University tests its new text-messaging raid alert program -- with a real incident

In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings, some universities have moved toward text-messaging alerts in emergency situations. And at one university, the system was immediately tested, and worked:

At St. John’s, the “messages were sent so quickly that a student who helped subdue the suspect felt his cell phone vibrate with the information while he was restraining the gunman,” according to The Associated Press.

In other signs of the potential of the text messaging route, the alert quickly spread from people signed up for the messages to those around them, and the incident encouraged many more students to sign up in the aftermath.

No kidding.
More Adventures in Emergency Text-Messaging - The Lede - Breaking News - New York Times Blog

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