August 11, 2008

Test of outdoor audio emergency alert achieves purpose

"If there is an emergency situation, we feel confident we now have another tool," Vruggink said. "We were pleased with the coverage of the campus it achieved."

Members of the police and fire departments who monitored the test could hear tones and live voices as far away as around Pao Hall, the Black Cultural Center and the intersection of Stadium Avenue and University Street, Vruggink said.

The purposes of the 32-minute test were to gauge that distance and find out whose voice carried best, said Vruggink, who manages programming for the Bell Tower. Various statements were read by two familiar Purdue voices: Mike Piggott, director of community relations; and Tim Newton, director of external relations and communications in Krannert School of Management.

One of the statements each read was: " "This is a test of the Purdue Alert emergency warning notification. I say again this is a test of the Purdue Alert emergency warning notification. No action is required."

Another stated: " "This is a Purdue Alert emergency warning notification. I say again this is a Purdue Alert emergency warning notification. An emergency incident has occurred in Example Hall. Avoid the area and seek a safe location in the nearest facility. Refer to the Purdue Homepage for more information."

Another like the second called for an evacuation, and another announced resolution of the situation.

Along Northwestern Avenue, the intervening buildings and the sounds of traffic muffled the Bell Tower sounds, Vruggink said.

Purdue police Capt. Tim Potts, captain of patrol operations, said the nearly quarter-mile reach of the alert means the most heavily walked areas of the campus, including the large malls, have another aid for security.

"With everything we have, this is another layer," Potts said. "This is perfect for that person who is outdoors in that academic area, who may not have a cell phone or other device on."

Besides Potts, police staff who assisted were officers Keene Red Elk, Gabe Argerbright and Mike Downey. Fire Chief Kevin Ply and others in his department assisted also.

No further test is scheduled so far, Vruggink said, but there will be one, presumably this fall. For timely notification, the messages must be recorded and readied. But there are a few wrinkles to work out as to volume level.

Purdue Alert is a multilayered emergency notification system. Other parts of Purdue Alert include the use of mass e-mail, Facebook, mass text-messaging, Boiler TV, the media and campus sirens. Decisions on which to use and how to use them would depend on the nature of an emergency situation.

The system is overseen by Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental health and public safety, and Ronnie Wright, director of emergency preparedness. More about Purdue Alert is at www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/.