UNC Chapel Hill Crisis Information

In an emergency or dangerous situation, the University will post safety-related announcements at this website, alertcarolina.unc.edu, along with updates, information and other resources.

Remember that it may take time for authorities to investigate the situation, verify the facts and provide the campus with instructions or updates. Do not call 911 or the Department of Public Safety for general information. The Alert Carolina website will provide new details as quickly as possible.

Emergency Notification System

The University’s Emergency Notification System (ENS) communicates in multiple ways with students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors, local residents, parents and the news media in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation.

Under Emergency Notification Protocols adopted in August 2011 and revised in March 2012, the University informs the campus community using three different types of notifications – Emergency Warning, Timely Warning and Informational Message.

Click here for a video of Director of Public Safety Jeff McCracken describing the ENS, which was developed with input from students, administrators, faculty and staff to strengthen the University's emergency communications. Click here for information from Chief McCracken about the timing for each level of notification and ways the University community can help keep the campus safe. 

An Emergency Warning is issued if there is a significant emergency or immediate threat to the health or safety of people on campus – such as an armed and dangerous person on campus, major chemical spill or a tornado warning issued for Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The emergency sirens will sound to alert people that they need to act now. Read more.

A Timely Warning is issued if there is a continuing danger affecting the campus community and notification will not compromise law enforcement efforts – such as reports of a homicide, sex offense, robbery or a tornado watch issued for Orange County. Timely warnings tell people to be cautious. Since there is no need to act immediately, the emergency sirens will not sound. Read more.

An Informational Message is issued if a situation is not an emergency and does not pose an immediate threat to the campus community, but is of significant interest to the campus. These messages are intended to tell people to be aware of a particular situation. Examples include reports of a violent crime in which the perpetrator has been apprehended or is known to no longer be on campus or reports of an alleged assault (sexual or physical) made to the Department of Public Safety that do not warrant a timely warning and in which the assailant is not known by the victim. These notifications will also be sent in cases in which the alleged assault happened near campus and are being investigated by other law enforcement agencies. Read more.

Details about the Emergency Notification System and how people can expect to receive information are included in the University’s Emergency Notification Protocols. This document also includes information about communicating with parents and families through the Office of New Student and Parent Programs and by registering on the American Red Cross Safe and Well list.

About Alert Carolina

Alert Carolina, a safety and awareness initiative launched in 2008, plays an instrumental role in supporting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s overall efforts to communicate about an emergency or a situation affecting the safety and health of the campus community.

In an emergency or dangerous situation, the University will post safety-related announcements at this website, alertcarolina.unc.edu, along with updates, information and other resources.

Remember that it may take time for authorities to investigate the situation, verify the facts and provide the campus with instructions or updates. Do not call 911 or the Department of Public Safety for general information. The Alert Carolina website will provide new details as quickly as possible.