MACOMB/Moline, IL — A systemwide test of the WIU Emergency Alert System (WEAS) will be initiated at 10:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12 to test system functionality.

Individuals receiving a test call, e-mail or text do not need to take any action. When a message is received, simply listen to or read the test message and then hang up and delete the message. The test message will be delivered to every phone number and e-mail address in the WEAS emergency contact database. The message, which will come from “noticetocampuscommunity@wiu.edu,” will be: “This is a test of the WIU Emergency Alert System. No further action is required at this time. For more information, please visit wiu.edu/alertsystem. This is only a test.”

The WEAS is designed to notify WIU students and employees at both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses of emergency situations/immediate threats via voice, text and e-mail messages. The University will activate the system, using all WEAS communication methods (voice, text, email, Facebook and Twitter), for emergency situations. Immediate threats are defined as imminent or impending threats (any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus), such as a fire in a building, approaching tornado, armed violence/intruder or a bomb threat.

In addition, the University will use WEAS’ outreach system to communicate campus notices and weather-related announcements via email and/or text, and possibly through social media outlets. Phone calls will not be made for incidents defined as campus notices or weather-related notices with the exception of closures. Campus notices are issued to provide information on criminal incidents that have already occurred and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.

The following email addresses will appear via WEAS when issuing campus safety notices:

campussafetynotice@wiu.edu: To make the campus community aware of an incident that has been reported.

wiu-emergency-alert@wiu.edu: To notify the campus community of an immediate and/or ongoing threat (e.g. fire in a campus building).

weatherannouncement@wiu.edu: To notify the campus community of a weather-related announcement/closure due to weather.

noticetocampuscommunity@wiu.edu: To notify the campus community of a non-emergency situation (e.g. boil order).

Complete information about emergency situations and threats, weather announcements and campus safety notices will always be posted at wiu.edu and at wiu.edu/safety.

Students and employees are strongly encouraged to review and update their emergency contact information through STARS or WIUP.

For more information on the WIU Emergency Alert System, review the Frequently Asked Questions at wiu.edu/alertsystem or contact the WHO?

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Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.