Alert System Warns of Emergencies

In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre last spring, many are wondering if something like it could happen on a campus in Georgia.

From life-threatening situations to large scale emergencies, UGA students and faculty will get the message in minutes thanks to a new alert system that's now up and running.

The new system is called the UGA Alert System.

"They have cell phones. They expect to know information all the time," said Steven Harris, UGA Emergency Operations Manager.

Harris said they began exploring this technology many months before the Virginia Tech shootings. The tragedy in Blacksburg sped up the process in Athens.

Don't expect a text regarding traffic tie-ups instead.

"It's a life-threatening emergency that will cause you to take immediate action, or anything like that," said Harris.

Sophomore Shirley Moore said she wants to see it used more often.

"I think that they're hesitant," she said. "They don't want to be one of the schools that has to use the alert system, but they want to have it in their back pocket, just in case something like the Virginia Tech Massacre happens again."

University officials recently transferred the contact information for each student and staff member into the system.