Sirens, RazALERT and Emergency Web Site to Give Warnings If Tornado Threatens Campus

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Violent thunderstorms are common in northwest Arkansas during the early fall and these can sometimes spawn tornadoes. If a tornado threatens the University of Arkansas the campus community will receive timely warnings through the university’s warning sirens, the RazALERT system and the university’s emergency Web site.

If a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for the campus area, or if local weather radar indicates possible violent weather near campus, University Police officers will sound the campus warning sirens and activate the RazALERT system at the same time.

RazALERT (pronounced “raise-alert”) is the official emergency notification system of the University of Arkansas. 

Once the RazALERT system is activated the message will be issued by e-mail to all students, faculty and staff, and a voicemail phone message will be sent to those who have phone numbers on record in the ISIS or BASIS systems. In addition, students, faculty and staff can receive text messages or teletype phone messages by providing the necessary numbers in their ISIS or BASIS accounts.

The RazALERT message will immediately be posted to the university’s home page and to the home page and to the home page and to the emergency information Web site. These sites will be updated on an ongoing basis as the weather situation develops.

When the danger has passed, University Police will sound the warning siren again with an all-clear message, and send the same message through RazALERT.

If the campus suffers weather damage, updated information will be sent through RazALERT and posted on the two Web sites.

The university’s Emergency Web site is also a valuable resource before an emergency notification occurs. The site offers complete information about recommended emergency procedures in the event of a severe weather emergency.