center, Newport News;
• Roanoke (ROA): Roanoke Higher Education Center; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC;
• Abingdon (ABD): Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center; and
• Danville (DNVL): Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

The Virginia Tech Police Department, University Relations, Virginia Tech Emergency Management, and other university administrators are authorized to initiate VT Alerts.

• Timely Warnings:
  • Crime Alert emails are deployed for any Clery Act designated crimes that could present an ongoing threat to the safety and wellbeing of the campus community.
  • Situational Awareness emails are issued to inform the community of general crime and safety information not related to Clery Act, but could present an ongoing threat to the safety and wellbeing of the campus community.
  •  University members are automatically enrolled to receive Timely Warning emails.
• Emergency Notifications (VT Alerts) are deployed in the event of an immediate significant danger to the health or safety of the university and the community needs to take immediate action, campus officials may issue an Emergency Notification.
• Refer to this VTx story for more information.

Initial VT Alerts messages will:

• Provide what happened, where it happened, and what action the community needs to take.

Subsequent VT Alerts messages will:

• Provide additional instructions and updates about the incident until the all-clear is delivered via VT Alert.

Detailed information, when available, will also be posted to the university status page.

• Follow all instructions provided by the VT Alert.
• Until an all-clear is issued, continue to follow the instructions provided in the most recent VT Alert unless otherwise directly notified by emergency personnel.

Secure-in-place

When it is necessary to secure-in-place, you will be the safest by placing a locked door or another barricade between you and the associated violence or danger.

What to do:

• Remain calm.
• If you are outside during a secure-in-place emergency you should seek cover in the nearest unlocked building.
• If the buildings in the immediate area have exterior doors that have been locked, continue to move away from the danger, seek cover, move to another building, or leave campus if it is safe to do so.
• Once inside, find an interior room and lock or barricade the doors.
• To minimize vulnerability, turn off lights, silence phones, draw blinds, and move away from windows.
• Await further instruction from VT Alerts and emergency personnel.
• Do not leave until an all-clear is received via VT Alert or emergency personnel.

If there is any doubt about the safety of the individuals inside the room or building, the area needs to remain secure. Allowing someone to enter a secure location may endanger you and others. Use good judgment. If there are individuals outside the secured door who wish to get in, several factors should be considered to determine if it is safe.

• Can you see the area outside the door to determine that someone is not lying in wait? Is it a trap?
• If a physical description of the subject was given in the secure-in-place alert, consider similarities such as age, race, clothing description, height, weight, sex, and hair and eye color.

If the decision is made to let a person in, consider the following:

• Have the person leave anything they are carrying (backpack, laptop case, package, etc.) on the ground, outside of the secure area.
• Have the subject lift up their shirt, coat, and/or jacket until the waistline is visible and rotate 360 degrees to see if they are concealing a weapon.

Remember, always use good judgment. There are exceptions to all guidance and prescribed directions.

Shelter-in-place

Shelter-in-place events are usually weather-related emergencies. When it is necessary to shelter-in-place, you will be safest by moving inside to a building space that protects you from danger. Do not lock doors behind you as others may also need to shelter-in-place.

What to do:

• Remain calm.
• Immediately seek shelter inside the closest sturdy building. Do not wait until you physically see a severe weather event to react.
• Resist the temptation to go outside and check the weather conditions yourself.
• Once inside, stay away from windows, glass, and unsecured objects that may fall.
• Seek shelter in interior rooms and corridors.
• Avoid large free-standing expanses such as auditoriums and gymnasiums.
• Do not use elevators.
• Await further instruction from VT Alerts and emergency personnel.
• Do not leave until an all-clear is received via VT Alert or emergency personnel.

During a tornado, seek shelter on the lowest level possible. If warranted, consider crouching near the floor and seeking additional shelter under a sturdy desk or table, or cover your head with your hands.

Remember, always use good judgment. There are exceptions to all guidance and prescribed directions.

While the university aims to deliver VT Alerts every 30 minutes during emergencies, alerts may be deployed more or less frequently depending on the circumstances.

Those with a Virginia Tech PID will automatically receive VT Alerts via their vt.edu email. To also receive via cellphone (text or voice message), landline, or a non-Virginia Tech email address, students and employees can subscribe here.

Parents, family members, friends, vendors, contractors, and community members can subscribe to VT Alerts via cellphone:

• Text HokieFam to 226787*.
• *For international SMS, text HokieFam to 1-424-322-6787.
• You will receive a text message confirming your subscription.
• The alerts will be active until the following May 31. 

All visitors to the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus are able to subscribe to receive real-time VT Alerts via cellphone to stay informed about Blacksburg campus emergencies. To subscribe:

• Text HokieVisit to 67283.
• You will receive a text message confirming your subscription.
• The alerts will be active for seven days. All users who subscribe will receive a message with instructions to opt-in again if desired at the end of the seven-day period.

Do I need to resubscribe each year? How often should I confirm my contact information is up-to-date?

• Virginia Tech students and employees: Those with a Virginia Tech PID will automatically receive VT Alerts via their vt.edu email. Once signed up for additional VT Alert contact methods, all members of the university community are subscribed  until they take action to unsubscribe. Students and employees are asked to log into their accounts at least annually to ensure their contact information and notification preferences, including region, are up-to-date. Doing so prior to a public test allows for the opportunity to validate any changes to your account.
• Hokie family and friends and other university community members: The alerts will be active until the following May 31. All users who subscribe will receive a message with instructions to opt-in again if desired on or before May 31.
• Blacksburg campus visitors: The alerts will be active for 7 days. All users who subscribe will receive a message with instructions to opt-in again if desired at the end of the 7-day period.

Are Virginia Tech students and employees automatically signed up to receive VT Alerts?

Those with a Virginia Tech PID will automatically receive VT Alerts via their vt.edu email. To also receive via cellphone (text or voice message), landline, or a non-Virginia Tech email address, students and employees can subscribe here.

Individuals who have subscribed to receive alerts, but do not receive an alert during a test or emergency, should first log in to verify that their record is correct and then contact 4Help at 540-231-HELP (4357).

All VT Alerts subscribers should expect to receive duplicate messages. This redundancy is intentional to ensure important information reaches as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. 

All members of the Virginia Tech community are strongly encouraged to download the free Hokie Ready mobile safety app. App users can access important just-in-time emergency information that provides guidance on what to do when a VT Alert is issued, connect with Virginia Tech emergency services, as well as many additional resources. 

Visit emergency.vt.edu for a wide range of emergency preparedness resources.

Please direct further questions to Virginia Tech Emergency Management at 540-231-4873 or oem@vt.edu.