Many UTC Students Miss Critical Text Alert During False Active-Shooter Scare
CHATTANOOGA, TN - August 20, 2025 Thousands of students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga received a campus-wide text at around 4 p.m. Thursday advising them to shelter in place amid reports of an active shooter. But after authorities confirmed the alert was a false alarm, it emerged that many students did not receive the warning and were left scared and uncertain about what to do.
Footage from the scene captures law enforcement evacuating students by the dozens while the alert was being broadcast to nearly every registered number - but gaps remained. Some students were unaware of the danger until the chaos subsided.
One parent, Meena Seth, illustrated the emotional toll: her daughter eventually texted, "Mommy, I love you," after being unreachable for more than 30 minutes - news that prompted Seth to rush to campus. Another student, Aredvi Bhatia, described hiding under a table amid mounting fear, saying, “I don’t know what could happen at any moment,” pointing to the consequences of communication breakdowns during emergencies.
The incident has put UTC’s communication systems under scrutiny, with students calling for improvements to ensure alerts reach every individual immediately - especially during crises. Let me know if you'd like a follow-up on UTC's response or proposed safety upgrades.