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KU upgrades emergency notification systems

Fire alarms, reverse 911, text messages, can notify campus of danger

To quickly notify people in the event of an emergency on campus, KU is assembling a variety of notification systems, including an upgrade of fire alarms in 40 buildings to allow voice messages.

An emergency text messaging system and reverse 911 system are also in the works.

KU tested an emergency mass notification system in 40 campus buildings this month using messages broadcast through fire alarms. This newly installed alert system is independent of the planned emergency text message system.

The university invested approximately $600,000 in upgrading the alert system, said Ralph Oliver, chief of KU Public Safety.

KU installed voice message fire alarms in many campus buildings starting about 12 years ago. These alarm systems are required by building codes and use pre-recorded messages, although there is a microphone in each building for emergency personnel to give live instructions. These alarms also broadcast inclement weather alerts and are in sync with Douglas County Emergency Management.

The new mass notification system can be used from a central location to provide instructions in any type of emergency. Emergency responders can deliver specialized information to one building, groups of buildings or all buildings equipped with the system.

By the end of August, the mass notification system will be tested in an additional 16 buildings. Within a year, several other buildings will get fire alarm system overhauls and will be added to mass notification system. Bob Rombach, university fire marshal, said that when the expansion is complete, it will cover more than 90 percent of daytime occupancy areas on campus, including residence halls. All residence halls built or remodeled in the last 10 years have the capability.

The university is finalizing the implementation of a text messaging system for campus emergencies. Under the system, faculty, staff and students who have registered cell phone numbers will receive a text message alert regarding emergencies on campus. To register a cell phone, log on to www.ku.edu and click on the "emergency contact" link. The link will lead to a secure Web site, where users can log in with their university ID to provide a cell phone number and provider as well as primary emergency contacts, updated phone numbers and addresses.

A reverse 911 system is also in the works. Such a system would allow Public Safety to generate a message about a dangerous situation on campus and send it to landline and cellular phones. Some systems can send messages to computers and PDAs as well. The university is currently negotiating with vendors to purchase a system.

The reverse 911 system is also capable of grouping or individualizing messages to buildings.

Oliver said the reverse 911 system will compliment the fire alarms, text messaging and other emergency notification systems.

"We're trying to layer the emergency notification systems so we can reach as many people as possible when we need to," Oliver said.

Building by building

Buildings with existing speaker fire alarm systems in place being tested this month

  • Allen Field House
  • Anderson Strength Center
  • Anschutz Sports Pavilion
  • Budig Hall
  • Child Care Center (Hilltop)
  • Rieger Scholarship Hall
  • Dole Institute of Politics
  • Dyche Museum
  • Eaton Hall
  • Ellsworth Annex
  • Ellsworth Hall
  • FO Shop Building
  • FO Warehouse
  • Hall Center for the Humanities
  • Hashinger Hall
  • Center section of Haworth Hall and Stewart Wing
  • Horesji Family Center
  • JRP Hall
  • Kansas Memorial Union
  • Lewis Hall
  • Library Annex
  • Lied Center
  • Malott Hall
  • Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Multidisciplinary Research Building
  • Murphy Hall
  • McCollum Hall
  • Parrott
  • Robinson Gym
  • Simons Bioscience
  • Strong Hall
  • Structural Biology Center
  • Student Recreation Center
  • Takeru Higuchi Hall
  • Templin / Visitor's Center
  • Twente Hall
  • Wagnon Student Athletic Center
  • Watkins Health Center
  • Wescoe Food Court and Infill
  • Public Safety Building.

7 additional buildings or segments of buildings that were tested before Aug. 13 through 18 when they were brought on line.

  • Wescoe Hall – Remainder of Building
  • Summerfield Hall
  • Fraser Hall
  • Haworth Hall - West addition
  • Art and Design
  • Learned Hall / Spar Library
  • Lindley Hall.

Nine buildings will be upgraded and tested next month.

  • Anschutz Science Library
  • Bailey Hall
  • Blake Hall
  • Dole Human Development Center
  • Green Hall
  • Marvin Hall
  • Snow Hall
  • Stauffer-Flint Hall
  • Watson Library.

New Fire Alarms- Buildings to be added to the system in the next year

  • Anderson Family Football Facility
  • Burge Union
  • Computer Services Facility
  • Krehbiel Scholarship Hall
  • Military Science
  • Lippincott Hall
  • McCollum Labs
  • Pharm Chem Lab
  • Smissman Lab
  • Spencer Museum of Art
  • Spencer Research Library

NOTABLE ALUMS

During the oppressive heat of summer, many people enjoy the work of 1949 business graduate Bill Braum. Braum built his family ice cream processing business up from a store in Emporia to a 280-restaurant chain found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas. The chain remains the last major ice cream maker to milk its own cows.