USU Conducts First System-Wide ‘Code Blue’ Alert Test
Jan 15, 2020, 7:21 PM | Updated: Jun 16, 2022, 10:37 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University officials sent thousands of texts and emails in their first school-wide test of their Code Blue emergency alert system.
Of the more than 27,000 enrolled at USU, officials said it appeared that the majority of students and faculty got a test alert at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
“Our priority at USU is, of course, our students. We’re all about safety,” said Ellis Bruch, USU’s emergency manager. “We want our information to be shared transparently and accurately. The best way to do that is to just send out the information as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Hey USU students and parents. Did you get your test alert this morning? Some 27,000 texts were sent out at once in their first system-wide Code Blue test. @USUAggies @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/hwVJhCcfHn
— Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) January 15, 2020
While text messages and emails were sent, Bruch said he planned to take a closer look over the next couple of days into how many of those were actually received.
“So far, it seems like it worked very well,” Bruch said. “We do expect a few hiccups here and there – errors in the phone number being inputted correctly into our system – small things like that.”
Some students, like Jack Woolfenden, got the message, even though he said he had no idea the test was planned.
“I’m really glad that they have it,” he said. “You hear in the news all sorts of crazy things that happen all the time, so I’m just glad that USU is proactive about that. They’re ready to let everybody know.”
Bruch said the Code Blue system sent all the text messages out over 20 seconds, and about as many emails in 9 minutes. He said the quickest way to get the alerts, however, is to download the USU Safe app.
USU students and parents have been encouraged to make sure they’re signed up correctly for the alerts. The various options for signing up can be found at dps.usu.edu/emergency/codeblue.
