Emergency Notifications

Texas Tech University will immediately notify the campus community upon confirmation of significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. A threat is imminent when the need for action is instant, overwhelming, and leaves no moment for deliberation. Such situations include but are not limited to a hazardous materials incident requiring individuals to shelter-in-place or evacuate, an armed intruder on or near campus, an approaching tornado, a bomb threat, a gas leak, or a fire in a campus building.

The university will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system to the appropriate segment or segments of the campus community, unless issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate an emergency.

Immediate notification to the campus can be accomplished through a variety of communication methods, but the use of the emergency cell phone text/voice messaging and campus email is seen as the most common and quickest forms of communication under these circumstances. Emergency Notifications can also be received via the mobile application, BlackBerry AtHoc.

When the Texas Tech Police Department (TTPD) or an officer becomes aware of a situation that may warrant immediate notification, the TTPD Police Chief, or designee is notified immediately. Officers confirm (through response, investigation, or collaboration with emergency responders) that there is a significant emergency and immediately report information back to the TTPD Police Chief, or designee, who quickly evaluates the situation to determine if an alert is warranted. The TTPD Police Chief, or designee develops the content of the notification message (typically using pre-planned template messages), determines the appropriate segment or segments of the campus community to receive the notification, and will send the notification to the campus community. Follow-up notifications are issued by the staff in the Marketing & Communications team.

At the Regional campuses, when the Regional Site Director becomes aware of a situation that may warrant the issuing of an immediate notification, they will immediately contact local law enforcement. Emergency services from the local area will confirm (through response, investigation, or collaboration with emergency responders) that there is a significant incident. After information has been gathered, the appropriate individuals from local law enforcement and staff on site will quickly evaluate the situation to determine if an alert is warranted, develop the content of the notification message, identify the appropriate segment or segments of the campus community, and will send the notification to the campus community.

Confirming the Existence of a Significant Emergency or Dangerous Situation

Most significant emergencies are reported to Texas Tech Police dispatch or the local police department. A Police officer will be dispatched to the scene to confirm the emergency or disaster conditions. Confirmation typically involves the response and assessment of officers, university officials, emergency management, local police, or other emergency responders. Dispatch will request the appropriate assistance from the Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock Fire Rescue or other emergency services personnel as needed and immediately contact the TTPD Police Chief or designated command staff.

The determination of whether a reported crime presents a continuing threat to the university will be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of all of the facts surrounding a crime, including factors such as, but not limited to the nature of the crime, the continuing danger to the campus community, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts.

Determining the Content, the Appropriate Segment of the Campus Community, and Initiating the Notification System

The TTPD Police Chief, or designee, has the ability and authority to issue an alert without delay or further consultation with any other university official. Notification content is determined based on the type of incident, the context with which it is occurring, the immediate danger or threat to the campus community and the need to advise campus community members to take action. The university will attempt to make such notification sufficiently specific so as to enable recipients to take an appropriate response to the threat. Templated messages have been prepared as part of the Emergency Notification system to facilitate rapid communication processes

Regardless of the event, whenever the Emergency Notification system is activated, members of the affected Texas Tech University community will be notified. There may be times, after consultation with leadership, when alerts are sent or withheld from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.

The primary emergency communication tool is TechAlert, which distributes notifications via phone call, text messages, email, social media, on-campus digital signage, and mobile app. If the situation warrants, the University will establish a telephone call-in center. The TTPD Police Chief or highest-ranking Police Officer is responsible for initiating the TechAlert system. In the absence of the TTPD Police Chief or other members of the police department, the Director of Emergency Management, Clery Compliance Officer, and designated members of the Marketing & Communications team can initiate a notification through the system.

Marketing & Communications is responsible for follow-up TechAlert notifications and will communicate with national, regional, and local media outlets, as necessary. By following the above university procedures, the university is not required to issue a Timely Warning based on the same circumstances that initiated the Emergency Notification; however, the university must provide adequate follow-up information to the community as needed. When a threat is neutralized or effectively removed, campus community members will be appropriately informed via a TechAlert notification.

Notifications may be made using any combination, or all, of the following means and any other means that may be an effective tool for reaching those who might be at risk:

• Verbal announcements
• TechAlert text messaging
• TechAlert email
• TechAlert voice calling
• Tech Announce email
• Outdoor Warning Siren System
• Fire Alarm Systems
• Texas Tech Police Vehicle Public Address Systems
• Texas Tech Building Public Address Systems
• Texas Tech TechAlert Webpage
• Texas Tech University "Home" Webpage
• Social Media
• Issuance of news releases to members of the media
• Indoor and outdoor digital signage