Purdue to activate the all-hazards outdoor sirens, conduct evacuation drills during BGR

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University will conduct evacuation drills and test layers of the Purdue Alert emergency notification system, including the all-hazards outdoor emergency warning sirens, Wednesday (Aug. 18) during Boiler Gold Rush, the orientation program for new students.

If there is inclement weather, only the siren layer of the test will be canceled. Other selected layers of Purdue Alert layers will be activated as scheduled.

New students will be guided to evacuate from Elliott Hall of Music on Wednesday (Aug. 18).  The drills are to demonstrate the procedures associated with building evacuations, said Jefferson Howells, director of campus emergency preparedness and planning.

Additionally, the university's seven sirens, placed strategically around campus, are scheduled to be activated at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, Howells said. The siren activation will let new students know what the sirens sound like. BGR's student leaders are trained to instruct the new students immediately following the siren test on how they should react in an emergency.

The Purdue Alert activation also will include texting to those who are signed up to receive alert texts, Twitter and a post to the Campus Safety Status page.

In an actual emergency, the sirens indicate an imminent threat involving the entire campus and/or surrounding community.

The sirens signal individuals to shelter in place, meaning to go indoors to the nearest building and seek further information. Individuals on campus also should check the Campus Safety Status page, email and local media for more information on the emergency and the appropriate action to take, Howells said.

Purdue Alert is a multilayered mass notification system. In an emergency, other notifications may be sent by email, text-message, Twitter (@purdueemergency), Alertus beacons installed in large classrooms, desktop popup alerts on classroom and lab computers, over 300 campus digital signs, and Boiler TV.

To register to receive emergency text message notifications, go to the Secure Purdue webpage, click on "Purdue Alert Sign-Up" enter your Purdue account name and BoilerKey, click on “Update Cell Phone Information” and enter your cell phone number.

More information about Purdue Alert can be found at the Purdue Emergency Preparedness website.

Media contact: Jim Bush, 765-336-1909, jsbush@purdue.edu

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