Purdue ALERT test set for Thursday (Sept. 30)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University will test its emergency notification system, including sirens, at 10 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 30).

The test will be used to simulate a live situation for practice, said Jefferson Howells, Purdue Emergency Preparedness director. The test also meets the U.S. Department of Education requirement of at least one test each year. Purdue routinely tests the Purdue ALERT system during both fall and spring semesters.

The alert system includes campuswide email, text messaging, Twitter, information posted to the Campus Status page, All Hazards Outdoor Siren activation, Alertus beacons installed in large classrooms, desktop popup alerts on most classroom and lab computers, over 300 digital signs, and Boiler TV emergency alert system activation. The alert posted to the Campus Status page will state:

“This is the semi-annual TEST of the Purdue emergency warning notification system. This test simulates a level 1 incident. No action is necessary.”  

Emergency Preparedness will test the Emergency Warning Notification System for the statewide Polytechnic Institutes later in the day.

If there is inclement weather on Thursday, the sirens will be canceled for this test, but all other Purdue ALERT layers will be activated.

The 2021 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. You may also request a paper copy from the Purdue University Police Department. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for Purdue University. The policy statements address the university’s policies, procedures, and programs regarding safety and security. Three years of statistics are included for certain crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the university, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. 

If you have been identified as a campus security authority, review the Clery Act Compliance Guide for more information and training.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to sign up for emergency text alerts from Purdue. Additionally, review your specific Building Emergency Plan and the Emergency Procedures Guide to stay informed on Purdue’s emergency, evacuation, and shelter procedures. These documents, and more, can be found on the Emergency Preparedness website.

Media contact: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Source: Jefferson Howells, 765-494-0446, jfhowells@purdue.edu