RacerAlert

Current Alerts

JANUARY 23, 2026 - 7:55 a.m.

Our Campus Weather Preparedness Committee has been actively monitoring the major winter storm forecast as the situation has developed and evolved over the course of this week.

Based upon the most recent information received from the National Weather Service, our area is expected to be impacted by a winter storm with the potential for significant snow accumulation, cold temperatures and the possibility of sleet and freezing rain beginning late Friday evening and lasting through the weekend.

Due to this forecast, Murray State University and its regional campuses at Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Paducah and Fort Campbell will be closed on the following dates, beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, January 24:

Saturday, January 24

Sunday, January 25

Monday, January 26

Tuesday, January 27

This includes the cancellation of classes and closure of campus operations for the above dates.

The University will follow Item III University Campus Closure protocol in the University Weather Alert and Procedures.

We will continue to monitor all weather events and notify the campus community of any changes.

Procedures for weather events can be found here. Please watch for alerts at murraystate.edu/raceralert and on Murray State’s social media platforms. We encourage you to monitor weather conditions as they develop through your chosen weather source due to rapid changes in the weather. One option is the National Weather Service of Paducah, which provides regular updates on its social media platforms as well, including X and Facebook.

To ensure receipt of emergency notifications (including weather-related emergencies) from the RacerAlert system, the University encourages all employees and students to update their contact information through their myGate accounts.

Winslow Dining Hall will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Fast Track will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Facilities Management staff will execute ice and snow removal operations on portions of campus as necessary throughout these next several days. Those who are on campus are encouraged to exercise caution.

The Murray VFW post (926 S. 12th Street), in collaboration with Calloway County Emergency Management, will be open to the community as a warming center.

The Harlem Globetrotters game that is planned for Monday, January 26 at the CFSB Center is currently on as scheduled. We encourage you to stay up-to-date via Racer Athletics social media platforms and goracers.com for any potential changes.

What is RacerAlert?

RacerAlert is the system of emergency communications that allows the Murray State Police Department to provide information during an emergency or when prompt communication is required. The RacerAlert webpage, in conjunction with the University’s homepage, will be a place that the University community can view the most up-to-date information during any critical incident. Many of the alerts you might receive during an emergency will send you to this page so that we do not have to send texts and emails for every update.

Sign Up for RacerAlert Text Messages

For Faculty Staff and Students

Racer Alert emergency notifications are sent to students, faculty, and staff who have provided their cell
phone contact information through their MyGate accounts. To modify your primary cell phone number
in MyGate, follow the MyGate Information Change Instructions.

You can add or modify phone numbers and email addresses and add family members to receive
emergency alerts by creating a MyConnect Portal account and following the Murray State Internal MyConnect Portal Setup Instructions.

You may also opt-out of emergency notifications from your MyConnect Portal.

For Parents and Community Partners

Anyone can sign up to receive emergency text messages. Just follow the Murray State External MyConnect Portal Setup Instructions for creating a MyConnect Portal account.

RacerAlert’s Emergency Notification System (ENS)

The Murray State University’s Racer Alert ENS is a system intended to notify the campus community about any situation or condition that could threaten the safety of individuals on campus. You can expect to receive the following types of messages from RacerAlert:

Alerts- These are emergency alerts letting you know about incident or condition that requires immediate attention and are required by the Clery Act. At a minimum, this type of notification will be made using text messages and emails. It may also include sirens, phone display, social media, and campus signage.
Timely Warning Notices- These are messages about crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat. These notices are also required by the Clery Act.
Police Department Announcements- These are messages sent by the Murray State Police to inform the Murray State community of general safety information that is not required by the Clery Act, but which the police believe will assist the community in being safer on and near campus. An example would be if a series of robberies occurred near campus, but not on campus, and the victims included students, faculty, and staff.
Test Messages- Testing is an important part of any emergency alert system. Murray State Police will test the ENS at least once per semester. This testing is also required by the Clery Act.