Ohio State University is set to run a check on its emergency alert chops next week. On May 20, Buckeye Alerts will ding onto mobile devices across all OSU campuses, a test to ensure the gears of communication turn smoothly during moments of crisis. But don't be alarmed—the incoming texts will mark themselves as drills, not distress calls.
The testing procedure, announced via the OSU Department of Public Safety website, isn't just to see if the system can send a message; it’s also a prompt for students, faculty, and staff to make sure they're in tune. If your digits are already in Workday or BuckeyeLink, congrats, you're looped in. Though the university doesn’t want to stop at a single number, offering the ability to add two more, for those who wear multiple hats, or maybe just carry multiple phones.
It's more than a digital roll call. The Buckeye Alert system is OSU's speed dial in emergencies, real ones. When Ohio skies turn a shade too ominous, it's the alert that'll be buzzing with news of tornado warnings—because here, weather wields a temper that demands respect, and readiness.
Furthermore, according to the Ohio State University statement, "The system also sends severe weather alerts to the entire university community for tornado warnings." It's a dual-purpose tool—a safety net with a weather vane attached. The alerts are not only a signal, they're a lifeline when nature decides to unfurl its wrath, or when man-made crises bubble up on Buckeye soil. Which is to say, when you’re digging into exams or research, you’d rather not have to look up to see if the sky is falling.
Whether it's a faux alert on May 20 or a real one on any unpredictable day, OSU wants its community wired for safety and dialed in for the immediate buzz of information. When the chips are down, the Buckeye Alert could mean the difference between calm and chaos.
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