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EAGLE ALERT Emergency Messaging System

Georgia Southern University uses an emergency message alert notification system, called EAGLE ALERT, to contact members if there is an imminent threat to students, faculty and/or staff on any of our campuses. EAGLE ALERTs are designed to provide instructions, not to pass along information.

EAGLE ALERT should complement other warning systems and is not intended to be the only method you use for information in the event of an emergency.

National Weather Service Tornado Warnings have been linked into the EAGLE ALERT system for each campus location that is within the warning area. Other severe weather alerts may be communicated through EAGLE ALERT when there is a high risk to life safety.

Getting the word out – quickly and efficiently

The goal of the EAGLE ALERT system is to be able to communicate vital information to the University community as quickly and efficiently as possible during a crisis. The EAGLE ALERT system is just one of the ways that the University communicates in a crisis. EAGLE ALERT is not intended to be the only method to reach the University community.

When an EAGLE ALERT is issued, several communications systems may be utilized, including:

  1. University email
  2. Phone calls
  3. Text messages (text messages are sent from these short codes: 226787, 67283, 78015, 81437 or 22911).  Save these numbers in your mobile device contacts as  EAGLE ALERT.
  4. Desktop notifications
  5. Georgia Southern University website
  6. MyGeorgiaSouthern website
  7. University social media accounts
  8. Digital signage on each campus

Students and employees are also encouraged to check other public notification systems including television, radio, weather alerts and Internet as needed.

What do I do during an EAGLE ALERT?

The EAGLE ALERT will provide the University community with information on actions they may need to take during an emergency. 

Instructions with which the University community should be very familiar include:

  • Secure in Place – threatening situations such as an active shooter, police pursuit, or a civil disturbance may prompt the University to send an EAGLE ALERT directing faculty, staff and students at a specific location to “secure in place.” A secure in place order means:
    • Stay inside (go to the nearest room or office).
    • Lock doors and windows (close, lock and barricade the door with any heavy furniture possible).
    • Stay out of view by staying away from doors and windows (turn out the lights, if possible. Silence all noise-producing sources, including your cell phone – put on silent mode, do not turn cell phone off).
    • Remain in your shelter location until the “all-clear” is given or you are advised to move by emergency response personnel.
  • Shelter in Place – threatening conditions such as a hazardous material spill may prompt the University to send an EAGLE ALERT directing faculty, staff and students at a specific location to “shelter in place.” A shelter in place order means:
    • Stay inside.
    • Close doors and windows.
    • Depending on the hazard you may also be advised to close exterior vents and shut off the HVAC system or other electrical devices.
    • Remain in your shelter location until the “all-clear” is given or you are advised to move by emergency response personnel.
  • Seek Safe Refuge – threatening conditions such as severe weather and Tornado Warnings may prompt the University to send an EAGLE Alert directing faculty, staff and students at a specific location to “seek safe refuge.” A seek safe refuge order means:
    • Stay inside.
    • Close windows and doors.
    • Go to the lowest level of the building and shelter in an interior room or hallway.
    • Sit and cover your neck and head.
  • Evacuation – Situations may arise that necessitate an evacuation of a building for the safety of that building’s occupants. Emergencies that could lead to an evacuation include fire, hazardous material spills inside of the building. utility failure, and bomb threats. When any of these situations occur or any other situation leads to an evacuation order, each person should follow the following guidelines:
    • Remain calm.
    • Leave your work area/classroom immediately and proceed to the nearest exit and leave the building.
    • DO NOT use elevators. Use the stairs and proceed down the stairs on the right-hand side.
    • If it is safe to do so, assist anyone who is physically impaired. If they are unable to exit the building without using the elevator, assist that person to a safe area in or near a stairwell and immediately notify first responders (such as GS police or the fire department) of the person’s location.
    • Proceed to an area at least 300 feet away from the building and keep roads and walkways clear for emergency vehicle access.
    • Do not re-enter the building.
    • Follow directions of the building coordinator and public safety personnel.

After an evacuation, individuals in leadership positions should account for students, faculty, staff and visitors who were under their supervision at the time of the evacuation. If anyone is unaccounted for, notify public safety personnel or a building coordinator. If you know the person’s last known location, provide that information as well.

For more detailed information on each of these phrases, visit www.georgiasouthern.edu/eaglealert.

Update Your Information

Faculty and Staff

To review and/or make changes to your contact information for emergency notifications, please follow these steps:

  • Log in to OneUSG Connect
  • Select “Employee Self Service” from the drop-down menu at the top of the page
  • Click on the “Personal Details” tile
  • Select the “Contact Details” tab to the left of the screen
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to update contact details as necessary

Students

To review and/or change your Eagle Alert contact information on the myGeorgiaSouthern portal, please follow these steps:

  • Log in to my.GeorgiaSouthern.edu
  • Click on “Emergency Messaging Options” under the “Personal Settings” channel
  • Review your information
  • Make updates as needed. Please note: Students must provide a cell phone number.

Campus Opt-Out for Emergency Notifications

Faculty, staff and students have the option to opt out of receiving alerts for up to two of the University’s campuses. Each faculty and staff member, as well as students, will have a primary campus identified in the system and may not opt out of receiving alerts for their primary campus. All faculty, staff and students will automatically receive alerts for the Statesboro Campus, the Armstrong Campus and the Liberty Campus unless preferences are changed on my.GeorgiaSouthern.edu. Faculty and staff who work on, or students who participate in classes or activities on, more than one of the University’s campuses are encouraged to receive alerts for each campus.

Faculty and Staff

To select the campuses for which you wish to receive emergency notifications, please follow these steps:

  • Log in to my.GeorgiaSouthern.edu
  • In the “Other Links” channel, click “Update Eagle Alert Contact Info”
  • Under “Which alerts do you want to receive?” on the right of the screen, uncheck the campuses for which you do not wish to receive emergency alerts. Please note: You will be unable to uncheck your primary campus.

Students

To select the campuses for which you wish to receive emergency notifications, please follow these steps:

  • Log in to my.GeorgiaSouthern.edu
  • Click on “Emergency Messaging Options” under the “Personal Settings” channel
  • Under “Which alerts do you want to receive?” on the right of the screen, uncheck the campuses for which you do not wish to receive emergency alerts. Please note: You will be unable to uncheck your primary campus.

If you experience difficulty updating your information on my.GeorgiaSouthern.edu or in One USG Connect, please contact myTechSupport at 912-478-2287 or helpdesk@georgiasouthern.edu.

Reporting Problems with Notifications

If you are not affiliated with Georgia Southern University and are receiving unwanted Eagle Alert notifications, please complete the Report Wrong Number form to have your contact information removed from our system.

If you are a University student, faculty or staff member and are not receiving Eagle Alert notifications, please double-check your contact information in MyGeorgiaSouthern. If it is entered correctly in MyGS, submit your phone number for confirmation.