During emergencies, NIU’s crisis communications protocol calls for speedy notification of emergency responders and all members of the campus community. The various communication resources that can be used in a given situation include:
Public address systems
There are 52 buildings on campus equipped with public address speakers. Buildings have also been equipped with an IT public address system which can be displayed on university media equipment.
Broadcast voicemail
Available to all NIU faculty and staff with voicemail boxes (3,000-plus current users).
Other emergencies: Three-minute fast, oscillating wail.
Weather radios
Campus buildings are equipped with weather radios that issue loud warnings about severe weather and civil emergencies. More than 200 radios are deployed across campus and may be activated by numerous state, federal and local disaster agencies as well as local law enforcement.
EAS (Emergency Alert System)
The national system which supersedes the Emergency Broadcast System and is jointly administered by the FCC, FEMA and the National Weather Service. The system broadcasts emergency alerts via radio and television.