Students, Faculty and Staff:
The University will TEST the Alert Carolina Emergency Notification System on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. We test Alert Carolina regularly throughout the year to make sure the equipment and notification processes work as planned. During this sirens test, NO ACTION is required.
During the test, anyone outside on or near campus will likely hear the Outdoor Emergency Sirens. These sirens are not designed to be heard inside a building or vehicle. The sirens will sound an alert tone along with a brief prerecorded voice message.
The sirens sound only for a major emergency or an immediate safety or health threat, such as:
- An armed and dangerous person on or near campus
- A major fire or hazardous material incident outdoors
- A tornado warning for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area issued by the National Weather Service
- A different emergency, as determined by Campus Safety
The University will also send text messages to cell phone users who registered their numbers in the online Alert Carolina contact information page available through the Onyen services website. The University will post safety-related announcements on the Alert Carolina website, alertcarolina.unc.edu, along with updates.
During this sirens test, NO ACTION is required. We encourage you to review the Carolina Ready website and the Emergency Management and Planning website for information on what to do during an emergency.
The sirens are part of the University’s Emergency Notification System and an integral element of the University’s communications strategy that uses multiple channels to reach students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors, local residents, parents, and the public. To support that system, we follow the Emergency Notification Protocols in informing the campus community using four main types of notifications: Emergency Warning, Crime Alert, Adverse Condition, and Informational Messages.
For more information on the Alert Carolina system, visit alertcarolina.unc.edu