The campus has multiple ways of communicating in an emergency. The various methods of communication have been consolidated into the campus Alerting and Warning System (AWS).

The AWS is a network of safety sirens and communications links that warn and inform the community of what to do in an emergency or disaster. The hazard warning sirens and communications links will work in tandem to alert, warn, and provide specific emergency information in the event of certain emergencies. This includes dangers resulting from natural or technical hazards such as chemical spills, flooding, fires, storms, power outages, transportation incidents, and other public safety incidents. These sirens are tested at noon on the first Wednesday of every month. Upon hearing a siren on a non-test day, everyone on campus should immediately "Shelter, Shut, and Listen" (take shelter in a building, shut the doors and windows, and use the communications links below to obtain specific emergency information). You should remain in the Shelter-Shut-Listen mode until further notification from the university.

To get information during an emergency:

Call: 1-800-705-9998
Log on: http://emergency.berkeley.edu
Tune in: KALX (UC Berkeley radio): 90.7 FM
        City of Berkeley Emergency broadcast radio: 1610 AM
        KCBS radio (Regional News): 740 AM

These information sources are available during any campuswide emergency, whether or not the sirens sound.

In case of a large-scale emergency, you may also send a runner to your Emergency Management Area (EMA) command post (indicated on the map in the back of your telephone book by a number in a red circle) for more up-to-date information or to request assistance. For the most direct route to evacuate your region of the campus during a campus-wide evacuation order, check online for the most direct paths toward each compass point (scroll down to Regional Evacuations).

last updated on 5/8/07