FIU releases report on its emergency alert system, issues directives for improvement

MIAMI – Florida International University on Monday released an internal review of its emergency alert system, along with recommendations to improve how the university communicates during emergencies.

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg appointed College of Law Dean Alex Acosta to lead a review of the emergency alert system after student Kendall  Berry died following a violent altercation on campus on March 25, 2010. That was the first time the university used its emergency alert system during a live criminal incident.

“That evening many individuals – from first responders to the university leadership – did their jobs and did them well,” Acosta said. “Nevertheless, there are many lessons we can take away from this experience. The emergency response technology FIU has is consistent with best practices, but we can improve how the university implements it.”

The report included several recommendations on how to improve the alert system, as well as emergency management plans and procedures. One of the recommendations that will be put in place almost immediately involves increasing community awareness of the emergency management plan, and implement a policy through which all members of the university community are automatically signed up for the Panther Alerts emergency text messaging system.

 “While I was proud of how our university community came together to respond to this senseless act of violence, I wanted to ensure that this tragedy could lead to lessons learned and improvements in emergency management and communications,” Rosenberg said. “I am instructing senior leaders of our university to move swiftly to put in place the procedures, technologies, and training to better improve our readiness to cope with any future emergencies.”

To read the full report click here.

To read President Rosenberg’s directives as a result of the report click here.

Media Contact:  Maydel Santana-Bravo at 305-348-1555.

-FIU-

About FIU:
Florida International University is one of the 25 largest universities in the nation, with nearly 40,000 students. More than 100,000 FIU alumni live and work in South Florida. Its colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. As one of South Florida’s anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. The opening of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in August 2009 has enhanced the university’s ability to create lasting change through its research initiatives. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu.