Most people cannot live without their cell phones but,
in an emergency, a cell phone could help save your life
and others around you.
In March, Eastern Michigan University initiated its emergency
text messaging system for all students, faculty and staff.
To date, more than 3,200 people have signed up to receive
communications in the event of an emergency, according
to Connie Schaffer, interim chief information officer for
the division of information technology.
"That's a good start, but we want everyone to sign up," said
Greg O'Dell, executive director of EMU's Department of
Public Safety.
"This is one of the best tools that we have should we
need to quickly notify the campus of an emergency situation,
but the only way it can be truly effective is if everyone
signs up and participates," said O'Dell.
According to O'Dell, in the event of an emergency on campus,
a short message would be sent via text message to everyone
who registers his or her cell phone with the University.
Anyone interested in receiving emergency messages can
sign up at http://www.emich.edu/alerts/.
There is no charge from the University, but individual
phone carriers may assess a charge to users based on individual
text messaging plans.
