Southern Arkansas University has established a multi-layered approach to emergency preparedness. This approach was developed and modeled with the Incident Life Cycle in mind. The Incident Life Cycle includes; Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation.
Southern Arkansas University has established an Emergency Operations Plan to lay the foundation for emergency planning and response. This plan also establishes Response and Resource Teams to aid the university community in times of crisis and sets standards for continuous review of policies and procedures.
Since communication is a high priority in an emergency, Southern Arkansas University has installed a network of mass notification systems. Prior to the fall semester of 2007, Southern Arkansas University installed a campus-wide outdoor warning system which allows for broadcast messages and warning tones to alert the campus community of impending emergencies. Southern Arkansas University utilizes Rave Alert to notify students, faculty, and staff via text messaging, phone, web, and e-mail in the event of emergencies on campus. Southern Arkansas University also partnered with the Arkansas Crime Information Center to offer AlertXpress, a phone, fax, and e-mail mass notification system for parents and local community members. SAU also utilizes an internal “Emergency” e-mail system. To further ensure that the university community can be reached in an emergency, the University Police Department, along with Information Technology Services, has installed an emergency broadcast alert system called Alertus Desktop. Alertus Desktop activates full-screen popup alerts on all Microsoft Windows operating system computers on SAU’s network. Upon receiving an alert message, the client application maximizes to full-screen to display alert information. Red text flashes “Alert!”, while simultaneously displaying the message details and appropriate response. Individuals can click to acknowledge the alert, and thereby provide acknowledgement to our emergency operations staff. This multi-faceted approach allows us to communicate with the university community in a quick and efficient manner.
We encourage everyone to review the Active Shooter Incident Checklist [pdf], as well as our Shelter-In-Place protocol to ensure your safety while living, learning, working, or visiting Southern Arkansas University.
Emergency Response Training/Drills/Incidents:
Date | Event Type | Announced/Unannounced |
---|---|---|
October 9, 2007 | Drill (Full-Scale) | Announced |
October 17, 2007 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
April 18, 2008 | Real Event (Train Derailment) | Unannounced |
May 10, 2008 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
May 22, 2008 | Drill (Table-Top) | Unannounced |
October 29, 2009 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
October 12, 2010 | Drill (Full-Scale) | Announced |
April 4, 2011 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
April 25, 2011 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
September 27, 2011 | Drill (Full-Scale) | Announced |
February 18, 2013 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
February 18, 2013 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
May 16, 2013 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
February 11, 2014 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
February 12, 2014 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
April 28, 2014 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
February 23, 2015 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
February 24, 2015 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
February 25, 2015 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
March 5, 2015 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
December 27, 2015 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
March 9, 2016 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
March 30, 2016 | Real Event (Tornado Warning) | Unannounced |
December 20, 2017 | Test (Outdoor Warning System) | Announced |
1/15/18 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
1/16/18 | Real Event (Weather Closing) | Unannounced |
1/17/18 | Real Event (Campus Open) | Unannounced |
1/23/20 | Silent Test (Alertus System) | Unannounced |
5/16/20 | Real Event (Tornado Warning/All Clear) | Unannounced |
12/9/20 | Test (All Systems) | Announced |
4/8/21 | Test of Panic Buttons (Silent Testing Alertus System) | Announced |
4/22/21 | Test of Mobile Panic Button (Silent Test Alertus System) | Unannounced |
8/7/21 | Test (All Systems) | Announced |
1/7/22 | Test of Panic Buttons (Silent Testing Alertus System) | Announced |
12/28/22 | Test (All Systems) | Announced |