Seattle outage resolved

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.

• Sourcepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Present, 25 of 25. "UWPD" is named with its own emergency number, alongside Seattle Police contacts and King County agencies, and the post points to alert.uw.edu.

  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: "UWPD" is named and the message speaks for the university about its own emergency line.
  2. present: UWPD is named as the agency to reach, along with Seattle Police and King County agencies.
  3. present: UWPD is named and its direct number given, alongside Seattle Police contacts.
  4. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  5. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and reports testing its own system.
  6. present: UWPD is named as the campus agency and the post carries the alert.uw.edu signature.
  7. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its system.
  8. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  9. present: "UWPD" is named with its number, and the post links to alert.uw.edu.
  10. present: UWPD is named, along with agencies in King County reporting on the outage.
  11. present: UWPD is named as testing its system, alongside King County agencies and Seattle Police numbers.
  12. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  13. present: UWPD is named as the agency that tested its system and as the number to call.
  14. present: The campus police are named as the alternate contact, "To reach UWPD, call 206-685-8973".
  15. present: "UWPD" is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  16. present: UWPD is named, along with Seattle Police and King County agencies.
  17. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  18. present: UWPD is named, along with Seattle Police contact numbers.
  19. present: "UWPD" is named, along with agencies in King County and the Seattle Police contact numbers.
  20. present: UWPD is named as the agency, with its own number and confirmation that it tested its system.
  21. present: UWPD is named as the campus contact and Seattle Police numbers are supplied by the sender.
  22. present: The message names UWPD as its own agency, "UWPD has also tested its system."
  23. present: UWPD is named as the agency to call and as having tested its own system.
  24. present: UWPD is named, with its number given, and it reports having tested its own system.
  25. present: "UWPD" is named with its direct line, and Seattle police numbers are supplied.
• Hazardpresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Present, 25 of 25. The failure is explicit, "911 lines are down in King County", later escalated to "The statewide 911 outage".

  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: The hazard is specific: "911 lines are down in King County", later a statewide 911 outage.
  2. present: The specific problem is that "911 lines are down in King County", later called a statewide 911 outage.
  3. present: The hazard is specific: "911 lines are down in King County," a statewide outage.
  4. present: The hazard is a "911 lines are down" outage, later described as statewide.
  5. present: The hazard is stated, "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide outage.
  6. present: The hazard is a "911 lines are down" outage, later described as statewide.
  7. present: The hazard is a "911 outage" with lines down across King County and statewide.
  8. present: The failure is specific: "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide 911 outage.
  9. present: The hazard is specific: "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide 911 outage.
  10. present: The specific failure is that "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide outage.
  11. present: The specific failure is that "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide outage.
  12. present: The hazard is named as a 911 outage: "911 lines are down in King County."
  13. present: The specific failure is named, a "911 system outage" affecting King County and the state.
  14. present: It names a specific failure, "911 lines are down in King County", later a statewide outage.
  15. present: It specifies a "911 system outage" leaving "911 lines are down in King County."
  16. present: The specific failure is that "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide outage.
  17. present: It names a specific failure: "911 lines are down in King County" and a statewide outage.
  18. present: The hazard is explicit, "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide outage.
  19. present: The failure is specific: "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide 911 outage.
  20. present: The hazard is specific, "911 lines are down in King County" and a statewide 911 outage.
  21. present: The hazard is a specific failure: "911 lines are down in King County", later called a statewide 911 outage.
  22. present: The specific failure is "911 lines are down in King County," a statewide outage.
  23. present: The named failure is a 911 outage: "911 lines are down in King County".
  24. present: The hazard is specific: "911 lines are down in King County" in a statewide outage.
  25. present: It names a specific failure: "911 lines are down in King County", a statewide 911 outage.
• Locationpresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Present, 25 of 25. The outage is scoped to King County and then statewide, "agencies in King County" and numbers "to call around the state".

  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 covers "King County" and agencies "around the state" plus UWPD on campus.
  2. present: It covers King County and the state, with UWPD serving the campus.
  3. present: It covers King County and the state, plus UWPD on campus.
  4. present: It is located in "King County" and across the state, with UWPD serving campus.
  5. present: It covers King County and the state, plus UWPD's campus coverage area.
  6. present: It places the outage in King County and across the state.
  7. present: It covers King County and the state, with UWPD as the campus contact.
  8. present: The affected area is given as King County and statewide, with UWPD serving campus.
  9. present: It covers "King County" and the state, with UWPD serving the campus.
  10. present: It covers King County and the state, with UWPD as the local campus contact.
  11. present: The affected area is King County and the state, with UWPD serving campus.
  12. present: It locates the outage in King County and statewide, with UWPD serving campus.
  13. present: It is scoped geographically, "911 lines are down in King County" and statewide.
  14. present: It scopes the outage to King County and "around the state".
  15. present: It places the outage in "King County" and describes it as "statewide."
  16. present: It covers King County and the wider state, with UWPD as the local contact.
  17. present: It covers King County, the wider state and campus callers reaching UWPD.
  18. present: It covers King County and the state, with UWPD serving the campus.
  19. present: It covers "King County" and the statewide area served by the affected agencies.
  20. present: It scopes the outage to King County and the state, with UWPD as the campus contact.
  21. present: It scopes the outage to King County and agencies "around the state".
  22. present: The scope is geographic, "King County" and statewide Washington.
  23. present: It covers "King County" and the statewide system, with UWPD as the local point of contact.
  24. present: It names King County, campus via UWPD, and a statewide scope.
  25. present: It covers "King County" and agencies "around the state", with UWPD as the local contact.
• Guidancepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Present, 25 of 25. Readers are given workarounds to use now: "To reach UWPD, call 206-685-8973", plus Seattle Police numbers or "text 911".

  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 readers to call 206-685-8973 or the listed Seattle police numbers, or text 911.
  2. present: It instructs readers to call alternative numbers such as "206-685-8973" or to "text 911".
  3. present: Readers are instructed to call the alternate numbers or text 911 instead.
  4. present: It instructs readers to "call 206-685-8973" or alternate numbers, or to "text 911."
  5. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD and given alternate Seattle police numbers.
  6. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD and given alternate police numbers.
  7. present: Readers are given alternate numbers to call and told to text 911 for Seattle Police.
  8. present: Readers are told exactly what to do: "To reach UWPD, call 206-685-8973" or "text 911".
  9. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 or the listed Seattle police numbers, or text 911.
  10. present: Readers are told to call listed alternate numbers or "text 911" to reach help.
  11. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD and given alternate Seattle Police numbers and text 911.
  12. present: It instructs readers to call alternate numbers such as 206-685-8973 or text 911.
  13. present: It instructs readers to "call 206-685-8973" for UWPD and gives alternate police numbers and text 911.
  14. present: It gives readers alternate numbers to call and a text 911 option.
  15. present: It instructs readers to "call 206-685-8973" for UWPD and gives alternate Seattle police numbers.
  16. present: It gives alternate numbers to call and tells readers they can text 911.
  17. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973, other listed numbers, or "text 911".
  18. present: It instructs readers to call 206-685-8973 or "text 911" instead.
  19. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD, alternate Seattle Police numbers, or to text 911.
  20. present: It instructs readers to call 206-685-8973, or the listed SPD numbers, or text 911.
  21. present: Readers are told to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD, use listed SPD numbers, or "text 911".
  22. present: Alternate numbers are given as instructions: "To reach UWPD, call 206-685-8973," or "text 911."
  23. present: It instructs readers to call specific alternate numbers or text 911 instead.
  24. present: It instructs readers to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD and lists alternate SPD numbers.
  25. present: It tells readers to call 206-685-8973 for UWPD or use listed Seattle police numbers or text 911.
• Timepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Present, 25 of 25. Updates are stamped "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18", and note calls worked normally "for several hours".

  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 is stamped "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  2. present: It is stamped "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  3. present: It carries "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18."
  4. present: Times and a date appear, "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18."
  5. present: Times and a date are given, "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  6. present: Stamps include "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  7. present: Stamps include 3:23 p.m. and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  8. present: Times and a date appear, "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" and "3:23 p.m.".
  9. present: Times "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" are stated.
  10. present: It gives "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  11. present: It is timed with "3:23 p.m." and an update at "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  12. present: It is stamped 3:23 p.m. and 9:34 a.m. on 12/28/18.
  13. present: Updates are dated and timed, "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  14. present: It carries stamps including "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  15. present: It gives "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18."
  16. present: Updates are dated and timed, including "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" and "3:23 p.m.".
  17. present: Times "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" are given.
  18. present: It is stamped "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" and a 3:23 p.m. resolution.
  19. present: It is stamped "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  20. present: Times and a date appear, "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" and "3:23 p.m.".
  21. present: It is stamped "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  22. present: Times appear, "UPDATE at 3:23 p.m." and "UPDATE at 9:34 a.m., 12/28/18."
  23. present: It stamps updates at "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18".
  24. present: It carries "3:23 p.m." and a dated "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" update.
  25. present: It carries "3:23 p.m." and "9:34 a.m., 12/28/18" and says the outage lasted hours.
• Impactpresent18/25

  Final assessment

  Present on 18 of 25. The majority takes "911 lines are down" to state the consequence that emergency calls cannot get through; seven reads object that the text lists workarounds without naming any danger.

  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. absent: It gives workaround numbers but never states what the outage could cost or how dangerous it is.
  2. absent: The outage's potential consequences for people needing help are never spelled out as danger or severity.
  3. present: The consequence is that emergency calls cannot get through until alternates are used.
  4. present: The implied harm is serious: people cannot reach 911 during an emergency until workarounds are used.
  5. present: Inability to reach 911 during an emergency is the clear stated consequence of the outage.
  6. present: The message implies serious consequence: emergency 911 calling is unavailable, requiring backup numbers.
  7. absent: No statement describes what a missed emergency call could cost; only workarounds are listed.
  8. present: The consequence is that emergency calls cannot get through, requiring alternate numbers around the state.
  9. present: The consequence is that people cannot reach 911 in an emergency and must use workaround numbers.
  10. present: Losing 911 dialing in an emergency is the stated consequence, prompting substitute numbers.
  11. present: Losing 911 means emergency calls cannot get through, which the workaround numbers make explicit.
  12. absent: It gives workaround numbers but never states what the outage could cost someone in an emergency.
  13. present: The consequence is clear: people with emergencies cannot reach 911, so alternate numbers are required.
  14. present: Losing 911 access means emergencies may go unreported, a consequence the workaround numbers make explicit.
  15. present: Losing 911 access means emergencies cannot be reported normally, which the alternate-number workarounds make explicit.
  16. present: The consequence is that people cannot reach emergency dispatch by dialing 911.
  17. present: With 911 lines down, the message conveys that emergency calls cannot get through normally.
  18. present: The implied consequence is severe: people in an emergency cannot reach 911 by phone.
  19. present: Losing 911 access is framed as blocking emergency contact, since callers must use alternate numbers "in an emergency".
  20. present: Losing 911 lines entirely, with substitute emergency numbers offered, conveys a clear risk of unreachable help.
  21. present: The implication is explicit in the remedy: emergency calls cannot get through, so alternate lifelines are required.
  22. absent: The risk of unreachable emergency services is never stated as a consequence, only the outage itself.
  23. present: The stated consequence is that emergency calls cannot get through, forcing alternate routes to help.
  24. absent: It names the outage and workarounds but never states what the loss of 911 could cost anyone.
  25. absent: No statement describes what being unable to reach 911 could cost; only workarounds are given.