By Rachel Choppin

When it comes to an emergency, time is of the essence. According to a 2013 FBI study, 70% of active shooter incidents are over in under five minutes and a third last two minutes. In that short amount of time, a lot of damage can be done. Whether the event is human aggressor, severe weather, etc., preparing custom emergency templates ahead of time could mean the difference between life and death. 

Pre-planning your emergency communications can decrease the time it takes to send an alert and increase the accuracy of the information that needs to be distributed throughout your organization. With these easy-to-use templates, you can customize your emergency message text with specific instructions and choose who and what device you want these messages sent. Having preset templates will also help to ensure that all relevant information is included (e.g., when, what, and how) and minimize human error. For any organization such as a school, business, manufacturing plant, etc., these templates are essential to keeping people safe and informed in a crisis. 

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Below are six customizable emergency templates that every organization can utilize for emergencies:

1. Active shooter

With the increase in active shooter events in the workplace, schools, and more, it is imperative to use this template as one of your preset activations. Your active shooter template should include clear-cut instructions to follow so that there will be no confusion and panic when you activate the alert. 

2. Intruder Lockdown

In the event of an intruder lockdown situation, having this custom preset activation at your fingertips can help save emergency personnel time when activating the alert. This template should include the location of the intruder and instructions for your intended audience.

3. Evacuation

Whether you need to evacuate your business, school, or facility because of severe weather, fire, or some other event, your evacuation preset alert will come in handy to quickly send out specific instructions for your staff on where to go and how to proceed.

4. Severe Weather

While tornadoes, flash floods, and other weather-related events might not happen frequently, they can be devastating when they do. Make sure you and your organization are prepared by creating a severe weather template like the one below.

5. All Clear

Letting your organization know when a crisis is over is just as important as notifying them when it begins. Having a preset template for an all-clear is essential for business continuity. It also helps to give your employees, students, faculty, or staff, peace of mind. 

6. System Test

Another essential template to include in your preset activations is a system test alert. When you launch a new Mass Notification System, it is important to regularly test your system and alerts. Testing ensures that the system is working and alerts are reaching the right audience. Testing also familiarizes emergency personnel and recipients with the look and language of the alerts, as well as practice associated drills if necessary. 

Remember, there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to implementing an MNS in your facility. These templates and many more can maximize the effect of your emergency alerts to help ensure the safety of your staff, faculty, or students should an emergency arise. While it’s impossible to predict the future, taking these preemptive measures can help you be prepared.

Alertus Mass Notification Solutions

Alertus offers a wide array of additional notification solutions to facilitate comprehensive alerting, including the wall-mounted Alert Beacon®, LED Marquee, VoIP phone alerting, and mobile apps. These solutions effectively communicate emergency alerts throughout your organization to keep staff and visitors safe.

Be sure to visit the Alertus Resources to learn how you or your organization can better facilitate emergency management.