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weather campus emergency notice — seattle

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University of Washington published an official alert on or about 2019-09-20. Full text is preserved from the official archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
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 verbatim552 chars
UPDATE AT 11:28 p.m.:  Seattle police is clearing the scene and reopening the area. UPDATE AT 11:20 p.m.: The Seattle police bomb squad has arrived and diffused the package. The area will remain closed off while the investigation continues. ORIGINAL POST: Seattle police are investigating a suspicious package that was reported outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE. Police have cordoned off the area. Please avoid the area until further notice. More information will be provided here as it becomes available.
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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 11:28 p.m.:  Seattle police is clearing the scene and reopening the area. UPDATE AT 11:20 p.m.: The Seattle police bomb squad has arrived and diffused the package. The area will remain closed off while the investigation continues. ORIGINAL POST: Seattle police are investigating a suspicious package that was reported outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE. Police have cordoned off the area. Please avoid the area until further notice. More information will be provided here as it becomes available.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Authority is named at every stage, "Seattle police are investigating" and later "The Seattle police bomb squad has arrived".

    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: "Seattle police" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the responding authority.
    2. present: It names Seattle police and "The Seattle police bomb squad" as the responding authorities.
    3. present: "Seattle police are investigating" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" name the agency.
    4. present: "Seattle police" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the acting authority.
    5. present: The responding authority is named, "Seattle police" and later the "Seattle police bomb squad".
    6. present: Seattle police and their bomb squad are named as handling the scene.
    7. present: Seattle police and their bomb squad are named as investigating.
    8. present: "Seattle police" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the responding authority.
    9. present: "Seattle police" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the responding authority.
    10. present: "Seattle police" and "the Seattle police bomb squad" are named.
    11. present: Seattle police and its bomb squad are identified as the investigating authority.
    12. present: Seattle police and the police bomb squad are named as the responding authorities.
    13. present: "Seattle police" and their bomb squad are named as the investigating authority.
    14. present: The agency is named, "Seattle police are investigating a suspicious package".
    15. present: "Seattle police" and "The Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the responding authorities.
    16. present: Seattle police, including the bomb squad, are identified as investigating.
    17. present: "Seattle police" and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the acting authority.
    18. present: "Seattle police" and the police "bomb squad" are named as the responders.
    19. present: "Seattle police" and "The Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the acting authority.
    20. present: Seattle police and the "Seattle police bomb squad" are named as the responding authority.
    21. present: The sender cites "Seattle police" and the arrival of "The Seattle police bomb squad".
    22. present: The investigating authority is named, "Seattle police are investigating a suspicious package."
    23. present: It names "Seattle police" and their bomb squad as the responding authority.
    24. present: Seattle police and their bomb squad are named as the investigating authority.
    25. present: "Seattle police" and their "bomb squad" are named as the investigating authority.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The threat is specified as "a suspicious package that was reported outside the post office", serious enough to summon a bomb squad.

    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 "a suspicious package" requiring a bomb squad, a specific threat.
    2. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" requiring a bomb squad, a specific threat.
    3. present: The threat is "a suspicious package" that later required a bomb squad.
    4. present: The hazard is a "suspicious package" handled by a bomb squad, a specific explosive concern.
    5. present: The hazard is specific, "a suspicious package" that required a bomb squad.
    6. present: It specifies "a suspicious package" outside the post office.
    7. present: It names "a suspicious package" that the bomb squad later diffused.
    8. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" serious enough for a bomb squad response.
    9. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" that later required a bomb squad.
    10. present: The threat is "a suspicious package" handled by a bomb squad.
    11. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" handled by the bomb squad.
    12. present: The threat is a "suspicious package" handled by a bomb squad, a specific hazard.
    13. present: The threat named is "a suspicious package" later defused by the bomb squad.
    14. present: It names a suspicious package handled by the bomb squad, a specific explosive threat.
    15. present: It names "a suspicious package" as the threat under investigation.
    16. present: A "suspicious package" outside the post office is the named threat.
    17. present: The hazard named is "a suspicious package" that the bomb squad later defused.
    18. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" that the bomb squad later defused.
    19. present: The threat is specific: "a suspicious package" requiring a bomb squad.
    20. present: It names "a suspicious package" reported outside the post office.
    21. present: The hazard is a "suspicious package" serious enough for a bomb squad response.
    22. present: It names a "suspicious package" handled by "The Seattle police bomb squad."
    23. present: The threat is "a suspicious package" handled by the bomb squad.
    24. present: The hazard is "a suspicious package" serious enough for a bomb squad.
    25. present: It names "a suspicious package" that the bomb squad later defused.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The package is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".

    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: It locates it "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    2. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    3. present: It is "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE."
    4. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE."
    5. present: It is located "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    6. present: The spot is "near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    7. present: The package was "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    8. present: It specifies "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    9. present: It is located "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    10. present: It is "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    11. present: It is located "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    12. present: It is located outside the post office near NE 43rd St and University Way NE.
    13. present: It is located "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    14. present: It locates it "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    15. present: The place is "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE."
    16. present: It locates it "near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    17. present: It is located "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    18. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    19. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    20. present: The place is specific, "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    21. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    22. present: The place is "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE."
    23. present: The location is "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    24. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
    25. present: It is placed "outside the post office near the corner of NE 43rd St and University Way NE".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Recipients are directed, "Please avoid the area until further notice", after police "have cordoned off the area".

    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 "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    2. present: Recipients are told, "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    3. present: Readers are directed to "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    4. present: It instructs readers, "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    5. present: Readers are directed to "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    6. present: Readers are instructed: "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    7. present: Readers are told "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    8. present: Readers are told, "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    9. present: Readers are told "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    10. present: Readers are instructed to "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    11. present: Readers are told to "avoid the area until further notice".
    12. present: Readers are instructed: "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    13. present: Readers are told, "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    14. present: It directs readers, "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    15. present: Readers are directed to "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    16. present: It instructs readers to "avoid the area until further notice".
    17. present: Recipients are told "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    18. present: Readers are told, "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    19. present: Readers are told "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    20. present: It instructs readers to "avoid the area until further notice".
    21. present: Recipients are told "Please avoid the area until further notice".
    22. present: The instruction is explicit, "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    23. present: It instructs readers to "avoid the area until further notice".
    24. present: The instruction is explicit: "Please avoid the area until further notice."
    25. present: "Please avoid the area until further notice" instructs recipients directly.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The resolution is clocked in two steps, "UPDATE AT 11:20 p.m." when the package was defused and "UPDATE AT 11:28 p.m." when the scene reopened.

    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 carries updates at "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m." plus "until further notice".
    2. present: Updates are stamped at "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.".
    3. present: Updates are marked "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.," plus "until further notice."
    4. present: Updates are stamped "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m."
    5. present: Updates carry clock times, "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.", plus "until further notice".
    6. present: Update stamps at 11:20 p.m. and 11:28 p.m. plus "until further notice" supply timing.
    7. present: Updates are stamped 11:20 p.m. and 11:28 p.m.
    8. present: Update times are given, "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.".
    9. present: Timestamps "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m." appear, along with "until further notice".
    10. present: Times "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m." appear.
    11. present: Update times of "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m." are given.
    12. present: The updates carry clock times of 11:20 p.m. and 11:28 p.m.
    13. present: Updates are stamped "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m." with "until further notice".
    14. present: Updates are stamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.".
    15. present: Updates are stamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m."
    16. present: Updates are stamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.".
    17. present: Update times "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m." appear.
    18. present: Update stamps of 11:20 p.m. and 11:28 p.m. plus "until further notice" convey timing.
    19. present: Updates are stamped "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m.", with "until further notice".
    20. present: Updates are timestamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.", with "until further notice".
    21. present: Stamps read "UPDATE AT 11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m.", marking recency.
    22. present: Updates are timed "AT 11:28 p.m." and "AT 11:20 p.m."
    23. present: Updates are stamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m.".
    24. present: The updates are stamped "11:28 p.m." and "11:20 p.m."
    25. present: Updates are stamped "11:20 p.m." and "11:28 p.m." and the closure runs until further notice.
  • Impactpresent23/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 23 of 25. Dispatching a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger; two reads objected that the text never says what the package could have done.

    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: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger to those nearby.
    2. present: Calling in a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger serious enough to close the area.
    3. present: Severity is implied by the bomb squad being called to defuse the package and the area staying closed.
    4. present: Calling in a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger to people nearby.
    5. present: The bomb squad having to defuse the package conveys a potential explosive danger.
    6. absent: No statement of what the package could do or how dangerous it was is offered.
    7. present: Sending a bomb squad to diffuse the package conveys a clear risk of explosion.
    8. present: Explosive danger is strongly implied by the bomb squad having "diffused the package" and the prolonged closure.
    9. present: Calling in a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger to people nearby.
    10. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys an explosive danger to those nearby.
    11. present: Sending a bomb squad to defuse the package plainly implies an explosive danger to people nearby.
    12. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" clearly implies an explosive danger to people nearby.
    13. present: Calling in a bomb squad to have the package "diffused" conveys an explosive risk to people nearby.
    14. present: Calling in a bomb squad that "diffused the package" clearly implies a potentially explosive danger.
    15. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" strongly implies a potential explosive danger to people nearby.
    16. present: Cordoning the area and having a bomb squad defuse the package convey explosive danger.
    17. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" clearly implies explosive danger to people nearby.
    18. present: The need for a bomb squad to defuse the package implies explosive danger to anyone nearby.
    19. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" conveys that an explosive danger was present.
    20. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" strongly implies an explosive danger to people nearby.
    21. present: Sending a bomb squad that "diffused the package" strongly implies an explosive danger to anyone nearby.
    22. present: Explosive danger is strongly implied by the bomb squad arriving and having "diffused the package."
    23. present: Calling in a bomb squad that "diffused the package" strongly implies explosive danger to people nearby.
    24. present: Saying the bomb squad "diffused the package" conveys that an explosive danger was present.
    25. absent: No statement of what the package could do or how dangerous it was is offered.

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
    UW Advisory Seattle
    emergency.uw.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Washington: weather campus emergency notice — seattle." Incident of September 20, 2019. Added July 2026; last updated August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-washington-uw-advisory-seattle-2019-09-20/

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

Tags
washingtonuwuw-alertweatherUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated August 2026Via ingestion