Prepare Now

Prepare for an emergency by understanding the various notification systems on campus including how they are used, their limitations and how to access each one.  Additional information is provided on each method listed.   

UF emergency notifications systems include:

-UF Homepage (www.ufl.edu)
-Text Messaging
-Blast Email
-Building Telephone Messaging
-Acoustical Device
-Campus Cable Television Systems
-Campus Radio/Television Stations
-Media Advisories
-NOAA Weather Radio
-UF Rumor Control  (866-UF FACTS or 866-833-2287)
 

Methods of Notification

UF Homepage - www.ufl.edu

The UF Homepage serves as the official source of emergency notification information.  It will be updated as necessary during an incident.


Text Messaging

Text messaging of students, staff and faculty occurs through UF's vendor - Mobile Campus.  Current UF students are automatically enrolled in the system using their cellular telephone number provided during the ISIS course registration process. 

Faculty and staff who provide a cellular telephone number will also be automatically enrolled in the system.  All UF employees are encouraged to update their emergency contact information in MyUFL in order to receive text messages. 

Updates can be made at MyUFL > My Account > Update Emergency Contact.  


Blast Email

Notifications can be sent through blast email to students, faculty and staff.  Current faculty, staff and students are automatically included in the email and do not need to register for blast email.  The email list is updated and maintained by UF Bridges.   

Building Telephone Messaging

UF maintains an automated notification system for calling of UF-operated telephones in campus buildings.  The system is operated in partnership with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office and would be employed to notify a limited, geographic area of Campus..  Telephone numbers are updated by UF's telecommunications providers - Computing & Networking Services, HealthNet, Housing & Residence Education and University Athletic Association.

Acoustical Device

UF's Police Department can deploy a directional, acoustic array device designed for long-range communications to notify an outdoor portion of campus.


Campus Cable Television Systems

Three units operate cable systems on campus - Office of Academic Technology, Housing & Residence Education and Health Affairs.  Each system has a controlled channel which could be used to broadcast notifications.

-ATTV  [Live Stream] (Channel 22 on Academic Technology / Channel 15 on Housing)
-Resident TV (Channel 8 on Housing)
-Health Affairs (Channel 32 on Health Affairs)


Campus Radio / Television Stations

The College of Journalism & Communications operates four radio and television stations on campus - WUFT-TV/DT (News 5), WRUF-AM (AM 850), WRUF-FM (Rock 104) and WUFT-FM (Classic 89).

The news division for each station may broadcast notification information provided through media advisories by UF.  Additionally, the stations participate in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) implemented by the Federal Communications Commission.  EAS messages included local notifications such as weather warnings and watches.

-Live Stream - WRUF-AM (AM 850) [WRUF-FM (Rock 104) is streamed 6AM-11AM on this feed]
-Live Stream [broadband] / Live Stream [dial-up] - WUFT-FM (Classic 89)


Media Advisories

The News Bureau of University Relations and other appropriate UF departments will provide information to the media for their broadcast to students, staff, faculty and other interests.

Local Media (in addition to Campus broadcast stations):

- Print
     - Independent Florida Alligator
     - Gainesville Sun

- Radio
     - WBXY (99.5 FM)
     - WSKY (97.3 FM)

- Television
     - WCJB (Channel 20 / Cox Cable Channel 7)
     - WGFL (Channel 53 /  Cox Cable Channel 4)
     - WOGX (Channel 51 /  Cox Cable Channel 13)


NOAA Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio provides automatic alerting of weather watches and warnings when issued by the National Weather Service-Jacksonville.  Each UF department is responsible for placing NOAA Weather Radios in their buildings when reception is available.   

For programming a Weather Radio in Alachua County, use the following information:
      *Alachua County S.A.M.E. Code = 012001
      *Tune to 162.475 Mhz (Channel 4 on most receivers

- NOAA Weather Radio Information (National Weather Service-Jacksonville)
- NOAA Weather Radio Consumer Information (National Weather Service)
New Weather Radios purchased should carry the Public Alert logo -

-Live Stream* - Weather Radio for Gainesville/Alachua County
(*For non-critical weather information, not a substitute for live NOAA Weather Radio)

UF Rumor Control (866-UF FACTS or 866-833-2287)

UF Rumor Control provides a toll-free hotline (1-866-UF FACTS) for students, staff, faculty and other interests to call and obtain official information from the University.  The hotline is operated by University Relations.

 

Additional Resources

In addition to UF notification methods,  other community information sources are available.  These sources offer notifications on the community surrounding the UF campus. 

- Alachua County Division of Emergency Management has a subscription email service.  The email list provides updates on situations or incidents impacting Alachua County including weather watches/warnings, hurricane statements, public information statements during emergencies, and other emergency related information.

- Alachua County SKYWARN offers delivery of weather watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service to your email, pager or cellular telephone.  SKYWARN is a volunteer organization of training weather spotters.

- Although an integral part of the University, UF's Health Science Center may need to issue specific emergency notifications for its facilities, staff and faculty.