Campus Alert Archive
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Normal operations on Seattle campus and Tacoma; Bothell

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University of Washington published an official alert on or about 2019-02-12. Full text is preserved from the official archive.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
0
Institution
University of Washington
Public R1 · WA
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~50,000 studentsUW Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how UW says it will use UW Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTMulti-channel
Verified verbatim2645 chars
UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday: Operations at the UW Seattle campus returned to normal after a delayed start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Any further updates will be provided on this page. UW Tacoma also delayed normal operations until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Updates for UW Tacoma can be found at emergency.tacoma.uw.edu. UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday: UW Bothell has announced it will suspend operations Wednesday. Updates for UW Bothell can be found at uwb.edu/emergency. As the snow and ice turn to slush, there are some areas that remain slippery and other potential hazards exist. - Caution on walkways: To the extent possible, wear appropriate winter footwear, including waterproof boots and soles with proper tread. Many pathways have been cleared within normal walkways. Not all walkways are cleared from edge to edge, and some diagonal paths across open spaces - such as the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square, have not been fully cleared. Pedestrians should look for cleared paths whenever possible, even if this isn't the most direct path. - Trees and building overhangs: Please be aware that as the snow and ice melts off trees and rooftops, clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall. Please be aware of such areas and use caution. - Limited ADA accessibility: Crews have prioritized ADA accessibility around campus and near ADA-designated parking areas, however they may be impacted by the ongoing slush and ice. Attention will continue to be placed on these areas. - Parking lots and garages: Please use caution walking and driving in parking lots and garages. Some transitions from lots and garages onto roads remain slushy or icy in spots. Also use extra caution getting in and out of vehicles. - Caution entering and exiting buildings: Custodial crews will aim to keep entryways into buildings as dry as possible, but please assist in the effort by wiping shoes off upon entering buildings and be mindful to avoid bringing ice inside. Use caution on non-carpeted flooring near entrances and exits as floors may be slippery. Hundreds of UW Facilities personnel have logged tens of thousands of hours working around the clock for the last 10 days. The work has included clearing and treating roads, pathways and entryways, operating and maintaining the power plan, utilities distribution systems and critical building mechanical systems, and providing critical transportation services to enable an effective return to normal operations for the UW. As normal operations resume after the historic storms that have hit the Seattle area, flexibility and patience are encouraged and appreciated.
Verify this quote
UW Alertemergency.uw.edufind archived copies
Transcribed from official institutional alert archive page.
Confirmed-verbatim recovery from live institutional source.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 5 (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday: Operations at the UW Seattle campus returned to normal after a delayed start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Any further updates will be provided on this page. UW Tacoma also delayed normal operations until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Updates for UW Tacoma can be found at emergency.tacoma.uw.edu. UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday: UW Bothell has announced it will suspend operations Wednesday. Updates for UW Bothell can be found at uwb.edu/emergency. As the snow and ice turn to slush, there are some areas that remain slippery and other potential hazards exist. - Caution on walkways: To the extent possible, wear appropriate winter footwear, including waterproof boots and soles with proper tread. Many pathways have been cleared within normal walkways. Not all walkways are cleared from edge to edge, and some diagonal paths across open spaces - such as the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square, have not been fully cleared. Pedestrians should look for cleared paths whenever possible, even if this isn't the most direct path. - Trees and building overhangs: Please be aware that as the snow and ice melts off trees and rooftops, clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall. Please be aware of such areas and use caution. - Limited ADA accessibility: Crews have prioritized ADA accessibility around campus and near ADA-designated parking areas, however they may be impacted by the ongoing slush and ice. Attention will continue to be placed on these areas. - Parking lots and garages: Please use caution walking and driving in parking lots and garages. Some transitions from lots and garages onto roads remain slushy or icy in spots. Also use extra caution getting in and out of vehicles. - Caution entering and exiting buildings: Custodial crews will aim to keep entryways into buildings as dry as possible, but please assist in the effort by wiping shoes off upon entering buildings and be mindful to avoid bringing ice inside. Use caution on non-carpeted flooring near entrances and exits as floors may be slippery. Hundreds of UW Facilities personnel have logged tens of thousands of hours working around the clock for the last 10 days. The work has included clearing and treating roads, pathways and entryways, operating and maintaining the power plan, utilities distribution systems and critical building mechanical systems, and providing critical transportation services to enable an effective return to normal operations for the UW. As normal operations resume after the historic storms that have hit the Seattle area, flexibility and patience are encouraged and appreciated.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the University speaks for itself about campus operations and credits "Hundreds of UW Facilities personnel" for the cleanup work.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: The University and "UW Facilities personnel" are identified as behind the operations update.
    2. present: UW Seattle campus operations and UW Facilities personnel are named as the voice.
    3. present: It speaks for the UW, describing what "UW Facilities personnel" have done and what Bothell announced.
    4. present: The UW is the speaker, crediting "Hundreds of UW Facilities personnel" for the response work.
    5. present: The UW reports on its own campus operations and credits "UW Facilities personnel".
    6. present: The university reports on its own Seattle campus operations and its UW Facilities crews.
    7. present: The University speaks for itself and cites "UW Facilities personnel" and UW Bothell's announcement.
    8. present: The UW reports its own operations and credits "UW Facilities personnel" for the clearing work.
    9. present: Speaks as the UW and credits "UW Facilities personnel" for the cleanup work.
    10. present: The university speaks for itself and credits "UW Facilities personnel" for the round-the-clock work.
    11. present: The University speaks for itself, citing "UW Facilities personnel" and campus operations decisions.
    12. present: The UW is speaking, referencing "UW Facilities personnel" and UW Tacoma and Bothell announcements.
    13. present: "UW Facilities personnel" and the UW's operational announcements identify the institutional sender.
    14. present: The university writes as sender, reporting on UW Seattle operations and "UW Facilities personnel".
    15. present: The university reports on its own campus operations and credits "UW Facilities personnel".
    16. present: The message speaks as the UW, crediting "Hundreds of UW Facilities personnel" for the cleanup.
    17. present: The UW writes as itself, crediting custodial crews and "UW Facilities personnel".
    18. present: "UW Facilities" and the UW campuses speak as the institutional source.
    19. present: The UW speaks, crediting "UW Facilities personnel" for the clearing work.
    20. present: "UW Facilities personnel" and the campus operations announcement identify the university as the sender.
    21. present: The UW speaks for its Seattle campus and credits UW Facilities personnel.
    22. present: "UW Facilities personnel" and the UW campuses identify the university as the sender.
    23. present: The UW writes in its own voice, citing "UW Facilities personnel" and UW Bothell announcements.
    24. present: The UW reports on its campuses and credits "UW Facilities personnel", identifying the institution.
    25. present: "UW Facilities personnel" and the UW campus operations announcement identify the institution.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the post names concrete winter dangers, areas that "remain slippery" as snow turns to slush, falling "clumps of ice and snow", and falling tree branches.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It names snow and ice turning to slush, falling ice clumps, and falling tree branches.
    2. present: Snow and ice turning to slush, plus falling ice clumps and branches, are named.
    3. present: It names snow, ice, slush and falling ice clumps and tree branches.
    4. present: The hazard is melting snow and ice turning to slush, with falling ice and branches.
    5. present: It names snow, ice and slush plus falling branches as the specific hazards.
    6. present: It names melting "snow and ice" turning to slush with falling clumps as the hazard.
    7. present: It names melting snow, ice and slush plus falling ice and tree branches as hazards.
    8. present: The hazards named are melting snow and ice, slush, falling ice clumps and falling tree branches.
    9. present: Names snow and ice turning to slush, plus falling ice and branches, as the hazards.
    10. present: It names snow, ice and slush, including areas that "remain slippery".
    11. present: It names snow, ice and slush, including ice that can fall from trees and rooftops.
    12. present: The hazard is winter conditions: slush, ice and "clumps of ice and snow" falling from roofs.
    13. present: It names snow, ice and slush, with melting ice and falling branches as the hazards.
    14. present: The hazard is snow and ice turning to slush, with falling ice clumps and branches.
    15. present: Snow, ice and slush are named, with falling ice clumps and branches as specific hazards.
    16. present: It names snow, ice and slush hazards plus falling branches and ice clumps.
    17. present: The hazard is snow and ice turning to slush, with falling ice clumps and branches.
    18. present: It describes snow and ice turning to slush with falling ice from trees and rooftops.
    19. present: Melting snow and ice with slush, falling clumps and branches is the named hazard.
    20. present: It names melting snow and ice, slush and falling ice and tree branches as the hazards.
    21. present: Melting snow and ice turning to slush, with falling ice clumps and branches, is named.
    22. present: It names slush, remaining ice and falling clumps of ice and tree branches.
    23. present: Named hazards include slush, remaining ice and falling clumps of snow and tree branches.
    24. present: It names snow, ice, and slush hazards including melting ice falling from rooftops.
    25. present: The hazard is melting snow and ice, with falling ice clumps and slippery slush.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: specific ground is named, uncleared diagonal paths "across open spaces - such as the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus parking garages and building entrances.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Specific places are listed: "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus garages and entrances.
    2. present: The Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square are named alongside the Seattle campus.
    3. present: Specific campus places are listed, including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    4. present: It names campus places including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and parking garages.
    5. present: Named places include "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" on the Seattle campus.
    6. present: It names campus spaces including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    7. present: Named places include the Quad, Denny Yard, Red Square and campus parking garages.
    8. present: It names campus places including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and parking garages.
    9. present: Names campus places including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    10. present: Named places include the Seattle campus, "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and parking garages.
    11. present: Specific places are named: "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus parking garages.
    12. present: Named campus places include "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and parking garages.
    13. present: It names the Seattle campus and specific spots like "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    14. present: It names the Seattle campus and specific spots: "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    15. present: It names campus spaces including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and parking garages.
    16. present: It names campus spaces including "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus garages and entrances.
    17. present: Named places include "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and campus garages.
    18. present: It names the Seattle campus plus "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    19. present: Named places include the Seattle campus, the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square.
    20. present: It names the Seattle campus and specific spaces, "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square".
    21. present: It names the Seattle campus including the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square.
    22. present: Named places include "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" and campus walkways.
    23. present: Specific campus places appear, such as "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus garages and entryways.
    24. present: Specific campus spaces appear: "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square", plus parking garages.
    25. present: It names "the Quad, Denny Yard and Red Square" plus parking lots and building entrances.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: instructions are detailed, to "wear appropriate winter footwear", to look for cleared paths, and to use caution entering buildings and garages.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It instructs people to "wear appropriate winter footwear", seek cleared paths, and "use caution".
    2. present: It tells pedestrians to wear proper footwear, seek cleared paths and use caution.
    3. present: It tells readers to wear proper winter footwear and to "look for cleared paths whenever possible".
    4. present: It urges readers to wear proper footwear, use cleared paths, and "use extra caution getting in and out of vehicles".
    5. present: Readers are told to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and to look for cleared paths.
    6. present: It instructs readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and use caution in lots and entrances.
    7. present: It instructs readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and to "use caution" on paths and floors.
    8. present: Readers are told to wear proper winter footwear, seek cleared paths and "use caution" near entrances.
    9. present: Instructs readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and repeatedly to "use caution".
    10. present: It tells readers to wear winter footwear, look for cleared paths and "use caution" at entrances.
    11. present: It instructs people to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and "use caution" on walkways.
    12. present: It tells readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and "look for cleared paths whenever possible".
    13. present: It tells readers to wear proper footwear, "look for cleared paths" and "use caution" entering buildings.
    14. present: It instructs readers to wear "waterproof boots and soles with proper tread" and to look for cleared paths.
    15. present: It instructs readers to wear winter footwear, seek cleared paths, and use caution entering buildings.
    16. present: It tells readers to wear proper winter footwear, seek cleared paths and "use caution" entering buildings.
    17. present: It instructs readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and "use caution" on paths and floors.
    18. present: It instructs people to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and "use caution" on paths and floors.
    19. present: It tells people to use caution and to "wear appropriate winter footwear" on walkways.
    20. present: It instructs readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear", seek cleared paths and "use caution" in garages.
    21. present: It instructs people to wear proper footwear, use cleared paths and take care at entrances.
    22. present: It tells readers to wear proper footwear, look for cleared paths and use caution in garages.
    23. present: It instructs readers to wear winter footwear, seek cleared paths and "use caution" entering buildings.
    24. present: Readers are told to "wear appropriate winter footwear", seek cleared paths, and "use caution".
    25. present: It urges readers to "wear appropriate winter footwear" and "use caution" in lots and doorways.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the sequence is timed, an "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday", the "9:30 a.m. Wednesday" delayed start, and a 7:25 p.m. Tuesday Bothell note.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It gives "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a 7:25 p.m. Tuesday note.
    2. present: Update at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday and a 9:30 a.m. delayed start give timing.
    3. present: Stamps include "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    4. present: It is timed "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" with a prior update at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday.
    5. present: It gives "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a delayed start "at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday".
    6. present: It stamps "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    7. present: "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday" give clear timing.
    8. present: It is timestamped "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" with a 7:25 p.m. Tuesday update.
    9. present: Includes "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    10. present: Updates carry "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday", with a 9:30 a.m. delayed start.
    11. present: Updates are stamped "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    12. present: It is stamped "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" with a 9:30 a.m. delayed start.
    13. present: Updates are stamped "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    14. present: It is stamped "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" with a further "7:25 p.m. Tuesday" update.
    15. present: "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a "9:30 a.m. Wednesday" delayed start are given.
    16. present: It includes "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a delayed start "at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday".
    17. present: It bears "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a delayed 9:30 a.m. start.
    18. present: "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a "7:25 p.m. Tuesday" note give timing.
    19. present: Updates are stamped "12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    20. present: It has an "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a delayed start "at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday".
    21. present: It carries a 12:40 p.m. Wednesday update and a 7:25 p.m. Tuesday note.
    22. present: It stamps "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
    23. present: "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday" fix the timeline.
    24. present: It carries "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and a 9:30 a.m. delayed start.
    25. present: It includes "UPDATE at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday" and "UPDATE at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday".
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the consequences are spelled out, that areas "remain slippery and other potential hazards exist" and that ice clumps and branches "can fall to the ground below".

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It warns areas "remain slippery and other potential hazards exist" and ice "can fall to the ground below".
    2. present: It warns areas remain slippery and that ice clumps and branches can fall.
    3. present: It warns ice "can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery", stating the harm.
    4. present: It warns areas "remain slippery", that ice clumps "can fall to the ground below", and floors may be slippery.
    5. present: It warns "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery".
    6. present: It warns that areas "remain slippery" and that ice clumps and branches "can fall to the ground below".
    7. present: It warns that "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery".
    8. present: It warns that falling ice clumps and branches can drop to the ground and floors "may be slippery", naming the danger.
    9. present: Warns that "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground" and floors "may be slippery".
    10. present: It warns that melting ice means "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall".
    11. present: It warns areas "remain slippery", that "clumps of ice and snow can fall", and floors may be slippery.
    12. present: It warns areas "remain slippery", ice can fall from rooftops and branches can fall, naming the danger.
    13. present: It warns "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and that floors "may be slippery".
    14. present: It warns that areas "remain slippery", that ice "can fall to the ground below" and floors may be slippery.
    15. present: It warns areas "remain slippery", that falling ice can drop, and floors "may be slippery".
    16. present: It warns that ice clumps "can fall to the ground below", branches can fall and floors "may be slippery".
    17. present: It warns that "some areas that remain slippery and other potential hazards exist".
    18. present: It warns "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery".
    19. present: It warns that areas "remain slippery", that ice clumps "can fall to the ground" and branches can fall.
    20. present: It warns that "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall".
    21. present: It warns areas remain slippery, other potential hazards exist and ice clumps can fall on people.
    22. present: It warns "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall".
    23. present: It warns that ice and snow "can fall to the ground below, and tree branches can also fall", naming the danger.
    24. present: It warns that "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery".
    25. present: It warns "clumps of ice and snow can fall to the ground below" and floors "may be slippery".

Coded by Claude Opus 5

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Official UW Alert archive entry.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official archive page preserves complete alert text.
Outcome
See official notice for status.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    UPDATE: Normal operations on Seattle campus and UW Tacoma on Wednesday; UW Bothell suspends operations Weds.; please use caution walking, driving
    emergency.uw.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Washington: Normal operations on Seattle campus and Tacoma; Bothell." Incident of February 12, 2019. Added July 2026; last updated August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-washington-update-normal-operations-on-seattle-campus-and-uw--2019-02-12/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

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Added July 2026Updated August 2026Via ingestion