About

The Alert Carolina Emergency Notification System communicates in multiple ways with students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors, local residents, parents and the news media in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation.

About the Sirens

The Alert Carolina System Protocols direct the University to inform the campus community using four different types of notifications:

  • Emergency Warning
  • Crime Alert
  • Adverse Conditions
  • Informational

Details about the Alert Carolina System and how people can expect to receive information are included in the University’s Alert Carolina System Protocols. This document also includes information about communicating with parents and families through the Office of New Student and Parent Programs and by registering on the American Red Cross Safe and Well list.

Campus Advisories are opt-in mobile push notifications through the CarolinaGo app, regarding an event or group coming to campus that may create traffic congestion or especially crowded conditions, necessitate increased security, or involve messaging that may be perceived as hostile or disturbing for some community members. These advisories differ from the Alert Carolina Emergency Notification System, which alerts campus to confirmed criminal activity, emergencies, adverse weather or other dangerous situations.

Notification Types

Alerts campus to a confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to health or safety on campus. Accompanied by emergency sirens to alert people who are outdoors.

When the sirens sound:

  • Go inside or take cover immediately
  • Close windows and doors
  • Stay until further notice

The University communicates an emergency warning by:

The sirens broadcast short pre-recorded voice messages. When the threat is over, the sirens will sound again with a different tone to announce an all-clear message.

Situations in which the sirens would sound include:

  • An armed and dangerous person on or near campus
  • A major chemical spill or hazard
  • A tornado warning for Chapel Hill and Carrboro issued by the National Weather Service
  • A different emergency, as determined by UNC Police

When the sirens sound – including during a test – the University also sends a text message to the cellphone numbers registered by students, faculty and staff in the online campus directory. Register your cellphone.

Notifies the campus community of any Clery Act crime as soon as the information is available so people can protect themselves and/or their property from similar crimes. Intended to inform people to be cautious, not to take immediate action, so the sirens will not sound.

The University communicates a crime alert by:

Crime Alert notifications will only be sent via text message if they are labeled “urgent.”

A crime alert will be issued only if UNC Police determine:

  • There is a continuing danger to the campus community, and
  • Issuing the crime alert will not compromise law enforcement efforts to address the crime

Clery Act crimes include the following:

  • Criminal homicide, including murder and manslaughter (negligent and non-negligent)
  • Sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible)
  • Dating violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Stalking
  • Robbery
  • Aggravated assault
  • Burglary
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Arson
  • Hate crimes (including any of the above offenses, as well as any incidents of larceny/theft, simple assault, intimidation or destruction/damage/vandalism of property that were motivated by bias)

If UNC Police believes that issuing a crime alert would compromise efforts to address the crime, the notification may be delayed until the potentially compromising situation has been addressed.

The University sends adverse conditions notifications when circumstances exist that do not represent an immediate threat to health or safety, yet action may enable people to protect themselves and/or their property. These situations include adverse weather events, such as snowstorms or hurricanes, major campus utility outages or other situations that would require a change in the University’s normal operating status.

The University communicates an adverse conditions alert by:

Adverse Conditions notifications will only be sent via text message if they are labeled “critical.”

Informs campus when a situation is not an emergency or does not pose an immediate threat to the campus community, but is of significant interest to campus.

The University communicates an informational message by:

Examples of incidents that may require an informational message:

  • A tornado watch or severe thunderstorm warning issued for Orange County.
  • Updates to crime alerts and adverse conditions notifications.
  • Notable off-campus occurrences that do not pose a continuing or immediate threat.

Notification may be elevated to a higher alert status if additional information becomes available or conditions warrant.

Messaging Summary: Alert Carolina System

TypeEmailTextWebSocial MediaOfficial Banner
Emergency Notification1✔✔✔✔✔
Crime Alert2✔✔✔
Adverse Conditions3✔✔✔✔
Informational✔✔✔
  1. Emergency Notification will also trigger Sirens and Alertus Desktop notification.
  2. Crime Alert notifications will only be sent via text message if they are labeled “urgent.”
  3. Adverse Conditions notifications will only be sent via text message if they are labeled “critical.”

Messaging Summary: External Outlets

Type News Release Digital Signage CATV EAS Mobile Apps
Emergency Notification ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Crime Alert ✔
Adverse Conditions ✔
Informational ✔

NOTE: Emergency officials may utilize alternative modes of notification at their discretion.