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Desk-phone Public Address System Test: Monday, July 13
On Monday, July 13 2026 from approximately 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., Berkeley Lab Emergency Management and Information Technology will be conducting a brief audible test of the Public Address capability of lab desk-phones.
During this test, if you have a desk-phone you may hear a text-to-speech voice announcement coming from the speakerphone of your desk phone. The announcement will state this is a test and the message may repeat. No action is required in response to this test.
This test is part of an initiative to improve the preparedness of the Lab by expanding the ways we can send critical alert and warning information in an emergency. If you have any questions about the test, please email the Office of Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov.
Desk-phone Public Address System Test: Monday, June 15
On Monday, July 13, 2026 from approximately 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., Berkeley Lab Emergency Management and Information Technology will be conducting a brief test of the Public Address capability of lab desk-phones in Zones 1, 2, and 4.
During this test, if you have a desk-phone and work in one of the above Zones you may hear a text-to-speech voice announcement coming from the speakerphone of your desk phone. The announcement will state this is a test and the message may repeat. No action is required in response to this test.
Not sure what zone your building is in? Review the Zone Map at https://status.lbl.gov/lab-status/protective-action-zones
This test is part of an initiative to improve the preparedness of the Lab by expanding the ways we can send critical alert and warning information in an emergency. If you have any questions about the test, please email the Office of Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov.
Personnel Accountability Drill: Wednesday, April 8
What: LabAlert personnel accountability drill.
When: Wednesday, April 8, beginning around 9:30 am
Where: Main hill site and offsite locations
Who: All personnel who badge-in between approximately 0500 and 0930 will be sent LabAlert messaging.
Why: This drill is required by the Department of Energy as part of continuity of operations efforts. Participation in this drill will help keep you and your colleagues safe during an emergency.
Additional information:
The cascading alert starts by sending an email, then a text message to registered mobile devices, then a phone call. You will only need to respond to one of the messages, but it is critical that you do so.
To reduce repetitive or unwanted messaging, please keep in mind:
The notifications will continue until you respond.
If your subordinates or affiliates list your number in their LabAlert profile, you will get additional notifications
If your LabAlert contact information includes a group phone line, you will get notifications for everybody that uses the phone line (and vice versa, they will get your notifications)
If you forward calls to your cell phone, you will likely get additional notifications (from any subordinates or affiliates that badge-in on Thursday and use your phone number)
If you do not have a Lab-issued cell phone, please consider adding your personal cell phone to ensure you receive emergency messages when you are away from your desk. From your profile you can also change the order of how LabAlert sends you notifications; for example, you can elect to receive a text message first, then a phone call. It is also a recommended best practice to create a contact for LabAlert (510-486-6288) in your cell phone, and make it a “Favorite” (this will ensure that messages get through).
You can view or edit your LabAlert profile at: go.lbl.gov/LabAlert.
Please contact Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov if you have any questions or experience any issues during the drill.
Personnel Accountability Drill: Wednesday, January 14
What: LabAlert personnel accountability drill.
When: Wednesday, January 14, beginning around 9:30 am
Where: Main hill site and offsite locations
Who: All personnel who badge-in between approximately 0500 and 0930 will be sent LabAlert messaging.
Why: This drill is required by the Department of Energy as part of continuity of operations efforts. Participation in this drill will help keep you and your colleagues safe during an emergency.
Additional information:
The cascading alert starts by sending an email, then a text message to registered mobile devices, then a phone call. You will only need to respond to one of the messages, but it is critical that you do so.
To reduce repetitive or unwanted messaging, please keep in mind:
The notifications will continue until you respond.
If your subordinates or affiliates list your number in their LabAlert profile, you will get additional notifications
If your LabAlert contact information includes a group phone line, you will get notifications for everybody that uses the phone line (and vice versa, they will get your notifications)
If you forward calls to your cell phone, you will likely get additional notifications (from any subordinates or affiliates that badge-in on Thursday and use your phone number)
If you do not have a Lab-issued cell phone, please consider adding your personal cell phone to ensure you receive emergency messages when you are away from your desk. From your profile you can also change the order of how LabAlert sends you notifications; for example, you can elect to receive a text message first, then a phone call. It is also a recommended best practice to create a contact for LabAlert (510-486-6288) in your cell phone, and make it a “Favorite” (this will ensure that messages get through).
You can view or edit your LabAlert profile at: go.lbl.gov/LabAlert.
Please contact Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov if you have any questions or experience any issues during the drill.
Personnel Accountability Drill: Thursday, August 7
What: LabAlert personnel accountability drill.
When: Thursday, August 7, beginning around 9:30 am
Where: Main hill site and offsite locations
Who: All personnel who badge-in between approximately 0500 and 0930 will be sent LabAlert messaging.
Why: This drill is required by the Department of Energy as part of continuity of operations efforts. Participation in this drill will help keep you and your colleagues safe during an emergency.
Additional information:
The cascading alert starts by sending an email, then a text message to registered mobile devices, then a phone call. You will only need to respond to one of the messages, but it is critical that you do so.
To reduce repetitive or unwanted messaging, please keep in mind:
The notifications will continue until you respond.
If your subordinates or affiliates list your number in their LabAlert profile, you will get additional notifications
If your LabAlert contact information includes a group phone line, you will get notifications for everybody that uses the phone line (and vice versa, they will get your notifications)
If you forward calls to your cell phone, you will likely get additional notifications (from any subordinates or affiliates that badge-in on Thursday and use your phone number)
If you do not have a Lab-issued cell phone, please consider adding your personal cell phone to ensure you receive emergency messages when you are away from your desk. From your profile you can also change the order of how LabAlert sends you notifications; for example, you can elect to receive a text message first, then a phone call. It is also a recommended best practice to create a contact for LabAlert (510-486-6288) in your cell phone, and make it a “Favorite” (this will ensure that messages get through).
You can view or edit your LabAlert profile at: go.lbl.gov/LabAlert.
Please contact Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov if you have any questions or experience any issues during the drill.
Personnel Accountability Drill: Wednesday, May 14
What: LabAlert personnel accountability drill.
When: Wednesday, May 14, beginning around 9:30 am
Where: Main hill site and offsite locations
Who: All personnel who badge-in between approximately 0500 and 0930 will be sent LabAlert messaging.
Why: This drill is required by the Department of Energy as part of continuity of operations efforts. Participation in this drill will help keep you and your colleagues safe during an emergency.
Additional information:
The cascading alert starts by sending an email, then a text message to registered mobile devices, then a phone call. You will only need to respond to one of the messages, but it is critical that you do so.
To reduce repetitive or unwanted messaging, please keep in mind:
The notifications will continue until you respond.
If your subordinates or affiliates list your number in their LabAlert profile, you will get additional notifications
If your LabAlert contact information includes a group phone line, you will get notifications for everybody that uses the phone line (and vice versa, they will get your notifications)
If you forward calls to your cell phone, you will likely get additional notifications (from any subordinates or affiliates that badge-in on Thursday and use your phone number)
If you do not have a Lab-issued cell phone, please consider adding your personal cell phone to ensure you receive emergency messages when you are away from your desk. From your profile you can also change the order of how LabAlert sends you notifications; for example, you can elect to receive a text message first, then a phone call. It is also a recommended best practice to create a contact for LabAlert (510-486-6288) in your cell phone, and make it a “Favorite” (this will ensure that messages get through).
You can view or edit your LabAlert profile at: go.lbl.gov/LabAlert.
Please contact Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov if you have any questions or experience any issues during the drill.
Personnel Accountability Drill: Thursday, January 23
What: LabAlert personnel accountability drill.
When: Thursday, January 23, beginning around 9:30 am
Where: Main hill site and offsite locations
Who: All personnel who badge-in between approximately 0500 and 0930 will be sent LabAlert messaging.
Why: This drill is required by the Department of Energy as part of continuity of operations efforts. Participation in this drill will help keep you and your colleagues safe during an emergency.
Additional information:
The cascading alert starts by sending an email, then a text message to registered mobile devices, then a phone call. You will only need to respond to one of the messages, but it is critical that you do so.
To reduce repetitive or unwanted messaging, please keep in mind:
The notifications will continue until you respond.
If your subordinates or affiliates list your number in their LabAlert profile, you will get additional notifications
If your LabAlert contact information includes a group phone line, you will get notifications for everybody that uses the phone line (and vice versa, they will get your notifications)
If you forward calls to your cell phone, you will likely get additional notifications (from any subordinates or affiliates that badge-in on Thursday and use your phone number)
If you do not have a Lab-issued cell phone, please consider adding your personal cell phone to ensure you receive emergency messages when you are away from your desk. From your profile you can also change the order of how LabAlert sends you notifications; for example, you can elect to receive a text message first, then a phone call. It is also a recommended best practice to create a contact for LabAlert (510-486-6288) in your cell phone, and make it a “Favorite” (this will ensure that messages get through).
You can view or edit your LabAlert profile at: go.lbl.gov/LabAlert.
Please contact Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@lbl.gov if you have any questions or experience any issues during the drill.
Lab Security DOE Award Honor Hung in B50A
August 14, 2024
Two new frames grace the wall of Building 50A; one holding the Security Award of the Year from the Department of Energy and the other the Lab team that brought the honor to Berkeley. The team recently gathered for a team photo op so the entire team could be recognized for this outstanding award. The citation, in part, reads, “Each member of the team exhibited the highest degree of creativity, resilience, and out-of-the-box thinking that SES has come to exemplify.” – Secretary Granholm
Dedication to service, teamwork, and focus on the mission won the Lab’s Security and Emergency Services Division recognition from the Secretary of Energy. The award and a team picture were recently placed in the Building 50A hallway leading to the Directorate office.
The awards promote the Department of Energy’s long-standing tradition of recognizing Federal and contractor employees who go above and beyond the call of duty and contribute to the DOE security community. The awards also offer senior SC leaders the opportunity to acknowledge significant individual or group accomplishments that have strengthened the Office of Science and DOE’s security programs.
The award reads:
“In recognition of your team’s successful operational performance that has improved the overall protective posture of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). During a period of exponential growth in your Program, the LBNL Security and Emergency Services Division and Berkeley Site Office (BSO) aggressively pursued new and innovative collaborations with multiple stakeholders and local partners to ensure the LBNL community was more safe and secure than ever before. Your team’s demonstrated sense of unity, effective approach to this mission-critical activity, and willingness to share proven theories with your peers throughout the Office of Science complex are deserving of this honorable distinction and greatly appreciated.”
“I am proud of this team’s recognition,” said Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations Michael Brandt. “They are turning a vision of the Lab into reality, protecting our people, our research, and our assets.”
Get Ready to ShakeOut 10/17 at 10:17
Make a short investment in your safety on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 10:17 a.m. The Lab is participating in the annual earthquake drill with millions of people around the world practicing earthquake safety on the same day.
Lab locations and many of our homes are near earthquake faults. There may be only seconds to prepare, so practice with your colleagues and millions of others.
What
- The Lab is participating in an international earthquake drill called the Great ShakeOut.
- At the start of the drill, a single LabAlert message will be sent instructing everyone to:
- Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
- Evacuate to their Evacuation Assembly Area (EAA)
- Return to their building only after checking-in
- You should always take essential personal items with them when you evacuate (phone, wallet, keys, badge, etc.).
- You should respond to both the LabAlert notification and check-in at the EAA (if at main hill campus)
- We are conducting a 100% accountability check of all employees. Please respond to LabAlert or we will have to send follow-up LabAlerts and initiate phone trees to managers.
- To find your EAA ahead of time:
- Look for the emergency evacuation poster near building exits
- Select the “Emergency Assembly Area” layer at map.lbl.gov or
- Review the map at go.lbl.gov/eaa
Who
- All those working onsite are expected to participate, unless exempted (please email emergencymanagement@lbl.gov with questions). Those at offsite locations will take part in the drop, cover, and hold, but will not evacuate their building.
- Those working from home are encouraged to participate and use this time to review their home emergency preparedness plan.
- The drill is managed by the Lab’s Emergency Management group.
When and Where
- Thursday, Oct. 17 from 10:17 a.m. until approximately 10:37 a.m.
- All occupied buildings at all Lab hill locations (offsite and UC Berkeley campus labs are encouraged to Drop-Cover-Hold).
Why
- Familiarize everyone with emergency procedures
- Meet DOE requirements for building evacuations
- Meet DOE requirements to perform a quarterly personnel accountability drill
Communications
- Drill point-of-contact: emergencymanagement@lbl.gov
- Lab employees will be notified of the drill through an email and articles in Elements prior to October 17.
- Drill announcements with protective actions/measures will be made through LabAlert
Feel free to take photos of you participating in the Drop, Cover, and Hold On or evacuation portions of the drill and post to social media using the tag #LBNLShakeOut2024.
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