Why
have a siren on campus?
UNCW has seen
the need for an instant notification system for the campus that
can alert the campus community of major emergencies. A siren
system serves the purpose of notifying the UNCW community instantly
if a major emergency is occurring on campus. While fire alarms
can notify building occupants to immediately evacuate a space,
the siren system allows for a method of notifying students, faculty,
staff, and visitors that a major emergency is taking place and
to seek shelter to stay safe.
The Seahawk Warning Siren System is meant to be an outdoor emergency warning system that is used to warn people of the need to take shelter indoors. People who are outdoors on the UNCW campus will be able to hear the siren. Additionally, the siren will penetrate many buildings on campus so individuals inside may also hear the siren. However, because the siren is an outdoor warning system, it may not penetrate all buildings on campus. In these buildings, alternate notification methods will be used to alert the occupants of an emergency.
Taking
Shelter
When the siren
sounds, everyone on the UNCW main campus should take shelter
indoors immediately. Close all windows and doors, if possible,
and remain sheltered until an "all clear" is given.
Seeking
Information
When the siren
sounds, university officials will post information about the emergency
as soon as possible. However, depending on the nature of
the emergency, it may take several minutes for information to become
available. For this reason, it is important that campus community
members remain sheltered until an "all clear" has been
issued.
There are
several ways to seek out emergency information after the siren
has sounded:
-
-
Check voice mail for an emergency
broadcast voicemail.
-
Check e-mail for an emergency
e-mail notification.
- Check the Emergency Information Website at www.uncw-campus.info.
-
-
Watch Channel 77 on campus televisions.
Waiting
for an "All Clear"
An "all
clear" will not be issued until conditions are deemed safe
by emergency officials. Therefore, depending on the nature
of the emergency, issuing an "all clear" could take several
minutes or several hours. All campus community members should
remain patient and sheltered until an "all clear" has
been issued. The siren will sound a second time on a steady
tone for three full minutes to signify an "all clear."
Technology
UNCW's sirens
are Tempest 121 Mechanical Sirens purchased from the American Signal
Corporation. There are eight horns on each siren and when
activated, each siren will produce a sound of 121 decibels at the
ground level of the siren. The sirens are designed to achieve
a minimum of 70 decibels of sound throughout the entire campus. The
sirens run on 48 volt DC batteries that are continuously charged. If
power is lost to the sirens, they are still capable of sounding
if activated. For example, if power is lost to the campus
for 10 days, the siren is still capable of running a 15 minute
cycle. Further, the siren system is supervised by a compulert
software system that notifies UNCW Police when power is lost or
when the siren control panel is opened. When activated, both
sirens will sound simultaneously.
Locations
There are two
sirens located on UNCW's main campus. One siren is located
on the roof of Schwartz Hall (a residence hall) and the other siren
is located on the roof of Westside Hall (which houses Student Health
and other student services).
Activation
UNCW Police will
activate the siren from the UNCW Police Dispatch Center located
in the UNCW Police building on UNCW's main campus. The UNCW Police
dispatcher located in the New Hanover County Emergency Communications
Center can also activate the siren if necessary. UNCW Police
will activate the siren only in major emergencies affecting the
campus that require UNCW community members to seek immediate shelter
for their safety. Example incidents in which the siren could
be activated include (but are not limited to) a tornado warning
or sighting in New Hanover County, a major hazardous materials
spill on or near the main campus, or an active shooter on campus.
Testing
Schedule
In order to maintain
the siren and ensure it is in working order, it must be tested
on a regular basis. The UNCW siren system will undergo a
full test on the second Monday in January, July, and September
at noon. A full test indicates the activation of the siren
alert sound at full volume. The UNCW community, as well as
surrounding neighbors, will be able to hear the siren when it is
tested at these times. These tests will be publicized in
advance to both the UNCW community and to surrounding neighbors.
Additionally, the sirens will
undergo a "growl test" on the second Monday of each month. During a "growl test," the siren is sounded
at a very low volume to ensure it is in working order, . Occupants
of Schwartz Hall and Westside Hall, as well as people in the immediate
vicinity of the sirens, may hear the growl tests.
Sounds
In an emergency
requiring shelter in place, the siren will sound as a 16 second "up" tone,
followed by an eight second "down" tone.
To
hear the Alert tone,
please click here: 
When you hear the alert tone, take shelter
immediately!
When the emergency has ended and shelter
in place is no longer required, the siren will sound again to indicate
an all clear. This tone will sound as a steady tone for three
full minutes.
To
hear the All Clear tone,
please click here: 
Distance
When the siren
sounds, people within a 1.5 mile radius of each siren location
(Schwartz Hall and Westside Hall) will be able to hear it. The
siren will sound loudest closer to the actual siren locations and
the sound will decrease as the distance increases from these locations.
For a map of
the siren coverage, please click here.
UNCW
Neighbors
Neighbors in the surrounding area of UNCW's main campus will
be able to hear the siren when it is activated. In this
case, neighbors should seek information in the same way UNCW
community members will (i.e. by checking the UNCW homepage, calling
the Emergency Information Hotline, etc.). The siren will
warn surrounding neighbors of immediate hazards requiring shelter
in place just as it will warn the UNCW community. Neighbors
should take shelter as well, because an emergency
requiring siren activation will likely not only affect the main
campus, but also the surrounding areas. Neighbors will
be notified about siren tests. If you are a neighbor to
UNCW and would like to be added to the siren notification e-mail
list, or if you have concerns about the siren system, please
e-mail Suzanne Blake at blakes@uncw.edu.
Print
a Siren Bookmark!
Want
to be in the know about the Seahawk Warning Siren System? Print
your own siren bookmark here.
Questions?
If
you have any additional questions or comments about the Seahawk
Warning Siren System, contact the UNCW Environmental Health & Safety
Department at (910)962-3057 or e-mail Stan Harts, director of EH&S,
at hartss@uncw.edu.
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