On Monday, Feb. 10 at 11:02 a.m., the University of New Mexico will conduct a test of its emergency notification systems. The test will include all parts of the University's warning systems including sirens, e-mail, text messaging, social media page updates and UNM web page updates.

"UNM tests the system at the beginning of each semester to familiarize the campus community with our various systems, to remind people to update their emergency notification data and preferences, and to encourage everyone to review their individual and organizational preparedness measures. It also gives our first responders an opportunity to activate the various systems as part of their routine training," said University Emergency Manager Byron Piatt.

During the test UNM will sound the sirens for approximately one minute. A pause will follow the sirens for approximately one minute, and then an "all clear" siren will be sounded for approximately one minute. At the same time, text and e-mail messages will be sent via LoboAlerts, and alerts will appear on websites and social media sites.

In an actual incident, individuals should seek shelter in the nearest building and look for additional information. If you receive a LoboAlerts text or e-mail, you are asked to follow any instructions it contains and to share the information with people around you, in case others have not received their alerts yet.

For a siren sample, click on the respective link.

Listen to the Emergency Alert

Listen to the All Clear

To prepare for the test, all UNM and UNMH staff, faculty, affiliates and registered students are asked to log into the LoboAlerts site and update their emergency notification information and preferences. The LoboAlerts system can store and contact up to three cell phones and three e-mail addresses per person.

"If you are receiving alerts on the wrong phone number or e-mail address, or aren't receiving them at all, go to the LoboAlerts site and update your data so you're ready," said Piatt. "During the weather alerts last fall, we received reports of people not receiving text messages. In many cases we have found that the individual never entered their telephone number, entered it incorrectly or failed to check the text messaging box. We encourage everyone to select both the text and e-mail options."

Piatt also suggests that individuals add the numbers 26787 and 67283 to their address books as LoboAlerts. The numbers are the common short codes used by the system to send the messages. It is helpful to see a text message coming from "LoboAlerts" rather than some unknown number.

On average, text messages are delivered 10 times faster than the e-mail messages. The timeliness of text message receipt can vary, however, based upon type of phone, carrier, location or battery strength.

Non-UNM persons who work on campus, live in nearby communities, or otherwise have an interest in receiving emergency notifications can also receive LoboAlerts.   LoboAlerts are available via social media on the LoboAlerts Facebook and LoboAlerts Twitter pages,  or individuals can create their own account on the LoboAlerts Community site.

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions and more information, visit: LoboAlerts.