Virginia Tech Expands Emergency Notification
Virginia Tech this week reported that it's expanding its emergency
notification system "significantly," launching the new VT Alerts system
July 2. The campus has also announced the appointment of John Beach as
interim director of emergency management effective immediately.
New VT Alerts To Be Fully Functional by Aug. 20On
the emergency notification front, VT has has come to an agreement with
National Notification Network (3n) for an expansion of its
communications capabilities "that will significantly expand the
university's ability to send critical news and information to the
university community during campus emergencies," according to a report
on the university's website.
The 3n technologies, along with
other communications tools, will become part of the new VT Alerts
system, which will become available to staff and students, who can sign
up for various alert options, beginning July 2. It's expected to be
fully functional by Aug. 20.
According to a release issued by
Virginia Tech, "3n's technology will enable the university to send
messages to students, faculty, and staff using methods and media not
maintained by the university, such as text messages to personal cell
phones, instant messages via systems maintained by America Online
(AOL), Yahoo, or MSN, and phone calls and e-mails to numbers and
mailboxes that reside outside the university's network." Subscribers
will also be able to create contact lists in the system's preferences.
"We
began the process of adding to and enhancing our already robust
emergency notification system last fall, and we were in the final
stages of selecting a vendor when the tragic events of April 16
occurred," said Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university
relations, in a prepared statement. "The 3n InstaCom Campus Alert
system is a sophisticated tool that is easy to use. I believe it can
only further benefit our students, faculty, and staff."
The
campus also offers emergency communications via its website, a phone
alert system, and e-mail alerts. An emergency hotline is also available.
New Interim Emergency Management DirectorIn
addition to implementing a new emergency alert system, VT has also
announced the appointment of John Beach, VT's director of physical
plant operations, as interim director of emergency management. The
appointment is effective immediately.
According to the
university, "Prior to April 16, Virginia Tech was in the process of
conducting a search of a director of emergency management," said
Virginia Tech Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
James A. Hyatt, who made the announcement Wednesday. "This search will
continue and a permanent director is expected to be named in the early
fall. Until that time, Beach will serve as the interim director of
emergency management and will also continue to serve as the director of
physical plant, a role he performs in an extraordinary capacity."
In
the interim, Beach will be responsible for "the coordination and
management of all emergency response activities, including development,
implementation, and review of emergency action plans, procedures and
training. Duties and responsibilities include all emergency
preparedness activities, including development and implementation of a
university-wide program; the development of the Campus Emergency Action
Plan; and the development of the university’s Continuity of Operations
Plan."
Beach has been at Virginia Tech since 1988 and has served
in various capacities in emergency response and management. (See VT's
website for more details.)
Coinciding with Beach's appointment,
Virginia Tech is also reorganizing the reporting structure of the
Virginia Tech Police Department from the vice president for
administrative services to the executive vice president and chief
operating officer, according to a statement from the university.
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