NOTICE: Emergency Notification/Outdoor Warning System Test on Thursday, Feb. 16

By News, February 9, 2023

A regular college-wide test of Ithaca College’s IC Alert Emergency Notification System
(ENS) and Outdoor Warning System (OWS) will take place during the noon hour on
Thursday, Feb. 16.
There is no need to take any action in response to the test.

The ENS uses voice, e-mail, and text messaging to provide information and instructions
in the event of a campus emergency. The OWS uses a siren and loudspeaker to deliver
emergency warnings and messages on campus. The OWS is not intended to be heard
inside buildings.

By default, ENS messages go to all active Ithaca College email accounts and to faculty
and staff office telephones that are listed in the campus directory. Students, faculty, and
staff are strongly encouraged to provide their mobile device voice and text number to
help ensure that they receive emergency alerts by multiple methods.

Instructions on how to provide your emergency contact information can be found at
the IC Alert website. We encourage you to regularly update this information as needed.

All members of the campus community are also urged to download and install the
free Rave Guardian safety app on their mobile device. The app provides quick access
to a suite of personal safety tools and resources.

When you receive an IC Alert text message, it should show on your mobile device as
coming from one of the following five numbers: 67283, 78015, 77295, 81437, or
226787. If the message you receive appears to be coming from an individual by name,
please contact the IT Service Desk at (607) 274-1000 or servicedesk@ithaca.edu for
assistance in fixing the issue.

The ENS/OWS will be used when it is imperative for the college to contact students,
faculty, and staff as quickly as possible. This can include, but is not limited to,
cancellation of classes due to severe weather conditions, a fire or a chemical leak
requiring the evacuation of a building or closing of a portion of the campus, or an
ongoing criminal incident that requires members of the campus community to take
action to ensure their safety.

Members of the campus community should also review and become familiar with
the Emergency Readiness and Response Guide, published by the Office of Public
Safety.

Additional Text Alert Options
Campus visitors and others who are not current students, faculty, or staff may sign up to
receive IC Alerts via text message by texting “ICVisitor” to 226787. You can stop
receiving messages at any time by texting “leave ICVisitor” to 226787. Message and
data rates may apply. This service is provided per the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
On July 15 of each year, all opt-in users will be purged from the system, at which time
you must re-enroll if you wish to continue receiving IC Alert visitor text messages for the
next year.

Tompkins County has implemented the SIREN (formerly known as Swift911) messaging
system, which allows you to receive customized alerts about local emergency
situations. You can sign up and learn how to download and install the free smartphone
app by visiting the SIREN website.

Those interested in receiving a text notification when Cornell University sends out an
emergency alert can sign up by texting “CornellVisitor” to 226787. This subscription
must be renewed annually. More information can be found on Cornell’s emergency
notifications website
.