PSU Alert Basics
Learn about our campus emergency notification system. Stay informed with real-time campus emergency notifications and critical safety updates from Portland State University.
What? The PSU Alert emergency notification system keeps the PSU community informed during campus emergencies by sending essential emergency information, safety instructions, and guidance. PSU Alert provides critical updates when urgent situations arise.
Intended Audience: The primary audience is PSU students, faculty, staff and external partners working in PSU managed spaces.
When? This system is reserved solely for urgent, life-threatening situations or significant emergencies. Routine messages or spam will never be sent through PSU Alert. PSU Alerts are triggered when there is an immediate threat to the safety or well-being of the PSU community. Alerts may be issued in various emergency scenarios, such as:
- Unscheduled campus closures
- Extreme weather impacting campus safety (e.g., flooding)
- Campus emergencies requiring evacuation or shelter-in-place orders
- Critical campus-wide utility outages (e.g., boil water notice, power outage, etc.)
- Police activity requiring people to avoid a specific area on campus
How? PSU Emergency Management or Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) sends alerts through our Rave platform as soon as possible once a credible threat is identified.
** Non-emergency messages, such as Timely Warnings and Campus Safety Advisories, are sent exclusively to @pdx.edu email addresses and are not delivered through PSU Alert.
I Received a PSU Alert—What Should I Do Next?
When you receive a PSU Alert, it signals an imminent threat or emergency situation. It’s crucial to TAKE ACTION for your safety. Do NOT ignore the alert! Do NOT go to the location of the incident. Follow the provided instructions, such as “shelter in place” or “evacuate immediately,” until you receive an “all clear” message. Share the information from the alert with those around you.
When a PSU Alert is sent, it indicates an imminent threat or emergency situation. It’s crucial to TAKE ACTION for your safety.
- Do NOT ignore the alert!
- Do NOT go to the location of the incident.
- Follow provided guidance, such as “shelter in place” or “evacuate immediately,” until you receive an “all clear” message.
- Share the information with those around you.
Important Next Steps
- Update your PSU Alert Preferences to ensure you receive alerts via text or personal email by checking your notification preferences..
- Add PSU Alert contact information to your contact list so you recognize official messages. Text messages come from 231-77 or 630-79. Emails come from psualert@notify.pdx.edu or psualert@pdx.edu
- Get Informed by familiarizing yourself with campus emergency procedures.
- Get Prepared by taking steps at home, at work, and at school to prepare for emergencies by making a personal emergency plan and emergency kit.
Register / Update Your PSU Alert Preferences
PSU encourages all students, faculty, and staff to check their PSU Alert notification settings annually to ensure you receive timely emergency alerts.
To customize your alert preferences by clicking this link. Only individuals who provide cell phone numbers for text-enabled phones will receive text messages. If you want to receive text alerts or messages at a personal email address, you must opt in by providing your information.
Important Note: All @pdx.edu email addresses are automatically opted in to receive alerts and cannot be unsubscribed.