LSUHSC-NO Text Alert System FAQ's

In order to better communicate emergency information, LSUHSC-NO has implemented the LSUHSC-NO Text and Email Alerting System. To receive alerts, individuals must opt-in to system by providing their cell phone or personal email information during registration. There is no fee to subscribe, but users will have to pay regular text messaging rates through their cellular providers.

Who can use the LSUHSC-NO Text Alert System?

LSU Health Sciences Center—New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO) Text Alerting System is available to all LSUHSC-NO faculty, staff, students and external affiliates such as Louisiana Healthcare Network and LSUHSC Foundation employees.

How will this system be used?

Once your cell phone number is registered, you would receive potential alert notifications related to dangerous or threatening situations or conditions (occurring or anticipated) in facilities owned by LSUHSC-NO on the downtown and Dental School academic campus. Be reminded that the purpose and intent of the LSUHSC-NO Text Alert System is related to any form of identified emergency or threat to our university community.

Does my phone support text messaging?

Check your phone's text messaging capability from the Omnilert test application.

If you don't receive the test, make sure you have a text messaging plan and your phone is in an area with coverage displaying a good signal. Also, verify with your carrier that they are allowing SMS messages from the short codes 79516 (primary short code) and 70359 (failover short code).

Who will the emergency text notifications come from?

The text notifications will come from “LSUHSC”

What are the limitations of the system?

Text messages in general are limited to approximately 160 characters and some carriers/devices are limited to approximately 120 characters. This means that text messaging is less about full communication and more about alerting.

When an alert is sent it traverses multiple provider networks and message delivery timing depends on the reliability of your service provider. Text messaging is an important part of our emergency alerting system that is used in conjunction with more communicative alerting mechanisms.

Other alerting mechanisms available at LSUHSC-NO include e-mail, web updates and phone trees.

How do I opt-in for text alert services?

Follow the instructions in the "Register a Phone Number for LSUHSC-NO Alerts" section on https://911.lsuhsc.edu/EAS/tutorials.aspx

Where can I find answers to questions about the LSUHSC-NO Alert System?

For support, contact the LSUHSC-NO Help Desk 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at (504) 568-HELP.

How many email addresses and phone numbers can I sign up with?

You can sign up with up to two phone numbers and six email addresses. Note that it is not necessary to sign up with your LSUHSC email address since mass email is a part of our emergency communication process.

What if I don't want to receive these messages when I go on vacation?

You can change your services to "inactive" for each phone number and email address by following this tutorial.
Be sure to re-activate your services when you return from vacation.

What can I do on my end to be sure that I receive the alerts?

To ensure you receive alerts to your cell in a timely manner, be sure your phone is charged and you remain in an area where signal is adequate to receive a message. If you have a phone where you can recognize the sender and setup a special alert for this sender, you may want to do this for Omnilert (formerly e2Campus) when you receive your validation alert. Check with your phone vendor for information on if this is possible and how to do this. Also, verify with your carrier that they are allowing SMS messages from short codes 79516 (primary short code) and 70359 (failover short code).

For the email address(es) that you've added to our alert system, make sure that you have adequate space available to receive an email. Unless you use email continuously throughout the day and leave it open, email may not be an effective alerting mechanism.

If I receive a text alert on my cell phone, can I respond to the message?

Replies to alert notifications will be received, but may not be actively monitored.

For support, contact the LSUHSC-NO Help Desk 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at (504) 568-HELP.

How may I opt-out of this service?

To opt-out you must change services to "inactive" for each phone number and email address associated with your account by following this tutorial. This preserves your account and personal information, but will immediately halt receipt of alert notices. If you'd like your account to be deleted, please contact Information Security at security@lsuhsc.edu to request that your account be removed.

Emergency Information

Emergency Alert System

Stay Informed

Report Emergency

LSUHSC-NO Text and Email Alerts

FAQS

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What is the LSUHSC-NO Text Alert System?