WarnMe is UC Berkeley's alerting and warning service for students, staff, and faculty. It is activated to contact you when there is an immediate threat to safety or health affecting the campus community. WarnMe can alert you by phone, text message, or email — you choose the best ways to reach you.

To receive WarnMe emergency warnings, you must sign up (buttons at right) and tell us how to contact you.

WarnMe is part of the campus's emergency communications system. In all emergencies, natural disasters and other crises, information will be posted on the campus home page, berkeley.edu, and on the off-site emergency website at emergency.berkeley.edu. It will also be recorded on the off-site, toll-free emergency number 1-800-705-9998, and broadcast on the campus FM radio station, KALX 90.7 FM.

Frequently asked questions about WarnMe

When will WarnMe be ready to use?
How will I be contacted?
Do I have to sign up to have alerts sent to me?
Who can sign up?
When can I sign up?
Can my parents or family members enroll?
Is there a cost to participate?
What if my contact information changes after I have signed up?
How secure will my contact information be? Who will be able to use it?
Who decided to do this?
Why is UC Berkeley partnering with a commercial company for this service?
What if I don't have access to a computer or cell phone at my job?
When will WarnMe be used?
How will WarnMe messages be delivered?
What will a message be like?
How much information will the alerts contain?
Will the campus still use its siren in case of an emergency?
Where can I find more information on what to do in an emergency?

Q. When will WarnMe be ready to use?

A. WarnMe is scheduled to be operational at the start of the fall '08 semester, following tests of the system.

Q. How will I be contacted?

A. WarnMe uses contact information you provide. Emergency alerts and instructions can be sent via cell phone, text messaging, email, and office and home phones, including TTY devices.

Q. Do I have to sign up to have alerts sent to me?

A. Yes. WarnMe is being launched as an opt-in system. This means that you must sign up (use the appropriate button at right) to receive warning messages and instructions. You will have an online form to fill out that tells the automated WarnMe system what telephone numbers and/or email addresses to use to contact you.

You will be able to select how to be notified and the order in which you wish to be contacted — cell phone, texting, email, office phone, home phone, and TTY. In all, you may choose to receive messages on up to seven communication devices. The system will attempt to notify you on all numbers and addresses you provide.

Q. Who can sign up?

A. All UC Berkeley students, campus staff and faculty can participate in WarnMe. You will need your CalNet ID to enroll.

Q. When can I sign up?

A. Students may sign up now. Campus staff and faculty can start enrolling later in August. There is no deadline to enroll, but the sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to receive emergency alerts.

Q. Can my parents or family members enroll?

A. Not at this time. After the system is up and running and the campus has had experience using it, UC Berkeley may consider allowing others outside the immediate campus community to participate.

Q. Is there a cost to participate?

A. Participation in the WarnMe system is free, but you may incur a per message cost, depending on your mobile device plan.

Q. What if my contact information changes after I have signed up?

A. Up-to-date data is necessary for effective warning. You may update your contact information at any time on the WarnMe website, and that update will become effective within 24 hours.

Q. How secure will my contact information be? Who will be able to use it?

A. All contact information will be protected and kept private, and it will not be included in campus directories. Your contact information will be used only by WarnMe for emergency needs. Read the full WarnMe privacy policy.

Q. Who decided to do this?

A. The WarnMe alerting and warning system is the result of work undertaken by a taskforce charged by Chancellor Birgeneau to provide a way to reach individual faculty, staff and students in the event of an emergency or crisis on campus. The taskforce was comprised of representatives from the campus police department (UCPD), Information Services and Technology (IST), the Office of Public Affairs, the Registrar's Office, Student Services and the Graduate Division.

Q. Why is UC Berkeley partnering with a commercial company for this service?

A. To ensure reliable service 24/7, UC Berkeley is working closely with a commercial provider that specializes in rapid public notification and has redundant infrastructure located at multiple sites around the country. UC Davis and Vanderbilt University use the same provider for their alerting and warning systems.

Q. What if I don't have access to a computer or cell phone at my job?

A. For employees who do not have access to phones and email, it is vital that their managers and supervisors immediately alert them to emergency situations and provide instructions.

Q. When will WarnMe be used?

A. The campus will activate the system only when absolutely necessary.
UCPD will activate WarnMe in the event of an immediate threat to life or safety.

UCPD and the Office of Public Affairs may also activate WarnMe to send urgent and important messages when information will be helpful, but no individual action is immediately required.

For example, you will be warned and instructed about what to do if there is:

• Someone with a gun threatening the campus
• A major chemical spill that requires action
• An approaching wildfire, or immediately after an earthquake
• A bomb threat that police believe is credible enough to take precautions
• Other kinds of significant emergencies on or near campus where warnings will be helpful.

Q. How will WarnMe messages be delivered?

A. Messages will be sent in written text (text messages, email, and TTY) and through spoken voice (phone services), depending on the devices you have registered.

The WarnMe system will make its best attempt to deliver messages, but situations and services outside the campus's control mean that we cannot guarantee delivery of all messages to all devices. For example, if the cell phone network is overloaded, it will not be able to send messages to your cell phone.

Q. What will a message be like?

A. Active WarnMe messages will begin with the words "emergency," "urgent" or "important."  Tests of the system will begin with the word "test." The messages will be very brief.  In a developing or fast-changing situation, the initial message may be very general, such as "Emergency: Police are responding to reports of a threatening situation. Shelter in place until further notice."  As more detail is known, updates will be sent, as will more detailed instructions on what to do.

Q. How much information will the alerts contain?

A. WarnMe messages for each circumstance will include a situation description and the action you should take immediately. They may also include additional information. depending on the incident.
When the message reads "emergency," it will usually mean that there is an immediate threat to life safety and that you need to take some action, such as stay where you are, keep away from a dangerous area, evacuate the campus, or some other instruction, depending on the incident.
"Urgent" and "important" messages will be used when information and instructions are helpful but individual action may not be immediately required. For example, "Urgent: Shooting reported south of campus. No students or employees involved. Suspect in custody."

Q. Will the campus still use its siren in case of an emergency?

A. Yes. In addition to the new WarnMe system, the campus will continue to use its siren alerting and warning system. The sirens around campus are tested the first Wednesday of every month at noon. At all other times when you hear the siren you should shelter in place. For information and instructions, go to the campus website, call the 800 number or tune to KALX for information and instructions.

Q. Where can I find more information on what to do in an emergency?

A. For more information on emergency preparedness, including what to do in numerous kinds of emergencies, go to the campus's Office of Emergency Preparedness website.