Western Washington University

10/13/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/13/2025 13:53

WWU to test its Western Alert emergency communications system on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9:50 a.m.

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WWU to test its Western Alert emergency communications system on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9:50 a.m.

October 13, 2025

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Western Washington University will test its Western Alert emergency communications system at 9:50 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The systems functionality of the Western Alert system that will be tested will include emails, desktop notifications, WWU home page and emergency page feeds, Western Safe app push notifications, and texts.

The Western Alert test is occurring on this date and time in support of the Great Washington ShakeOut! On Oct. 16, students, families and folks in businesses will drop, cover and hold on as part of the country's largest earthquake drill. The event also includes a test of Washington's more than 120 tsunami sirens along the inner and outer coast using the real wailing sound of a tsunami warning, not the Westminster Chimes that are typically used during monthly tests.

During the Western Alert test on Oct. 16, you're invited to drop, cover and hold on wherever you are - whether it's at work, home or school. Practicing builds muscle memory for when the real earthquake comes. Western Washington University has signed up to participate in the drill along with more than 1.4 million Washington residents.

ALERTS

This year's ShakeOut theme is "Be Alerted." There are many different ways to get important emergency alerts. Besides the Western Alert and tsunami sirens, those who have downloaded the free MyShake Earthquake Early Warning App on their phones will also get a test. The Wireless Emergency Alert text system on cell phones will NOT be tested. There WILL be a test of the Emergency Alert System on radio and television this year. NOAA Weather Radios will also sound an alarm. To make sure you're signed up for alerts, visit the following sites.

Western Washington University published this content on October 13, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 13, 2025 at 19:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]