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	Wallace State Debuts New Emergency Alert System Hanceville - December 26, 2011 Wallace State Community College in Hanceville recently installed a new emergency alert system on campus. The Alertus system provides localized emergency notification via alert beacons with sounder and flashing strobes and a large text display that informs building occupants of the emergency and instructs them how to respond. The Alertus system is independent of phone service and the Internet, although the system may be activated online if needed and has a battery backup for use during power outages. Beacons are centrally located in every campus building. “We can never be too prepared,” said Dr. Tomesa Smith, Wallace State Executive Vice-President. “This system allows us to instantly notify everyone on campus in the event of an emergency.” The new Alertus system supplements the Lion Alert system that sends phone calls, text messages and emails with information about college emergencies to students, employees and their designees. Since implementation, Lion Alerts have most often been used to notify the college community about weather-related closings and delay, and are particularly useful when individuals are not on campus but need to receive important information. Funding for the Alertus system was provided by the Department of Justice through an appropriation by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt. Wallace State secured the funding in order to improve the safety and security of the campus, prevent crime, and provide timely and efficient warnings of emergencies to the campus. Alertus was founded in 2001 in Maryland after a tornado devastated the University of Maryland campus, killing two students without warning. Thousands of Alert Beacons have been installed at universities, government facilities, school districts, and medical centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.alertus.com.

Wallace State Debuts
New Emergency Alert System

Hanceville - December 26, 2011
Wallace State Community College in Hanceville recently installed a new emergency alert system on campus. The Alertus system provides localized emergency notification via alert beacons with sounder and flashing strobes and a large text display that informs building occupants of the emergency and instructs them how to respond.

The Alertus system is independent of phone service and the Internet, although the system may be activated online if needed and has a battery backup for use during power outages. Beacons are centrally located in every campus building.

“We can never be too prepared,” said Dr. Tomesa Smith, Wallace State Executive Vice-President. “This system allows us to instantly notify everyone on campus in the event of an emergency.”

The new Alertus system supplements the Lion Alert system that sends phone calls, text messages and emails with information about college emergencies to students, employees and their designees. Since implementation, Lion Alerts have most often been used to notify the college community about weather-related closings and delay, and are particularly useful when individuals are not on campus but need to receive important information.

Funding for the Alertus system was provided by the Department of Justice through an appropriation by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt. Wallace State secured the funding in order to improve the safety and security of the campus, prevent crime, and provide timely and efficient warnings of emergencies to the campus.

Alertus was founded in 2001 in Maryland after a tornado devastated the University of Maryland campus, killing two students without warning. Thousands of Alert Beacons have been installed at universities, government facilities, school districts, and medical centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.alertus.com.