The annual fall UGA Alert test was conducted on Wednesday, September 2 at 11:20 a.m. After the test, please complete our brief survey. Your feedback helps our office improve emergency communications across campus.

What to Do During the Test: Participants were asked to acknowledge all notifications when they activated. If safe, they were encouraged to practice their building’s evacuation plan. At a minimum, they were encouraged to pause and consider the steps they would take during a real evacuation. Individuals were reminded to know at least two exit routes from buildings they frequently visited. Those with mobility limitations were encouraged to communicate their needs to those around them.

Prior to the test, faculty, staff, and students were encouraged to review their contact information in the UGA Alert system to ensure their phone number, email address, and notification preferences were accurate. You can also opt-in to receive severe weather warnings—like thunderstorm and flash flood alerts.

Students are automatically enrolled to receive emergency text messages. Any student who does not wish to receive UGA Alert emergency text messages may opt out at ugaalert.uga.edu. Faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up to receive UGA Alert emergency messages via text and other methods at ugaalert.uga.edu.

UGA Alert messages were distributed through text messages, email, and phone calls; posted on X at @UGAAlert, @Universityofga, and @UGAOEP; posted on the main UGA webpage and on the UGA emergency page; displayed on digital screens in various campus buildings; activated on the UGA desktop alerting app; and sent as push notifications through the UGA Safe mobile app.

September is National Preparedness Month!

September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide observance that encourages individuals, families, organizations, and communities to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies and disasters before they occur. Whether facing severe weather, public health emergencies, utility outages, or other unexpected incidents, preparedness helps build resilience and ensures that people know how to respond when an emergency happens.

This September, the UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) is partnering with the Institute for Disaster Management (IDM) to host a series of National Preparedness Month events designed to engage the campus and local community in emergency preparedness awareness and education. Planned activities include a Disaster Game Night and a special 9/11 documentary screening, with additional events to be announced throughout the month. These programs provide opportunities to learn about preparedness in interactive and meaningful ways while reinforcing the importance of being ready for emergencies before they happen.

For event details and updates, visit the Institute for Disaster Management’s National Preparedness Month page.

UGA ALERT – OPT IN FOR SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS

The University of Georgia has updated its UGA Alert system to let users opt in to receive severe weather warnings—like thunderstorm and flash flood alerts—via text and phone call. This gives students, faculty, and staff more control over the alerts they receive.

All users will still automatically get emergency alerts from the UGA Police Department, including tornado warnings, criminal incidents, and other emergency and hazardous events that impact the entire campus. Weather alerts will also be shared via email, the UGA Safe app, social media, and the emergency.uga.edu website.

UGA encourages everyone to sign up for weather alerts specific to their campus: Athens, Griffin, Gwinnett, Tifton, or Skidaway.