OLD DOMINION TO TEST EMERGENCY TEXT AND E-MAIL MESSAGING SYSTEM JAN. 27

Old Dominion University will test its emergency text and e-mail messaging system at 1 p.m. Sunday. Jan. 27.

During the test, a message will be sent to subscribers of the text messaging system and to all faculty, staff and student e-mail accounts with the following information: "This is a test of the ODU emergency message system." The test will be followed up with an e-mail survey that will ask for some basic information regarding delivery of the message.

The text messaging service delivers emergency and security information to user's cell phones in the event of a campus emergency. Users must register their cell phones to receive messages.

To sign up, Old Dominion community members can follow the link to "Emergency Alerts" from the university's home page or go directly to the sign up Web site at www.odu.edu/alerts. A Midas ID and Password are needed. Users can register up to two cell phone numbers and two e-mail addresses.

In the event of a real emergency, the university will use a combination of communication vehicles to alert the campus, including text messaging, campus-wide e-mail, the university's web site, information phone line and television and radio media outlets.

Your cooperation and feedback on this test will help the university continue to refine its communication systems and ensure the dissemination of information during emergencies.