Wake County Schools to Implement Rave Panic Button System for Emergency Response
App allows school staff to quickly report emergencies, sending real-time alerts to 911 centers and designated responders.
Holly Springs, NC, Feb. 11, 2025 — The Wake County school district is moving forward with the implementation of the Rave Panic Button system, a mobile-based emergency alert system designed to enhance school safety and streamline crisis response. The initiative, first explored in spring 2024, is now in the final phases of rollout and will be fully operational across the district by February 17, 2025.
During a recent Safety and Security Committee meeting, Juan Cuartas, Director of Special Operations, provided updates on the system’s rollout.
“So, to provide a little more context, Rave was explored by the district during the spring of 2024, our emergency management program. Based on that, we decided to roll it out district-wide. Our initiative to roll it out starting October 2024, that means training, that means gathering information from employees, but the day-to-day lag was not until the beginning of the second semester of 2024-25.”
The Rave Panic Button app allows school staff to quickly report emergencies, sending real-time alerts to 911 centers and designated responders. The district has already registered 8,500 employees through its Oracle system, linking their contact information with Rave’s platform. Cuartas noted, “We have 8,500 staff members that have signed up through our Oracle system to have their information integrated with Rave so that they can receive notifications and use the app.”
Implementation has been structured in phases, with schools from all grade levels and administrative offices introduced in groups.
“We decided to do different phases to make sure that, because of the size of our county and our district, to make sure that each one of those implementation phases was addressing any concerns that they would have,” Cuartas explained. “Also, because of the volume of people that we have within the county, make sure that they were all trained, that they had the opportunity to answer any questions.”
The app can function over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks, ensuring reliable connectivity even in areas with inconsistent service. Cuartas clarified, “You can access it on the cell sort of signal? Both. And what it does is that it recognizes which one is more reliable. So if you have a campus that Wi-Fi is not great in this corner, it will go to just normal cell signal and vice versa.”
Staff members are not required to download the app but can still receive emergency notifications.
“It's not mandatory,” Cuartas stated. “During the training, we show them the benefits of having it, because the download of the app is not mandatory. However, if they do have the information in there, they can still receive those notifications via text and email.”
Other North Carolina School Districts Using the System
Wake County is not alone in implementing the Rave Panic Button system. Several other school districts across North Carolina have adopted the technology to enhance their emergency response capabilities. Cuartas acknowledged this trend, stating, “We kind of know from talking to other districts, that's kind of how the rollouts have gone in other places, is that it's been a small amount. Something happens. People know. They had information. Others didn't. They want to go back and sign up for it.”
School districts such as Guilford County, Mecklenburg County, and Cumberland County have also implemented Rave Panic Button as part of their school safety strategies. These districts, like Wake County, have worked closely with local law enforcement and 911 centers to integrate the system effectively and ensure faster emergency response times.
The implementation of the Rave Panic Button is part of Wake County’s broader efforts to enhance school security, including improved visitor management systems and increased coordination with law enforcement. Officials encourage staff to update their contact information to maximize the system’s effectiveness and ensure they receive the latest safety updates.