How you will be notified – MEMS Alerts
Understanding Key Messages
Evacuate: to leave a room/building/campus in a timely and orderly manner.
Lockdown: to secure an area by locking doors, windows, and barricading oneself to block entry to a room/building/campus.
Shelter-in-place: to take immediate shelter where you are - at home, work, school or in between - usually just for a few hours.
Persons with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities need to work with his/her instructor and/or supervisor to ensure that a person in the same or adjacent area is assigned to provide assistance.
Technology alerts
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Text message MEMS ALERTS: All students and employees are enrolled in a text-message ALERT notification system that sends messages with key directives in the event of incidents affecting the health and safety of people on campus/site.
The ALERTS are issued in a specific format that make it clear you are being notified of an emergency (EMCC Alert or MEMS Alert) The alerts provide directives with which you are expected to comply.
It is important to keep your contact information updated in SIS (students) and HRMS (employees) – especially mobile devices and e-mail addresses – in order to fully utilize the MEMS Alert system. Anyone may opt-out of the mass notification system through a link on the MEMS website, or by responding S-T-O-P to test text messages. However, it is highly recommended that you remain enrolled.
- E-mail notifications: E-mail notifications are an important communication tool in the event of all emergencies. In the event of a major emergency, e-mail will be supported by other communication tools.
- College and District web sites
- Twitter @ Maricopa Alerts
Audible alerts
- Alarms: Depending on the type of emergency, alarms may be used to indicate an evacuation. If an alarm is sounded, students and employees are expected to quickly and safely evacuate their building.
- Intercom System: The EMCC CAmpus is equipped with a public address systems which will be used to issue official directives to students and employees in the event of an emergency. Students and employees are expected to understand and comply with directives.
- Bullhorn:To support or in place of loudspeakers, bullhorns may be used to issue directives to students and employees in the event of an emergency.
Visual alerts
- ALERT Flashing strobes: At various locations, flashing strobes indicate an incident has or is about to occur in an immediate area. The strobes are supported by electronic message boards that provide directives for evacuation, lockdown, or shelter in place. Students and employees are expected to comply with these directives.
- Message boards:Electronic message boards are used in some locations to provide directives regarding evacuation, lockdown, and shelter-in-place. These boards may also be used to relay messages directly from the college or District website to provide more detailed information.
Person to person directives: from Public Safety or other authorized personnel
- Door-to-door: Public Safety or other authorized personnel may make door-to-door notifications to classrooms and learning spaces. Faculty and staff who work in these areas are trained by Public Safety as to the official procedures in the event of a variety of potential incidents.
- Direct phone calls: Public Safety or other authorized staff may make direct phone calls to specific areas in the event of an emergency. Employees in the area being contacted will be given as much information as possible and are expected to comply with official directives.
- Phone trees: Each Department at every location is required to have a notification phone tree to deploy in the event of a major emergency. The contact information and Department protocols are additionally provided to College Safety.