As it does each semester, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested the emergency sirens and text messaging as part of the Alert Carolina safety awareness campaign. Today’s (Sept. 22) test was successful.
The sirens sounded an alert tone at 12:10 p.m. in conjunction with a brief pre-recorded public address message, followed by a test text message to more than 38,000 cell phone numbers registered by students, faculty and staff in the online campus directory.
“The siren test accomplished exactly what we hoped it would,” said Jeff McCracken, the University’s public safety director. “When the sirens sounded, the University’s homepage and Alert Carolina Web site described what was happening as more than 38,000 text messages were sent to people throughout the campus community.”
University officials said the 38,000-plus messages sent when the sirens sounded were delivered in about three minutes. In a later part of the test, “all clear” text messages were delivered to those same cell phone numbers in about three minutes.
During the test the University used a different vendor -- Rave Wireless, part of the UNC Mobile communication program -- to distribute the text messages. Co-sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and Information Technology Services, Rave Wireless offers a range of cell phone-based tools for safety and learning. Carolina has partnered with Rave Wireless since 2005 when a small pilot group tested its text messaging, data sharing and emergency contact capabilities.
In addition to monitoring the speed of different emergency communications, Tuesday’s test was designed to remind people what to do in an actual emergency.
“The sirens are the fastest and most effective way we have to immediately inform everyone about a life-threatening situation, so we want the campus community to be very familiar with the sound of the sirens and know what to do when they hear them,” McCracken said.
During an actual emergency, the sirens would sound if an armed and dangerous person was on or near campus, a major chemical spill or hazard had been reported or a tornado was sighted. People should go inside or take cover immediately, close windows and doors, and stay until the “all clear“ message sounds, he said.
University officials remind the campus community that the sirens are not designed to be heard in buildings or while driving in cars.
For more information about the sirens, text messages and Alert Carolina, see alertcarolina.unc.edu.
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