Audible Warning System
As part of its evolving emergency communications and notification efforts, the university will be installing and testing an audible warning system over the holiday break.
The audible warning system consists of 11 roof or pole mounted speakers positioned throughout campus. Speakers on these towers have the capability of providing tone and voice alerts a considerable distance from each tower.
The testing will take place during the week of February 25, with a full audible test of the system scheduled for noon on March 3. Anyone on campus or in nearby neighborhoods will hear several pulsed tones as well as “all clear” alerts and testing of the voice capability. These will not be indicators of a real emergency.
Once installed, if the audible warning system is activated for an emergency situation you will hear a pulsed tone lasting for 30 seconds, sometimes followed by a short message. The sequence will be repeated three times. When the audible alert tone sounds in a real emergency, NC State students and employees are advised to do the following:
- Seek shelter immediately
- Obtain information from the university home page on any additional action to be taken
- Stay tuned for further information until an “all clear” signal is obtained from campus officials. (Any campus emergency initiated by the alert system will be closed with an “all clear” signal from the system. This signal will be a “Westminster Chimes” tone followed by a short “all clear” message, with this sequence repeated three times.)
Additional guidance on emergency communication and recommended actions such as sheltering in place are available at the NC State Emergency Website http://www.ncsu.edu/emergency-information/. Students and employees are encouraged to visit the site and read the “emergency orientation” information.
In addition to the installation tests, a monthly test will be performed at noon on the first Monday of each month. This will be a short functional test using the “all clear” chime. In addition, a full-volume test of the entire system will be conducted quarterly, utilizing the emergency pulsed tone.
The addition of the audible alert system is part of NC State’s commitment to regular review of its emergency communications and notifications procedures.
The university has recently added the option of text messaging for campus populations to receive alerts to adverse weather announcements and emergency information. Students, faculty and staff wishing to sign up for text messaging should log in to MyPack Portal and follow the links.
In addition to text messaging and the alert system, NC State advises the campus community of emergency operating conditions through home page messages, email blasts, a campus hotline and a network of building liaisons located in all campus buildings.
Should you have any additional questions please contact Ken Kretchman at Ken_Kretchman@ncsu.edu