Elon warns community after fiber optic cut disrupts alarm alerts
Elon University sent an E alert on December 3, reporting that a cut fiber optic line in Greensboro may have prevented the campus fire alarm system from notifying emergency authorities. The alert advised immediate evacuation if alarms sounded and to have someone call 911 once safely outside, a situation that underscores local safety and infrastructure concerns for Alamance County residents.
On December 3 Elon University Campus Safety and Police issued an E alert warning that the campus fire alarm system might not automatically alert emergency authorities because a fiber optic line had been cut in Greensboro. The alert directed anyone who heard an alarm to evacuate immediately and to ensure someone outside the building called 911 once it was safe to do so. The message raised urgent safety questions for students, employees and neighboring residents.
Campus Safety Chief Joe LeMire said the fiber optic cut was caused by construction activity in Greensboro and stressed that other fire protection components remained functional. Audible alarms, emergency lighting and sprinklers continued to operate, which reduced immediate life safety risk inside buildings even as the automatic notification pathway to authorities was disrupted. Later the same day officials reported that repairs had been completed and the notification system was running again.
The incident highlights how a single point of failure in communications infrastructure can affect emergency response across municipal boundaries. For Alamance County the practical impact included temporary changes to evacuation procedures and added responsibility for individuals to report emergencies by phone. Students living off campus, campus workers and visitors can be particularly vulnerable when standard safety systems fail, and people with mobility limitations or chronic health conditions may face greater consequences during hurried evacuations.
Public health and safety experts emphasize that resilience requires layers of protection, including redundant communications, clear evacuation plans and coordinated oversight of construction that crosses utility and communications lines. This event points to the need for closer coordination between universities, municipal authorities and contractors to prevent accidental cuts to critical lines, and to ensure rapid repair and transparent communication when outages occur.
Residents and campus community members should continue to follow official alerts, treat soundings of alarms as immediate reasons to evacuate, and make contingency plans for those who need assistance. The December 3 disruption serves as a reminder that infrastructure investments and equitable emergency planning are essential to protect all members of the community.
