All Hazards Siren Operational Information
Locations
Purdue University has seven All Hazards Outdoor Warning Sirens, strategically placed to provide outdoor warning notification. Sirens are located in the following areas:
* Earhart Residence Hall
* Hawkins Hall
* Heine Pharmacy Building
* Purdue Village
* Hilltop Apartments
* Grand Prix Track
* Physical Facilities Service Building.
Purdue ALERT
The All Hazards Outdoor Warning Sirens are part of the Purdue ALERT system and may be used to alert the Purdue community of a significant emergency. There are four primary incidents that may lead to a shelter in place requirement. Each incident may require individuals to adjust their shelter in place procedures.
* Tornado Warning
* Hazardous Materials Release
* Civil disturbance such as an active shooter
* When directed by Purdue University police or fire department officials
Operation
Anytime the sirens are activated, individuals should immediately seek a safe location inside the nearest facility and immediately seek more information on why the sirens are sounding.
* When the sirens sound, everyone should:
* Stay calm but be aware that an emergency situation is occurring
* Be vigilant to what is going on around them
* Immediately seek a safe location
* Initially, proceed to the lowest level of the building; adjust location once you determine the type of emergency
* Seek out additional information as quickly as possible (to determine type of emergency)
* Determine your next course of action, based on the facts provided
If activated, the All Hazards Outdoor Sirens will sound for at least three minutes. The activation's primary objective is to get everyone's attention so they can seek a safe location.
The sirens will not continue to sound throughout the emergency … only for the first three minutes.
Public Safety officials may activate the sirens again based on the specific emergency.
For example, the sirens would be activated for a Tornado Warning but would not be activated for an extension to the original warning; information regarding an extension would be provided by text.
However, if the initial warning expired and a subsequent tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service, the sirens would again be activated.
All clear processes
The All Hazards Outdoor Sirens will not be used to indicate the emergency is over.
Individuals should seek additional information by all means possible to include TV and radio channels to determine when it is safe to leave the shelter location.
Additionally, if you have sheltered due to a Tornado Warning, you can also use the warning's expiration time as a possible "all clear" signal.
However, you should proceed with caution and cross check with other possible communication sources.
Testing
The All Hazards Outdoor Sirens are tested each month on the first Saturday at 11 a.m. by the Tippecanoe County Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, Purdue University public safety officials will test the sirens at Purdue at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semesters. Date and time of each test will be publicized by Marketing and Media personnel. The sirens will normally not be activated if inclement weather is in the area.