CMU-Alert notifications are for urgent, real-time emergencies. They will be sent via multiple modes of communication and are time-sensitive. These notifications are different than Safety or Crime Alerts, which are defined below:

Safety Alerts: Provide a timely notification to our community about reported incidents in the area surrounding campus. CMU Safety Alerts are sent to the entire Pittsburgh campus.

Crime Alerts: Provide a timely notification to our community about reported incidents on campus. CMU Crime Alerts are also sent to the entire Pittsburgh campus.

What is CMU-Alert?

CMU-Alert is Carnegie Mellon's emergency notification system used to communicate important information during an emergency. The system uses multiple methods of communication to ensure the campus and community is notified during an emergency situation.

Please visit the Enterprise Risk Management website for a comprehensive description of CMU-Alert, as well as helpful resources and a Frequently Asked Questions section. If you have any other questions, you can email cmu-alert@andrew.cmu.edu directly. 

• The system will send text and/or voice messages, and email to the CMU community.
• Messages are posted to Facebook and Twitter for parents, alumni and community.
• Emergency help stations on campus provide a way to communicate with University Police.
• Regular updates will be posted at the top of this webpage.

What should I do when I receive an alert?

Follow the directions of CMU-Alert messages unless doing so will place you in greater danger. CMU-Alert warnings are intended to support decisions for personal safety. When you become aware of a warning, make sure others around you are also aware of the potential danger. DO NOT respond to the scene of an emergency unless directed to do so. In addition to the possibility of becoming injured, your presence could interfere with the work of emergency response personnel.

How can I keep CMU-Alert messages from being marked as spam?

It is recommended that you list the CMU-Alert number, 412-268-ALRT, in your cellphone as a contact, and white-list the number in any third-party spam-identification applications such as Hiya, NoMoRobo, and Robokiller. In most cases, this should prevent an erroneous "Spam Risk" identification from appearing on your cellphone.

What is Rave Guardian, and how do I get it?

Rave Guardian is a free smart-phone app that provides users with access to helpful safety and security resources on campus, a safety timer for a virtual buddy system, and interactive campus maps. It also pushes CMU-Alert emergency communications through the app to your smart phone. To download the app, search for "Rave Guardian" in Google Play or the App Store.