The University of Mary Washington will activate UMW Alerts and test its emergency notification system as part of the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 10:19 a.m. EST. The test may include text messages, emails, desktop alerts, phone calls and sirens or messages from the area warning system on campus.
Students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled in UMW Alerts with contact information registered with the University, including UMW email addresses and individual cell phone numbers, and the system is updated at the start of classes in the fall semester. For more information or to update your contact information, visit UMW’s Emergency Alerts webpage.
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are an annual opportunity for people in homes, schools and organizations to practice what to do during earthquakes and to improve preparedness. The Great SouthEast ShakeOut is supported by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. For more information and to learn how to prepare, visit the website of the US Geological Survey, one of the annual drill’s host agencies, or learn more in UMW’s Earthquake Guide from the Office of Emergency Management & Safety.