Methods of Emergency Notification and Communication

WolfAlerts are sent out using various methods. The following can be used by parents and families, and there are additional methods available for students, faculty, and staff. Parents/guardians should not contact the main emergency number to check on the status of a crisis situation. This can overload the phone lines manned by campus police and hamper emergency personnel’s ability to manage the situation.

• OnCampus App
  • Parents and families are encouraged to download the OnCampus app to receive notifications and emergency information.
  • It is available for download via Apple Appstore or Android Google Play
  • To receive emergency information, make sure to turn on Enable WolfAlerts.
• Emergency Information Site
  • Families may always get information about campus emergencies by going to emergency.ncsu.edu.
• Emails from the Office of Parents and Families Services
  • The Office of Parents and Families Services will send critical university messages to all parent/guardian email addresses that have opted-in to receive university communications via their parent/guardian Brickyard account in the event of a crisis.
  • Parents and families are required to have a Brickyard account complete with their preferred email address and the opt-in box selected in order to receive messages.
  • They will not communicate with any individual who has not been granted permission by their student.
  • If you have questions or concerns about receiving our communications, call the Parents' Helpline at (919) 515-2441.
• Parents' Helpline
  • Recorded messages and staff assistance are available on the Parents’ Helpline by phone (919-515-2441) and through email (ncstateparents@ncsu.edu).
• University Homepage
  • When an alert is active, a banner will appear near the top of the university homepage.
  • Depending upon the level of alert, a simple advisory message or a full WolfAlert may be communicated in the banner.
  • When additional information about an event is available, it will be communicated on a “More Information” page that is linked to from the banner.
• Adverse Conditions Hotline
  • The Adverse Conditions Hotline (919-513-8888) is used for a wide range of announcements, including adverse weather and emergency situations.
• Social Media
  • "Like" the NC State Wolf Alert page to receive Facebook alerts.
  • Follow Wolf Alert (@wolfalert) on Twitter to stay up-to-date.
• Campus Sirens
  • An emergency warranting use of the audible alert system will be initiated by a pulsed tone lasting for 30 seconds followed by a short message with this sequence repeated three times.
  • The warning system consists of speaker arrays mounted on poles or building roofs at various locations across campus.
  • In the event of certain infrequent emergencies, either tones or brief messages will be broadcast over these speakers to notify those outside of buildings to take certain actions (e.g. seek shelter in a nearby building).
  • When the audible alert tone sounds, NC State personnel are being advised to do the following (SOS):
    • Seek shelter immediately.
    • Obtain information from the university home page on any additional action that needs to be taken.
    • Stay tuned for further information until an “all clear” signal is obtained from campus officials.
  • Any campus emergency initiated by the alert system will be closed with an “all clear” signal from the system. This signal will be a “Westminster Chimes” tone followed by a short “all clear” message, with this sequence repeated three times.
• Billboard Screens
  • Messages can be delivered to electronic billboards located in common areas across campus.

Proactive Measures to Prepare and Prevent Emergencies

Safety is a shared responsibility.  There are many resources and strategies that students should use to help prevent a personal or campus emergency, including:

• Registering for campus emergency text messaging
• Reading email announcements about campus crime updates
• Reporting suspicious activity — If students see or are aware of dangerous activity, they should contact University Police immediately by calling 911 (for emergencies) or 919-515-3000 (for non-emergencies).
• Using the specific strategies listed in the How to Respond in an Emergency section at emergency.ncsu.edu.
• Using the Bluelight emergency phones, which are strategically placed around campus so that anyone can reach University Police with the touch of a button in an emergency
• Creating an emergency plan for students with special needs — Students with disabilities, such as a hearing impairment, should work with the Office of Disability Services and University Housing to make arrangements for emergency plans suitable for their needs.

For more information about the university’s emergency preparedness and communication plans, parents and guardians can visit Safety and Emergency Preparedness for Parents and Families or NC State's Emergency Information site.