Important: National Emergency Notification Tests
On October 4th, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be undertaking a nationwide emergency alert test. This test will send alerts to all TVs, radios and cellphones.
In conjunction with FEMA, Binghamton University will use this opportunity to perform a test of our own emergency alert systems, including B-Alert and our outdoor siren. The University’s test is set to begin at 11:55am, while FEMA’s test will be conducted at 2:20pm.
What to expect: For Binghamton University’s test, everyone registered with our B-Alert system will receive texts and emails at the same time. When our outdoor siren begins, it may or may not be accompanied by a voice message. During an actual emergency, whether you can hear voice instructions or not, you should head into the nearest building and seek out further information.
As for FEMA’s test, the phone notifications will appear as text accompanied by a special alert tone and appearance (in a similar manner to AMBER Alerts). The TV/Radio broadcast will last approximately one minute, and be reminiscent of public broadcasting monthly test messages. Both tests will clearly indicate their status as such, and no action will need to be taken at those times.
If you have received an initial alert in a true emergency situation directing you to this page, information is still being gathered and this page will be updated as soon as possible. Continue to return here for up-to-date information of any situation on the Binghamton University campus that requires use of the Binghamton University Emergency Alert system.
When a real emergency occurs, students, faculty and staff receive critical information through a variety of official sources directing them to this page.
The following communication vehicles are regularly used during emergency situations:
- B-Alert text/email messages
Text and email messages would be sent out to all students, faculty and staff with information regarding the emergency. If you are not signed up for the B-Alert Emergency Alert System, follow this link to register: binghamton.edu/registrar/students/rave.html - Binghamton University website
The University's homepage (binghamton.edu) will contain important information regarding critical incidents. All current alerts are posted to binghamton.edu/alert. - Outdoor emergency siren
This public address speaker/siren is designed to warn only individuals who are outdoors on the Vestal campus; it is not intended to be heard by people inside buildings on campus. The alert tone may or may not be followed by voice instructions. Regardless, if you can comprehend the voice instructions, the default action anytime the siren is sounded is to take shelter in the nearest building and seek further information. - Social media
Students, staff and faculty can learn the latest emergency information by following the University on social media.
Facebook: facebook.com/binghamtonu
Twitter: twitter.com/binghamtonu - Electronic LED message boards and TV screens
The University manages a series of electronic message boards and TV screens throughout campus. Common locations for these types of signs include the entrances to campus. These boards may be quickly ‘captured’ and programmed to display emergency messages whenever necessary.
Lightning alerting system
In the event of inclement weather that brings lightning, Binghamton University utilizes three emergency notification systems on campus athletic fields to notify everyone in the area when lightning is detected within an 8-miles radius of campus. A horn will sound and a strobe will activate and remain active until 30 minutes have passed since the last strike of lightning within the 8-mile radius. To learn more about this lightning alert system and to view the 30-minute countdown timer when an alert has been initiated, go to our weather monitoring page.
Subscribe to B-Alert, the campus emergency notification system.
Safety
We take campus safety seriously.
