Next week, the University of Alabama will test UA Alerts and the emergency public address systems on Wednesday between 11:55 AM and 12 noon. The test will coincide with the Tuscaloosa Emergency Management Agency’s test of the outdoor tornado warning sirens, including the campus siren located on top of Gorgas Library. While the test will last about 30 seconds and should not be disruptive, the way they’ve been testing the emergency notification system beginning this year has changed. For all who are first-years at UA, let me explain.
When the indoor PA system is tested, you usually hear a chime struck 4 times in succession. This is actually the signal that is generally used to begin an all-clear announcement. The signal is followed by a message from the officials. In this case the message will be, “This is a test of the University Of Alabama emergency notification system. This is only a test.” That message will only be spoken once usually. In an emergency, however, another signal is used. This is the “danger” signal, and it sort of sounds like one that you might hear in an alien movie or in a federal building like the Pentagon or the White House. This alert signal is followed by an important message, which is usually taped. The message is spoken 3 times. In extremely serious emergencies such as a major tornado outbreak like the one that happened last April, the officials may come on live. In this case, you might hear the emergency signal sounded twice with a pause in between before they are on. When the emergency is over, the all-clear will be sounded with the chime and an all-clear announcement spoken 3 times as before.
The neat thing is that the system can be activated in one building, a select group of buildings or the entire campus. The outside PA system was just installed throughout various parts of campus after the tornado last April. There is just one tone for everything on that, and it consists of a high tone followed by a lower-pitched tone, then a higher-pitched tone and then the message is read by a person or a computer. The message is usually taped, but they can come on live if necessary. And it’s all managed through the use of one computer in a vault inside the office of University Relations on the first floor of the Rose Administration building. UAPD can also operate the system from the police station in the event of an emergency after hours.
I do think the system test should consist of a test message with the bell first to avoid freaking everybody out, followed shortly by another test message using the emergency alert signal. This way everyone knows what they’ll hear in the event of an emergency, because in an emergency, you will most definitely not hear a bell. Just a suggestion. Please stay safe, and remember that next Wednesday at 11:55 AM, it’s only a test. Also, this is a great time to make sure your information is correct on MyBama for UA Alerts. If you don’t get a text message and/or a phone call during the test period between 11:55-12:00, you need to check to make sure your information is correct so you’re alerted in the event of an emergency.
ROLL TIDE!!!
-David Rissling
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