PurdueALERT tests, optional tornado drill scheduled for Tuesday

Tests of the PurdueALERT emergency warning notification system are scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Tuesday (March 11) at both the West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations. At the same time, the campus communities are encouraged to participate in a voluntary tornado drill. These efforts are part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana (March 9-15).

As part of the tests, notifications will be released by email, texts and X/Twitter (@purdueemergency). Additionally, all-hazards outdoor sirens will go off in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis. For West Lafayette, Alertus beacons in large classrooms, desktop pop-up alerts on most classroom and lab computers, digital signs and the Boiler TV emergency alert systems will also be activated.

To participate in the voluntary tornado drill, building deputies and other building leaders are encouraged to test their building emergency plans by organizing a shelter-in-place drill. This drill is designed to ensure occupants know what to do in an emergency and confirm there is adequate space in designated shelter-in-place locations. This also provides an opportunity to test weather radios, computers and other communication devices. The voluntary tornado drill exercise plan can be found on the Emergency Preparedness website.

If a tornado warning shelter-in-place drill is not possible, building occupants should take a few minutes to review their building emergency plan. They should also familiarize themselves with their building’s shelter-in-place locations and review the tornadoes and thunderstorm procedures online.

The PurdueALERT tests are weather dependent and will be rescheduled to Wednesday (March 12) if needed.

Emergency Preparedness is part of the Administrative Operations organization. The organization supports the university by providing safe, reliable and transformative services. Conducting tests to ensure members of the campus community know how to respond during severe weather is just one of the ways the organization helps power Purdue. To learn more about the daily operations of the organization, follow it on Instagram at @purdueoperations.