Lawmakers discuss options for statewide public alert system

Governor Deval L. Patrick and the Legislature are pushing for emergency alert systems that use text-messaging to warn the public of a natural disaster, a pandemic, or an attack similar to the Virginia Tech mass shooting.

One system under consideration would be for only colleges, while the other would be for all the state's municipalities, school districts, and universities.

After a morning meeting at Bridgewater State College with the state college presidents, Patrick told reporters that he would support and fund the state Board of Higher Education's effort to install an emergency alert system just for colleges. He said his only concern was finding a way to notify students of an emergency when cellphones are shut off.

A governor's spokeswoman, Cyndi Roy, later added, "The governor believes that anything we can do to ensure all students, staff, and faculty are safe we should do, and the emergency notification alert system seems to be one way to make people aware when and if an emergency is present."

In the afternoon, a joint legislative committee on public safety and homeland security began debate on a bill that would create a statewide public notification system for municipalities, school districts, and universities. The system would use text messaging and other technology. The governor hasn't taken a position on the bill.

The statewide and the university-only systems have been under discussion for several months, but have taken on more urgency since last week's attack at Virginia Tech by a student. Senior Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed two people in a dormitory about 7:15 a.m. and then two hours later killed 30 others in a classroom building and then himself.

Some Virginia Tech students expressed concern that the university did not alert students and staff early enough about the attacks. Some said they didn't receive the first warning, which came by e-mail, until two hours after the first attack -- about the time of the second attack. Other students said they received no notification.

The proposed system for the universities could cost about $250,000 annually and could reach 400,000 students, faculty, and staff. The goal is to get the system, now being tested at a handful of colleges, operating by this fall.

Patricia Plummer, the state's higher education chancellor, said the governor's office is looking for a source of funding and might use federal homeland security funds. She said she is reluctant to use student fees to cover the costs. She said she is also in discussion with private colleges to see if they would like to join the system.

No cost estimates were available for the proposed statewide system. Private companies that provide such services to some municipalities and school districts said it would cost roughly $2.50 per household or business.

Both systems could be tailored so messages could go out to specific geographic regions.

"If you don't communicate quickly, people get hurt," said state Senator Stephen M. Brewer, a sponsor of the bill.

While the systems are being touted as a way to keep the public safe during a mass emergency, the systems could also be used to inform the public about parking bans during snow emergencies or school cancellations.

"Whether it's Mother Nature or man-made, I would want to know as a parent, resident, or property owner what's going on in a quick sound bite from my leader in my city, town, or school," said Brendan M. Cotter, managing director at NTI, a private company that says it provides public notification services for half the state's K-12 school districts and a growing number of municipalities.

His company is among several vying for contracts with public and private universities.

The systems are not considered foolproof. Because students sometimes turn off phones, especially in class , public and private colleges also are turning to low-tech ways of emergency notification, including sirens and public address systems. The colleges are scheduled to come together for a symposium in June to discuss which alert systems to use.

James Vaznis can be reached at jvaznis@globe.com.