CLC offers emergency notification to cell phone, e-mail address

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has one more tool for reaching people quickly during a crisis situation.

Star Alert is a new Wireless Emergency Notification System for students, faculty and staff.

Star Alert uses text, voice and e-mail messaging to inform student, faculty and staff registrants of college-related emergencies that threaten life safety or severely impact normal operations.

Based on an opt-in registration, users can participate in the free service by registering their cell phone numbers and personal e-mail addresses. They also may add the cell phones and e-mail addresses of significant others, such as parents, if they want them to be made aware of emergency situations.

Star Alert is offered in addition to college emergency notification through the student Netmail and staff e-mail messaging, campus closed-circuit TV and the CLC Web site.

"Everyone affiliated with Central Lakes College is urged to register for this valuable service," said Larry Lundblad, president, in a news release. "It not only allows emergency information to be shared with students and employees wherever they are, but if access to college computers and telephones is compromised for any reason, this would be a critical alert mechanism."

In a crisis, the wireless delivery of an emergency message provides crucial information to people before they reach campus. Notifications will specify that the message is a Star Alert, what action to take, and where to find additional information. Messages are brief, spam-free and advertiser free, only to be sent in case of an emergency.

Star Alert registration is available at www.clcmn.edu. Star Alert is authorized through the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Registration is free, quick and easy and can be reversed if the service is no longer needed, CLC reported. Participating students must be able to receive text or e-mail messages on their cell phones.