A fire breaks out in the middle school auditorium. A water main breaks, forcing the elementary school to cancel classes. A very suspicious stranger is reported lurking on the grounds of the high school. In an extreme case, a crime suspect is on the school property and puts everyone in the building in danger.

Recent history has proven these emergencies do happen, and they require swift action by building and district administrators to protect students, faculty and staff from immediate threats to their safety. All the while needing to keep parents and guardians updated on the health and safety of their children. In emergency situations, every second is critical.

What is a Mass Notification System?

Effective communication during emergencies is essential. Mass notification systems typically use existing data and voice networks to deliver pre-recorded or live messages that alert parents, students, and staff of emergencies and provides them with instructions, such as evacuation or shelter in place notices with pre-assigned drills and procedures.

The system enables immediate contact to all parties through phone call, text message, instant messengers, emails and other forms of alerts. Integration of systems becomes critical as the system must integrate with different devices, including analog and digital phones, computers, mobile phones, digital assistants, fax machines, and pagers.

Additional mass notification systems can broadcast messages indoors and outdoors through loudspeakers, paging systems, digital signage boards and alarms.

Typically, customer’s of Stark Tech integrate their mass notification systems with video surveillance systems to augment the mass notification systems. The combination of the two systems enable fast, immediate response. In addition to emergency response, integration of security and protective system systems facilitate monitoring of high risk areas with the intent to reduce crime and vandalism rates.

Mass notification systems also provide value during severe weather warnings, class cancellations, gas line leaks or water main breaks, and more.