The University of Colorado Boulder will test the Campus Alerts text-messaging system on Tuesday, April 3, at noon in coordination with the annual flood siren testing, which begins Monday, April 2.
“We’re raising awareness that the city of Boulder has the highest risk of flash flooding in Colorado because of its location at the mouth of Boulder Canyon, the number of people who live and work within the Boulder Creek floodplain, and the numerous other drainage basins running through the city,” said Lacey Croco, CU-Boulder emergency manager.
At noon on Tuesday, emergency management staff will send an alert by text-message and email to all individuals signed up through CU-Boulder’s Campus Alerts, and post test alert messages on http://www.colorado.edu and the Emergency Information Line at 303-492-4636 (INFO).
In addition to distributing educational materials on flood safety, volunteers with laptops will be available in the University Memorial Center on April 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help students, faculty and staff sign up for the Campus Alerts system. Campus community members with a colorado.edu, cu.edu or cufund.org email address can sign up to receive an alert by text message, email or both at http://www.colorado.edu/alerts.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management begins testing of the countywide emergency sirens on April 2. The siren tests will occur the first Monday of each month from April through August.
“Flash flooding can occur in the city of Boulder rain or shine,” Croco said. “Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are a good sign of flash flooding potential, but what people may not realize is that it can be a sunny day in the city and storming up in Boulder Canyon.”
During an emergency, the sirens are used to alert residents to potential danger from a flood or other immediate threat. Siren tests ensure that all systems and procedures are working properly during the season of peak flood danger. The tests also promote public awareness of the warning sirens located throughout Boulder County.
The CU-Boulder Campus Alerts system has more than 29,380 subscribers including students, faculty and staff members. The campus conducts at least two tests of the text-messaging system each year.
After they receive the test message, users are encouraged to add Campus Alerts to their phone contacts so that in the case of an emergency the alert will display as received from the university. Users who have changed phone numbers or switched carriers since signing up should log in to the system to update their contact information. They can log in by going to http://www.colorado.edu/alerts. Answers to frequently asked questions and support information also are available on the site.
For information about the text-messaging system go to the CU-Boulder website at http://www.colorado.edu/alerts. Any user who expected to receive an alert and didn’t, or who needs help signing up for the system, should call the IT Service Center at 303-735-HELP or email help@colorado.edu.
Contact:
Malinda Miller-Huey, CU media relations, 303-492-3115
Lacey Croco, Emergency Management, 303-492-6820
