Sign Up for TXState Alerts

The TXState Alert system is an emergency notification system that uses email and text messages to notify the university community about potentially dangerous situations.

• To get text message alerts, you must opt in to the system. The service is free, but note that depending on your texting plan you may be responsible for additional charges from your provider.
• All users with a @txstate.edu email address are automatically registered to receive email alerts.

Each user with a @txstate.edu email address has a profile within the TXState Alert system. Log in to your profile at any time with your Texas State NetID and password to update your phone number, add email addresses or send a test message.

If you do not have a @txstate.edu email address, you can still get text message alerts. Please follow the instructions for Twitter’s “Fast Follow” feature listed on the top of this page (you do not need a Twitter account).

Emergency information will be sent using two or more of the following methods:

• Safety and Emergency Communications site
• University homepage, txstate.edu
• Twitter, @TXStateUPD
• Facebook, Texas State University Police
• Alertus Desktop Notification System on campus computers
• Email from the Office of Emergency Management to all students, faculty and staff
• Recorded message on the university news hotline, 512.245.2424
• Voicemail messages sent to all campus telephones
• Local media announcements
• Texas State weather emergency siren system
• Emergency sign board system on campus
• Reverse 911

Note: Not all methods will be used during every emergency. The university Safety and Emergency Communications site will provide further information as needed.

Alerts are sent across several types of media, including those with limited amounts of space. We try to give a good description within these limits. Crafting detailed messages with formal sentence structure takes time and space, and during an emergency, the faster we get a message out, the faster our community can take appropriate action.

We try to provide information about potentially hazardous situations on or near the university. We send alerts, along with instructions for what to do, about situations such as flooding, building fires, gas leaks, bomb threats and similar events. If there is a violent crime, we try to include as much of a description as possible, as quickly as possible.

Federal law requires the university to notify the community of an emergency as soon as possible after it is reported to the police or other officials. The sooner the information is put out, the quicker people can react to protect themselves. In a situation where a violent crime has occurred, information will both allow the community to protect themselves and may also lead to the apprehension of the suspect.

At this time, only individuals with university accounts (@txstate.edu email and NetID) can sign up directly in the TXState Alert system. However, there are other ways for the public to get alerts.

Students can add up to two additional phone numbers to receive text alerts by updating their profile.

Anyone can get text message alerts using Twitter’s “Fast Follow” feature, even without a Twitter account.

• Text “follow TxStateOoEM” to 40404. You will receive a text message confirming your request.

Once you have set up Fast Follow, you can:

• Temporarily stop receiving text alerts by texting “OFF” to 40404
• Begin receiving text alerts again by texting “ON” to 40404
• Opt out of Fast Follow and stop receiving text alerts by texting “unfollow TxStateOoEM” to 40404

If you have a Twitter account, follow @TxStateOoEM to see alerts on your feed. Update your Twitter notification settings to get updates sent as text messages.

Major emergency info is available to the public on the Safety and Emergency Communications site, which is updated with the most accurate information.

You probably got a reply saying “Broadcast Alert response received. If you meant to post this to a Group, please verify the keyword and try again.”

We do not have the TXState Alert system set up for replies or group responses. If you have questions about an alert, please visit Safety and Emergency Communications for more information about what to do.

You will only receive text messages during an emergency situation or a planned test.

Because every emergency is different, we cannot predict exactly how many messages you’ll get, but you will always get at least two: one notifying you about the emergency and one notifying you when it has ended.

During a system test, you will get only two messages: one at the start of the test and one at the end. The system is tested each semester to verify that it is working properly.

You will not be spammed through TXState Alerts — we do not send ads, reminders, safety tips or any other nonemergency information.

The service is free, but note that depending on your texting plan you may be responsible for additional charges from your provider.

Texts will be sent from 67283 (occasionally other numbers depending on load), which is the code for the TXState Alert system. Messages will always include the words “TXState Alert.”

You can save the number 67283 as “TXState Alert” in your phone contacts so that it appears that way on the caller ID.

Emails will be sent from TXState Alert, emergencymanagement@txstate.edu. The subject line will always say “TXState Alert.”

All messages will have the words “TXState Alert” in the message. You will also get multiple types of message: for example, text, email, website banner, emergency horns. We will always use at least two types of media to send emergency alerts.

The most common forms of alert are emails, social media posts and web updates. Because of space limitations, messages will be short and will point you to Safety and Emergency Communications for more information.

The nature of each emergency will determine when, how and what kind of alerts are sent.

The Office of Emergency Management and the University Police Department will decide what notice to use —campus-wide notices are not always required or most effective.

If the situation could have an immediate impact on the community at large, then a campus-wide, all-media message may be most useful. If the situation can be controlled and confined to a small area, then a more targeted message may be best.

The message will contain basic information on what to do, for example, shelter in place or avoid a specific area. Please follow those directions.

If you are in class, the instructor will provide additional guidance. In an administrative office, again someone will provide additional guidance.

For more information on what to do during emergencies, visit Emergency Procedures.

Contact the Office of Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@txstate.edu, by phone at 512.245.8255 or in person at the University Police Department in the Nueces Building, 615 North LBJ Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666.

If you are in a role requiring TXState Alert system training, it will be provided by either an Emergency Management official or a member of UPD’s Crime Prevention Unit.