Emergency Alert Methods

Wake Forest’s approach to communicating in emergencies is based on redundancy, using numerous methods at Wake Forest to promptly communicate with faculty, staff and students, as well as parents and families, the public and news media.

Wake Alert, the University’s emergency notification program, can provide information and advisories through many communication channels. Details are below.

Methods for announcing emergency alerts include:

Wake Alert

The University’s Wake Alert website (wakealert.wfu.edu) is the primary source of information on emergencies. Wake Alert is also used for non-emergency messages that may be related to safety and security matters, including criminal activity, potentially threatening weather and University closings and delays due to weather conditions.

Wake Safe app

The University Police maintains the Wake Safe app which features many safety tools. Anyone interested in receiving Wake Alert messages can download the app and turn on notifications.

Computers / Digital signage

Alerts may also be posted as an emergency banner at the top of University website pages, shared on all computers connected to WFU internet and on University television screens campuswide.

Text Messaging

The University will send brief Wake Alert messages to the cell phones of students, faculty and staff who are registered to receive text messages. Undergraduates must register for the messages by providing their cell phone numbers when they register for classes each fall. Faculty and staff, as well as graduate and professional school students, are encouraged to register.

E-mail

The University will send a Wake Alert message to Wake Forest e-mail addresses of students, staff and faculty.

Voicemail

The University will send voice messages to the cell phones of students, faculty and staff registered to receive messages. Undergraduates must register for the messages by providing their cell phone numbers when they register for classes each fall. Faculty and staff, as well as graduate and professional school students, are encouraged to register.

Social Media

• X (formerly Twitter): Wake Alert website announcements will appear on: twitter.com/WakeAlert/
• Facebook: Wake Alert announcements will appear on: www.facebook.com/WakeAlert/

Indoor warning system

Some administrative and academic buildings are equipped with indoor alert systems that announce messages.

Outdoor warning system

A Wake Alert message can be broadcast outdoors using speakers that activate a siren and announce a brief prerecorded or live message. Emergency messages announced by the outdoor system will be preceded by a siren. The system also makes “all clear” announcements after an incident.