Texas Tech Explains How Incorrect Campus Evacuation Message Was Sent Out
Update: Texas Tech issued a statement explaining how a message asking students and staff to evacuate the school's Lubbock campus was mistakenly sent out.
The following is a press release from the Texas Tech University:
As part of routine training on the TechAlert Emergency Communications System, an inadvertent campus evacuation was released to the Texas Tech University campus.
University staff trains on the TechAlert system regularly to ensure preparedness to alert the campus in the event of an emergency. As part of this training, a staff member mistakenly released the campus evacuation.
Original story:
Minutes after sending out an emergency phone call and alert to Texas Tech students asking them to evacuate campus, the university has said there's no need to do so.
The initial alert sent around 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4th said the following:
This is an emergency notification from the Texas Tech Police Department. An immediate evacuation of the Texas Tech University campus is required. Immediately evacuate all buildings and move to an off-campus location with personal belongings. Buses will be rerouted. Further updates to come. For more information, go to emergency.ttu.edu.
Minutes later, a correction was issued, saying that students and faculty should disregard the previous message.
Right now, it's unclear exactly what caused the initial message to go out.