April 30, 2026

All-Hazards Emergency Plan drill reaffirms SIU’s commitment to preparedness, campus safety

Southern Illinois University Carbondale conducted its annual All-Hazards Emergency Plan exercise on April 27, reaffirming the university’s commitment to preparedness and campus safety. This year’s exercise was built around an active-threat scenario with a specific focus on policy-level decision making and communication.

 Benjamin Newman, SIU Carbondale’s director of public safety and chief of police, said unlike field-based drills, this exercise emphasized how leadership and partner agencies make critical decisions during a rapidly evolving incident.

“The test highlighted strong collaboration among participants, with clear lines of communication and a shared commitment to safety,” he said. “It also provided valuable insights into areas where processes can be refined. Exercises like this are a critical part of maintaining readiness. By focusing on coordination at the leadership level, SIU Carbondale continues to strengthen its ability to respond effectively to complex emergencies.”

Each year, the university’s Emergency Operations Center conducts exercises based on a simulated scenario. This year’s drill included preparing emergency messages to be sent via text, email and social media. SIU Carbondale uses the RAVE Mobile Alert system and LiveSafe app to provide timely notifications during emergencies and critical situations affecting campus. 

All students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled to receive alerts through their SIU email. To ensure you also receive text message alerts, it is important to confirm that your current mobile phone number is on file. 

Please take a moment to update your information:

  1. Log in to SalukiNet.
  2. Select “Update Your Contact Information.”
  3. Add or verify your mobile phone number.
  4. Save your changes 

Keeping your contact information up to date ensures you receive fast, reliable alerts about situations such as severe weather, safety threats or other urgent campus conditions. 

For an added layer of safety, the SIU Department of Public Safety also encourages you to download the LiveSafe app, which provides direct communication with SIU Police, safety escorts, and other helpful resources.