You should sign up for emergency text messaging from the University.  When the University faces an immediate and time-sensitive threat the University uses a variety of means to communicate the threat such as the University website, e-mail, campus voice mail, mobile text messaging, and the campus siren.  Mobile text messaging may be the quickest way for you to be updated.   

Outside of the University there are many other public sources of emergency information available to all of us especially as regards weather related events or natural catastrophes.  See for example www.emergencyemail.org or www.weather.gov/subscribe .