Blinn students will be able to breathe a little easier this fall. If something bad happens on campus, they'll be among the first to know.

The Blinn Board of Trustees voted Tuesday night to hire California-based 3n to implement its new emergency notification system.

The system will use voice messaging, text messaging and e-mail to alert students, parents and employees of catastrophic events, security breeches, physical threats or other crisis.

The first year cost will be $38,680. It is the same company that now serves Virginia Tech where a gunman massacred 32 people last year.