Emergency Text Messages Calm Fears and Speculation

When sirens sound and emergency equipment responds to a particular neighborhood or school campus, people will be inclined to think the worst. Onlookers may try to get closer to the center of the commotion, putting themselves in danger, and rumors can spread like wildfire, even without confirmation.

Emergency text messages, sent quickly and with basic information, can calm fears and reassure neighbors that the situation is being handled.

This situation happened just last week at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Students were worried about their safety by the sirens and flashing lights on campus, but a text message sent a short time later revealed that the emergency was a gas leak. And while potentially dangerous, students knew their personal safety could be secured simply by evacuating the designated area and staying away from the scene.

It was a serious situation, but not quite of the magnitude that some were fearing. The broadcast text message was an efficient way to send accurate and timely information to those who might have panicked otherwise. A great example of the benefits of using a broadcast messaging service like CME.

For more on the Ball State story, click here.