Washington University in St. Louis Emergency Management Services has launched a new easy-to-use, mobile-friendly website. Features include a color-coded bar that changes from green to red in case of emergency and advisories from the National Weather Service.
“We want people to use this site to find the information they need quickly and easily,” said Mark Bagby, the university’s director of emergency management. “A quick glance will tell you what you need to know. If a WUSTL alert is issued, the bar will turn red. For a minor to moderate emergency, we can use yellow. We think this stoplight approach — green mean ‘go,’ yellow means ‘use caution,’ and red means ‘stop and pay attention’ — brings clarity.”
The color-coded bar also will include timely information and instructions, Bagby said.
The website also includes maps of emergency assembly points on all campuses, instructions for responding to emergencies such as a tornado, a fire or an active-shooter situation as well as information about upcoming training programs.
Bagby said the website is just one way Washington University Emergency Management Services can communicate during a crisis. The WUSTL Alert System sends emergency messages to all students, faculty and staff with a WUSTL email address.
Students who register their phones through WebSTAC and employees who register their phones through the Human Resource Management System also receive a text message. Digital message boards, outdoor warning sirens and the indoor public address system also may be used during an emergency.
“We have a lot of tools in the toolbox,” Bagby said.