INFORMATION REGARDING THE OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM

 

Albion College has installed an Outdoor Warning System near the Bobbitt Visual Arts building to alert faculty, staff, and students of a life-threatening situation occurring on or near campus.  It is an additional way for members of the campus community to be alerted to take immediate action to protect themselves in the event of an emergency.  

 

The Outdoor Warning System has the capacity to broadcast a siren sound, to play a series of tones, and to be utilized as a public address (P.A.) system.  The College will utilize the siren sound as the primary means of alerting the campus community in an emergency.   The special information tones (SIT) will normally be activated to alert the campus community that a message is going to be broadcast via the P.A. system.

 

 

WHEN THE SPECIAL INFORMATION TONES SOUND:

 

·        Unless in an area threatened or affected by a hazard, immediately cease all activity and wait for the P.A. message.

·        Take appropriate action in accordance with the information provided.

·        Proceed to a safe location where you can monitor a source of information:

o   College computer system

o   College Web page

o   College cable channel 77

o   Email

o   Cell phone

o   Campus Phone

 

WHEN THE SIREN SOUNDS:

 

·        Immediately evaluate your surroundings for any sign of danger, such as smoke, flames, explosions, people fleeing, or gunfire.

o   If you are in the immediate area of such activity, leave as quickly as possible.

o   If you see any signs of danger, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INVESTIGATE OR APPROACH THE AREA.

·        Proceed to a building or other safe location and seek shelter.

·        Remain in place and monitor a source of information:

o   College computer system

o   College Web page

o   College cable channel 77

o   Email

o   Cell phone

o   Campus Phone

·        Depending on the specific nature of the hazard, consider taking the following actions:

o   Lock and/or barricade the door.

o   Close and lock windows.

o   Turn off outside personal air handling equipment that is present (e.g., fans, window air conditioning units).

·        Stay where you are unless:

o   You see, hear, smell, or are otherwise made aware of a hazard in your immediate area.

o   You are given further instructions by a College official.

o   You receive a message that the hazard has been eliminated.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING SIREN ACTIVATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AFTER THE SIREN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED:

 

When you hear the siren, it is important that you act immediately to ensure your safety.  While the College will provide more specific information about the nature of the emergency as soon as possible after the siren has been activated, dissemination of such information (see above) may be delayed, depending on the circumstances of the emergency.  Therefore, it is imperative that you evaluate your surroundings and get to a safe place immediately.

 

TESTING THE OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM

 

The Outdoor Warning System will be tested on the last Friday of each month at 5:00 p.m.   The following procedure will be used for the test:

 

1.       The special information tones will be activated.

2.       The following announcement will be read over the P.A system:  “This is a

       test of the Albion College Outdoor Warning System for (name of month). 

       Siren test to follow.”

3.      The announcement will be repeated.

4.      The WAIL siren will be activated for up to thirty seconds.