Safety Fest Returns, Accompanied by Test of BU Alert System
Events will be held on Medical and Charles River Campuses
Poster courtesy of BU Safety, Security & Preparedness
Safety Fest Returns, Accompanied by Test of BU Alert System
Events will be held on Medical and Charles River Campuses
September is National Preparedness Month, the annual public awareness campaign highlighting the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters. Boston University is using the campaign as an opportunity to remind students, faculty, and staff about the need to stay informed about potential risks and the proactive steps they can take to ensure the safety of the BU community.
This year, BU Safety, Security & Preparedness (SSP) is hosting its second annual Safety Fest on Wednesday, September 17, on the Medical Campus Talbot Green, from 11 am to 1 pm, and on Friday, September 19, on the Charles River Campus George Sherman Union Plaza, from 11 am to 1 pm. Open to all students, staff, and faculty, the events allow everyone to “walk away with practical tips, new connections, and a better sense of how to stay safe and prepared at BU,” says Rene Fielding, executive director of Emergency Management. There will be interactive activities, free giveaways, and snacks—plus a visit from Bean, BU’s community resource dog (CRD), who will make an appearance at both events at 11:30 am. She’ll be joined by several of her fellow CRDs from neighboring communities.
Annual BU Alert test on September 19
BU’s observance of National Preparedness Month culminates with the annual test of the BU Emergency Notification System, BU Alert, on Friday, September 19, at approximately 4:50 pm. BU Alert provides critical rapid and reliable information during emergencies through email, text, landline, and push notifications via the Everbridge app. In addition to direct messages, the test alert will also be posted on all BU websites and on the BU Police X (formerly Twitter) account, @BUPolice.
Members of the BU community are urged to make sure their BU Alert information is up-to-date. Students can update their contact details, including address and phone number, through the MyBU student portal under the “Personal” tab. Faculty and staff can do the same by logging into BUworks central portal and updating their “BU Alert Information” under “Employee Self-Service.”
“As we head into Safety Fest, the annual BU Alert test is a reminder of the importance of staying informed and prepared,” Fielding says. “In an emergency, every second matters. Our priority is to reach the BU community quickly with real-time updates to help keep everyone safe. The message is simple: stay alert, stay informed, and stay safe.”