Maroon Alert: Sharing emergency updates with MSU
Mississippi State University's emergency notification system is known as Maroon Alert. In case of a campus emergency, university officials will use Maroon Alert to notify you via one or more of the following methods.
Typically, the university website is used in two ways: Advisories for non-emergency situations are posted to the MSU site using a blue banner. Emergencies requiring immediate action are highlighted with a yellow banner. Should the university declare a campus emergency the yellow banner will appear on top of the MSU website. Detailed information can be obtained by clicking on the colored banner.
The Maroon Alert main page can be found at www.emergency.msstate.edu. There is also a mobile-friendly version of the emergency webpage, and members of the university community are encouraged to add it as a bookmark in their smartphone browser or mobile device. It is available at www.emergency.msstate.edu/mobile.php.
The ALERT FM App will allow you to receive Maroon Alert information on your smartphone or tablet via push notifications. This app will also provide you with fairly robust weather information including watches and warnings for the area pushed right to your device, current and extended weather forecasts, and within 5 minute current radar with map overlays.
To download the ALERT FM app, please visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. After download, please follow the steps below to set up the app for Maroon Alert.
1. When prompted to enter a zip code, please enter 39762.
2. Select Mississippi State University and press "done."
3. Your ALERT FM App should now be branded Maroon Alert.
If you experience any problems setting up your ALERT FM app for Maroon Alerts, please call ALERT FM customer support at 1-866-869-5180.
Other Maroon Alert communication tools include campus radio station WMSV 91.1 FM, local cable channel MSTV-98, and local media outlets. MSU will also make use of weather sirens and announcements on loudspeakers around campus, as well as the Maroon Alert's official Twitter feed at twitter.com/maroonalert.
Text messaging is typically only used if there is imminent danger to campus requiring immediate action. Students and MSU faculty and staff can sign up for text messaging via the MyState portal at my.msstate.edu.
There are several Maroon Alert terms everyone should know:
Seek safety. In a weather-related emergency, this typically means to find an indoor space, preferably an interior room or hallway away from windows, or the lowest interior level of a building and seek shelter there. In event of a shooter on campus or gas or chemical leak, this typically means to seek a safe location as far away as possible from the danger or to exit campus on foot if possible.
Tornado watch. Conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop, but there has not been an actual sighting. Be alert to changing conditions.
Tornado warning. A tornado has been sighted. Take immediate actions for safety.
When you hear a siren, it is imperative to seek shelter in the nearest building and stay alert and tune to either MSU webpage or local news to stay updated about changing conditions. Do not go to your vehicle during a weather siren. Vehicles do not provide adequate shelter, and roadways need to be kept clear for use by police and emergency responders. Instead, seek shelter on the bottom floor of a building. If possible, choose a basement or interior hallway.
Again if sirens sound, seek shelter and follow Maroon Alert communications to stay informed about the campus emergency. Since weather conditions can change suddenly, sirens may be used more than once during a weather-related emergency. Sirens will never be activated to signal an "all clear." Each time the siren sounds this indicates a new alert and that campus is still under some type of dangerous situation.
For more information about what to do during specific emergencies, please see www.emergency.msstate.edu/whattodo.
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