Purdue to test emergency alert system Thursday (Feb. 3)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University will test its emergency notification system, including sirens, beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 3).
The test will allow university officials to verify that Purdue Alert systems are working properly; provide a chance to practice activations, reiterate protocols and dissemination methods; and ensure compliance with new Department of Education's Higher Education Opportunity Act requirements, said Ron Wright, director of Emergency Preparedness.
In addition to the sirens, activations for the test will include campus-wide e-mailing, the Purdue home page, Facebook emergency notification group and Boiler TV.
The text message will read: "This is the semi-annual TEST of the Purdue emergency warning notification system. In a real emergency, check https://www.purdue.edu for details."
This is only a test, and no action is necessary. If there is inclement weather, the siren test will be canceled.
Those who have not registered to receive emergency text notifications can go to https://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue, click on "Change My Emergency Contact Number," enter your Purdue account name and password, click on "Emergency Contact Information" and enter your cell phone number. Scott Ksander, executive director of information technology networks and security, recommends that Verizon Wireless subscribers update the network information in their cell phones quarterly to help ensure they will receive the text messages. To do so, call *228 ("star" 228) and select option 2, "Update Roaming Capabilities." No action is necessary for other wireless carriers.
For more information on Purdue's Emergency Preparedness programs, go online to https://www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/
Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu