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UPDATE: Lockdown alert mistakenly sent for Montana Tech North Campus

Posted: Dec 19, 2012 5:22 PM by Shannon Davis

Montana Tech's Emergency Management Team mistakenly sent out a lockdown warning for the north campus Wednesday morning.

The text was intended to be a test. It was sent to students, campus employees and police. The text message read, "Montana Tech Alert: All buildings on north campus in lockdown. Lock doors, stay away from windows and doors, turn off lights. More information to follow." It was just after 11a.m.

The mistake was discovered shortly after 11:30a.m. and the all clear was given.

Montana Tech representatives said the text was sent to more than 1,300 mobile devices and e-mail addresses subscribed to the alert system.

"It was unfortunate," said Amanda Badovinac, director of public relations and marketing at Montana Tech. The campus reacted immediately by locking doors and turning off lights.

"Seeing the response really showed us that people are paying attention and that we would be prepared if something did happen," Badovinac said.

Authorities who responded to the campus said the school did exactly what they were supposed to do if there had been a threat on the premises.

Badovinac encourages students, faculty and community members to subscribe to the Montana Tech Alert system. In the event of an emergency you will receive a text message sent to the mobile number and/or e-mail you register with the system. To register visit www.mtech.edu.