VCU to Test Sirens Sept. 19

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
Division of University Relations

Hear sample warning sirens:

Emergency Alert Wail

"All Clear" Wail

Virginia Commonwealth University will test emergency warning sirens at its Monroe Park and MCV Campuses at noon, Wednesday, Sept. 19. The two, 130-decibel sirens will be audible beyond the boundaries of the two campuses.

A warning "wail" siren will wail for one-minute, followed by a 30-second "all-clear," even tone to end the test.

The sirens will be tested along with text messages, digital signs, computer desktop alerts, e-mails and Web site information that are part of an enhanced, rapid, multi-level system for communicating emergency information to students, VCU employees, parents and neighbors.

"Providing a safe environment on our campuses to learn, study, teach, work and participate in university activities has been and remains a top priority," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani. "The April 16 tragedy at Virginia Tech led us to re-examine everything we do in this area and to look for ways to strengthen our already strong campus security practices."

"There is no one method that will reach everyone in the university community, and that is why we have developed a multi-level system that includes several ways to communicate during emergencies," said John M. Bennett, senior vice president for Finance and Administration, who heads VCU's emergency response team.

The emergency communications channels can be used together or in any combination to effectively respond to specific emergency situations. These emergency communications methods include:

·        Text Messaging will be a primary communications channel to students, employees and parents and will be used to notify them about emergencies and closings and delays for inclement weather.

·        Sirens on both the Monroe Park and MCV Campuses will be used in real emergencies when it is imperative to get everyone's attention simultaneously because an immediate, life-threatening situation has occurred or is imminent. People in a campus building should remain where they are and seek additional information about what is happening and how to respond. People outside but on campus should go to the nearest university building and seek additional information about what is happening. People off-campus should not come to campus but should seek additional information.

·        The VCU Alert Web site atwww.vcu.edu/alert will be updated regularly with information and instructions about how to respond in an emergency situation.

·        Digital screens in major academic buildings and all residence halls on both campuses will be used to provide visual and audio alerts similar to those displayed on the VCU Alert web site.

·        Desktop alert messages will be sent to every active desktop on VCU's wired and wireless network.

·        E-mail will be used to send more detailed information to everyone with a VCU email account.  Procedures have been streamlined so messages can be sent to VCU's 55,000 email accounts in about 30 minutes.

·        Email alerts for parents are available by subscribing to an email list which is accessible from VCU's alert page at www.vcu.edu/alert/notify.  This list will be used to keep parents updated on any emergency situations that the campus is dealing with. 

"We are fortunate to be a part of a major university in a vibrant, urban community," Trani said. "Working with students, employees and parents, we are committed to providing as safe an environment as possible."