This Wednesday UCF will perform a test of its communication tools that provide critical information to students, staff and faculty members, and the public in the case of an emergency.
During an actual emergency, the UCF website, www.ucf.edu, is the best place to find the latest updates.
The main UCF website will test its emergency functions from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, but will remain fully functional during the test. An alert bar will be featured at the top of the page and all messages on the alert bar will be marked as tests.
A part of the website test will involve replacing the regular home page with an entirely text-only home page that may be used during some emergencies. During this time, links that can normally be found on the home page may not be available. Other web pages will not be impacted by the test, but users may want to bookmark those pages in advance.
Outdoor sirens, which emit a tone followed by voice instructions, will be tested at noon.
More than 40 buildings on UCF’s campus feature an indoor notification system that is similar to the outdoor sirens. These will be tested from 3 to 3:30 p.m. and each test will last only a few minutes to avoid disruptions to classes and other activities.
A test emergency text message and e-mail will be sent out at 12:30 p.m. This message should be received by all students, staff and faculty members who have updated cell phone information on file through MyUCF and who have not opted out of receiving emergency messages.
Updates can be made to text and email preferences through the following steps after signing on to MyUCF.
UCF provides many campus personnel who assist with emergency responses with HEARO emergency radios. Radios, which are also in key campus buildings such as residence halls and the Student Union, will be tested at 2 p.m.
WUCF-89.9 FM will conduct a test of its emergency broadcast capabilities at 4 p.m.
The university’s Twitter and Facebook pages, which serve as additional methods of notifications, will be updated with information about the tests.
Visit the UCF Alert website for more information on the communication system that helps to keep the campus safe and informed during emergencies.