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The University of Kentucky remains committed to the safety of our campus community. One of the most important tools we use to keep our campus informed during emergencies is the UK Alert system, which provides timely information and guidance when it matters most. 

UK Alert is initiated when immediate action is required in response to an active threat or incident (active aggressor, tornado warning, etc.) on campus.

All University of Kentucky students are automatically registered in UK Alert with their official university e-mail address. We encourage students to be sure contact information, such as mobile numbers is updated in the SafeZone app. 

What’s Changing for Faculty and Staff 

Starting Nov. 1, opting in to receive UK Alerts via phone call and text message will now be done through the SafeZone app for UK faculty and staff.  

Here’s what you need to know: 

  • To receive phone call and text alerts: Employees must download the SafeZone app and register with a valid cell phone number. 
  • In addition to these alert types, SafeZone users can also choose to receive push notifications through the app. 
  • If you do not download SafeZone, you will continue receiving UK Alerts by email only
  • All employees remain automatically enrolled in email alerts, regardless of app use. 
  • All students will be automatically enrolled in all alert types, regardless of app use. 
Woman listens to message on cell phone.

Community Members

Parents, media, visitors, and other interested parties may register for UK Alert on a voluntary self-subscription basis. 

Depending on the emergency and the location, an alert may be sent using all of the methods, or a combination of the alert methods.

​Effective emergency response requires personal preparedness and planning.  We encourage you to edit your UK Alert account to include multiple forms of notification as just one part of your personal emergency preparedness plan.

Sign up here!

UK Alert uses the following methods to send immediate notifications

Text Messages

Sent to phone numbers that have been entered by the individual user.

Email

Sent to all uky.edu email addresses.

Outdoor Sirens

Blue Emergency Notification Towers are strategically placed at over 50 locations across campus to provide outdoor alert tones and broadcast emergency messages with 360o loud speakers.

VoIP Desktop Phones

University of Kentucky has approximately 9,000 Voice over Internet Protocol phones throughout main campus and in some off campus offices incorporated within the alert system.

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